Project description
Encouraged by positive experience with the waterfall in the neighbouring village of Smolari, the inhabitants of the Kolesino village also arranged an access path to a natural rarity - the Kolesino Waterfall. A forest path was arranged, stairs were made of stone, and a panorama view spot was developed in the form of a wooden bridge above the waterfall itself. A wide media campaign was also initiated for the promotion of this natural beauty. The goal of a project called “The Kolesino Waterfall - getting in touch with beauty” has been to encourage local economic development by attracting visitors.
Contact
Kiro Tancev, president of the Kolesino neighbourhood unit, 034/351-422
Boro Zekirov, ecological association “Izvor”, 2/2 Kliment Ohridski St., Novo Selo, tel. 070/749-058.
opstinanovoselo@hotmail.com
Location
Village Kolesino, municipality of Novo Selo, Strumica region, southeastern Macedonia.
 About Kolesino and the Waterfall
Kolesino is located on the slopes i.e. at the foot of the picturesque mountain of Belasica, at a height of 630 metres above the sea level. There are some 400 households with 1300 inhabitants, known for their being good farmers and great producers of watermelon and peanuts. Several small businesses operate in the village that mostly make use of local resources, notably farming products and the wood. The mountainous river of Baba, coming down from mountain tops, makes several interesting cascades on this very spot. The waterfall is located beyond the village.
How to reach Kolesino?
You can reach Kolesino via Strumica. You can take a car from Skopje to Strumica, or a bus departing from Skopje to Strumica every hour. In summers, there is a coach bus line maintained between Strumica and Ohrid, and buses to other nearby towns also drive regularly.
There is a bus to Kolesino leaving Strumica in the morning, at noon, and at 6 p.m. At the Strumica coach bus station, you can also engage a van from those standing there and driving every 30 minutes for a price insignificantly higher than the price of bus tickets. There is a 20-kilometre asphalt road leading to Kolesino. You can reach the Waterfall if you pass through Kolesino and take a mountain path that is 1 kilometre long (accessible for cars also).
Where to stay overnight?
The nearest accommodation facilities are 5 kilometres away and are located in the village of Banja Bansko; this includes the “Tsar Samoil” hotel with 80 rooms and an indoor swimming pool. There is no organized private accommodation at the moment, but there exists interest in the development thereof.
Local specifics
As most of other neighbouring villages, Kolesino has excellent conditions for the growing of figs, kiwi, bluberries, currants, watermelon, etc.. If you visit the village in summer, don’t miss to taste some of these local fruits and, of course, do enjoy the flower gardens around each house. In the nearby village of Mokrino, visit the “Panorama” restaurant arranged in traditional style and offering excellent specialties characteristic for this region.
What can you see in the surroundings?
While staying in this picturesque area, you can visit the nearby Smolari Waterfall, 7 kilometres away and, on the way, the marvelous springs in the village of Mokrino. You can also visit the Bansko Spa with its geothermal waters, archeological sites from the Roman period, and the Monospitovo wetland. In the vicinity, you can visit the monastery of St. Eleusa of Vodoca from the 10th century.
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