Haxhi Ali Cave, Limestone cave in Karaburun Peninsula, Albania

Haxhi Ali Cave is a limestone cave on the coast of the Karaburun Peninsula in Albania. It has a main passage that leads into the rock and opens onto an underground lake sitting at the far end.

The cave takes its name from Haxhi Ali, an Albanian fighter from Ulcinj who used it to hide from pirates. The coast around the Karaburun Peninsula was a dangerous stretch of water during that period.

The cave served as a shelter for people passing through the region over many centuries. Its name reflects the long history of travelers and those seeking refuge in this coastal location.

The cave is only reachable by sea, so visitors typically join a boat tour departing from Vlora. Calm weather makes entry much easier, as the cave opens directly onto the water.

The cave's Albanian name Shpella e Ilirëve, the Illyrian Cave, is older than the Haxhi Ali name. Archaeologists found fragments of amphorae from the first centuries of the common era at the entrance, showing the cave was used by ancient traders. Its walls also hold slanted stalactites of possibly organic origin.