Apuseni Natural Park — Attraction in Budureasa

A nature park in Romania means an area with high natural value, which however is partly inhabited and where the local communities have historically interacted with nature in such a way that they could co-exist in a very special manner. Apuseni Nature Park is one of the regions in Romania that highlights both the wild places that make it a protected area (they are part of Europe's natural heritage that is protected by law) and the particular features resulting from this human-nature interaction/coexistence: traditions connected to nature and a traditional use of the area's resources, crafts, specific local populations, villages and households located in the middle of nowhere, traditional and very particular livelihoods - as much as they are still kept/living... Of course, this heritage is all dependent on the administration of such an area, on the people's life choices in a post-modern world and on so many other factors. I really recommend visiting this charming area, whose nature and human presence will surely impress you. This is a karst-rich area, with thousands of caves and other limestone forms, but it is less likely that you will meet bears or wolves on your path :). Practical aspects to take into consideration: the Park has almost no camping facilities and camping is restricted. The alternative is to go to one of the few existing cabins or find accommodation somewhere at the margins of the protected area and then go hiking inside. There is one main access road (east to west), whose half in Bihor county is covered in asphalt and the other half (Cluj county, as you move in from the east) is very difficult - you basically need a 4x4 car to get to the central part, Padis. Heavy snow and limited...

This natural park is amazing. The locals are very helpful and the landscapes are breathtaking.

However, it might not be suited for beginner hikers. Some trails are hard to follow without a map or gps and rain will make pretty much every trail muddy and slippery. A good pair of shoes is a must. Some trails even require you to do some climbing by grabbing on to metal chains.

What I personally liked the most was the absence of installations in some parts of the park which outlines the sheer wilderness of the place.

Full of caves, the mountains are a treasure for spelunkers. I personally didn't have the required equipment, but would have loved to explore two or three caves. Still, some of them are touristic and can be visited by anyone.

The only thing I disliked was that I couldn't stay more than three days to see all the major attractions. Will definitely come back.

Here are a few attractions I would recommend: Ghetarul de la Scarisoara Ghetarul de la Vartop (there's a guide at Casa de Piatra that can show you the cave, other wise you cant go in) Close to ghetarul de la vartop, theres two caves named Coiba Mare and Coiba Mica that are worth seeing and also a beautiful 80m deep pond (if it can be called that) called Izbucul Tauzului. Cetatile Ponorului (the main attraction, obligatory)

There are more that I haven't seen so inform yourself!

A car will allow you to visit with ease and much faster. I did everything by walking, and let me tell you, finding places to buy food was hard. In the summer, accomodations can be hard to find too without reservation. Plan...

Muntii Apuseni Peisaje mirifice parca desprinse dintr-o alta lume, cu sate intinse pe colinele blande ale muntilor Apuseni, cu oameni simpli care traiesc simplu su curat, sufletisti si plini de sperante ca nimic nu le va schimba viata linistita dar desigur cu greutatile pe care le intampina pentru ca nu sunt ajutati mai mult de statul roman si cei care i-au ales sa le reprezinte interesele. Si pentru ca acum cateva zile m-am intors din aceasta regiune SUPERBA a tarii noastre si credeam ca voi ramane numai cu amintirile de vis de acolo, m-am intors si cu un gust amar si plin de scarba cand am vazut cum acolo, poate si in alta parte din Romania, se fura fara nici o jena lemnul din palcurile de padure ce au mai ramas. Spun "inca" pentru ca sincer credeam ca alesii astia "frumosi" ai lui Ludovic si Johanis au radicat aceasta problema. Ca doar asa spuneau ca "ei" sunt cei mai inversunati impotriva coruptiei din Romania ! Oare ? Pai cum este posibil ca acum, azi, sa mai existe banditi in cardasie cu autoritatile statului din acele zone (in special zona Horea si Albac) sa jefuiasca lemnul tarii, padurile de care avem atata nevoie pentru o viata sanatoasa si cu aer curat ? Despre care coruptie sau ce fel de coruptie vorbesc distinsii domni care i-am ales sa ne apere interesele ?! Va relatez exact ce am vazut, anume ca in fiecare noapte de pe la orele 21 sau 22, cand era deja intuneric, coborau de pe la cota 1400 - 1500 m altitudine camione cu busteni, uneori doar cu pozitiile camionului aprinse dar in special pe spate nu aveau numar de inmatriculare (atasez poza). Oare de ce asa in noapte si fara numar de inmatriculare ? Si pentru ca asta se intampla in fiecare zi, Doamne, primarul cu seful de post de militie nu stiau ? Sau nu stiu ? Imposibil de crezut ... Atunci, d-le Johani si Ludovic, despre ce coruptie vorbiti ?! Unde este acum DNA-ul ? Cel care, cica, lupta impotriva coruptiei ? Pai acolo si sunt convins ca si in multe alte locuri di Romania, nu este vorba de coruptie ? Pai de exemplu, dl primar din Albac are o ditamai pensiunea, cica facuta pe fonduri europene :)... Chiar ? Asa la un control al organelor statului, dar din acela "la sange", oare dl primar justifica toti banii si are achitate toate impozitele pe tot ce are ? Mai mult, povesteau niste oameni simpli ca odata un baietas de bani gata de pe acolo si prieten cu primarul urca cu masina lui sport in viteza (deci in urcare) si fiind si cu niste palinca "in nas" le-ar fi accidentat un cal care astepta la poarta lor sa intre in curte. Ghici cine a fost sanctionat/amendat si ocarat (certat) ? Acel om simplu care isi vede de treaba lui si care nu are "relatii" dar mai ales nu este in cardasie cu "mafia" locala a primarului (din relatarea lui); iar baietasului care circula cu viteza prin sat si mai ales ca a fost sub influenta bauturilor alcoolice nu i s-a intamplat absolut nimic (militianul, omul primarului le-a facut proces verbal pentru amenda familiei care avea calul pentru ca ar fi lasat animalul nesupravegheat in fata portii (!l. Pe bune ? Asta este lege si dreptate ? Si nu este nimic legat de coruptie ? Serios ? Ar fi mult si multe de vazut si povestit atunci cand mergi in astfel de locuri, unde oamenii simpli sunt bataia de joc a autoritatilor statului si unde acesti pana la utma functionari au impresia ca ei sunt Dumnezeul locului. Cat poate sa mai tina asta ? Cand vom putea alege, pentru ca deh vin alegerile, oameni adevarati care sa fie acolo ca sa vegheze la tot ce este bun de facut si nu sa pazeasca coruptia, talharia si dezastrul locului ? Au facut atat tam-tam cu coruptia ca toti oamenii simpli mai putin si ii credeau. Dar nici vorba, tam-tam-ul a fost sa distruga cu DNA in frunte tot ce am avut bun, tot ce am mai avut privat romanesc pentru ca sa ramana numai "ei" cei care ne manipuleaza si...