Starigrad Paklenica is a small harbour town situated on the Velebit Channel, close to Paklenica National Park, 40km south of Karlobag. It was first mentioned way back in Roman times and the settlement grew up on the foundations of the ancient town of Argyruntum. Today however, it is the centre of the Paklenica Riviera, a 20km stretch of coastline where the mountains meet the sea, making Starigrad equally attractive to both bathers and mountaineers.
Paklenica National Park provides the backdrop to Starigrad. It includes two canyons: Velika and Mala Paklenica (Grand and Small Paklenica). A creek flows through the 10km-long Velika Paklenica, and its steep sides are up to 400m high.