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Malyovitsa Eco Park

Malyovitsa Eco Park

About the park

Rila National Park – the heart of Bulgaria’s nature

Malyovitsa Eco Park is a starting point for walks and trails in Rila National Park—panoramas, fresh air, and nature just steps from the resort. Rila National Park is the largest national park in Bulgaria and one of Europe’s most beautiful natural reserves. Located in the southwestern part of the country, it covers over 81,000 hectares of the Rila Mountains—home to the highest peak in the Balkans, Musala (2,925 m), and to dozens of lakes, rivers, and peaks that shape a truly unique mountain panorama.
Aerial view of a snowy slope and run through the forest
Panoramic view of snowy valley and forests in the Rila Mountains
Aerial view of Malyovitsa in winter with snow-covered peaks
Scary Lake in the Rila Mountains
Yonchevo Lake in the Rila Mountains
Mountain trail with wildflowers and rocky peaks in the Rila Mountains near Malyovitsa
Wildflowers in a mountain meadow at Malyovitsa

A HOME OF LIFE, PURITY, AND HARMONY

Within the park you can find more than 2,000 plant species, many of them rare and protected. Bears, roe deer, red deer, wild goats, foxes, over 100 bird species, and dozens of rare insects live here—a testament to the richness and purity of Rila’s nature. The park includes four reserves—Parangalitsa, Ibar, Skakavitsa, and the Central Rila Reserve—under special UNESCO protection.

THE MOUNTAIN OF WATERS

Rila is also known as the “mountain of waters”—some of Bulgaria’s largest rivers spring from here: the Iskar, Maritsa, and Mesta.

With over 120 permanent lakes—including the Seven Rila Lakes, Strashnoto Lake, and Yonchevoto Lake—the park has a magical beauty and a calm, steady rhythm.

Rila offers dozens of hiking routes of different lengths and difficulty—from easy walks to challenging ascents. Each trail brings a new view, a new feeling, and a chance for a true encounter with nature at its purest.

Especially popular are the routes starting from Mecha Polyana and the Malyovitsa area, leading to peaks, lakes, and rock ridges.

Hiking in Rila
Climbing in the forests of Rila
Climber with rope

Conservation and sustainability

Rila National Park is not only a natural treasure, but also an example of sustainable development and responsible environmental management. Practices here include biodiversity protection, managing visitor pressure, and educating visitors about responsible behavior in nature.
More than 120 permanent lakes—including the Seven Rila Lakes, Strashnoto Lake, and Yonchevoto Lake—give the park its magical beauty and calm rhythm.