Sataplia: cave, dinosaur footprints and how to get there

Sataplia is a compact nature reserve near Kutaisi that packs several attractions into a small area: dinosaur footprints, a lit karst cave and a glass viewing platform over a cliff. That makes Sataplia easy to see in a couple of hours and simple to combine with the neighbouring sights of Imereti.

Why the reserve is famous

Sataplia lies on the slopes of the extinct Sataplia volcano, about 10 km north of Kutaisi. Its main scientific value lies in the Cretaceous dinosaur footprints discovered here back in 1933; today they’re sheltered under a protective pavilion and shown to visitors. The name “Sataplia” itself means “place of honey”: wild bees have long lived on these slopes.

The reserve’s second well-known feature is the karst cave. An underground river once flowed through it, and on its walls and ceilings are stalactites, stalagmites and other formations; for visitors they’re lit with coloured light and reached along laid-out walkways.

What to see

Besides the dinosaur footprints and the cave, Sataplia has a glass viewing platform - a balcony with a transparent floor that juts out over a cliff, opening up a panorama of the green hills of Imereti. Short forest trails run through the reserve, so a visit turns into a little walk with several “surprise stops”.

What to keep in mind when visiting

You go round the grounds along a set route, and a guide is included in the ticket, in Georgian, English or Russian. The cave is cool and damp even in the height of summer - a light warm layer and comfortable, non-slip shoes come in handy, as the walkways can be wet. If you’re afraid of heights, bear in mind that the viewing platform has a glass floor and hangs out over the slope, and that it’s closed to visitors in rain and snow.

Entry is 30 GEL for foreign visitors and 15 GEL for Georgian citizens and residents, who need to show ID. Anyone 6 to 18 pays 5.50 GEL - the agency’s Georgian page gives that rate to citizens and residents, so ask at the desk about a foreign child - and under-6s get in free. The reserve opens at 10:00 every day, all year round, with no closed day. Closing time moves with the season: as of October 2026 it is 17:30 on the agency’s Georgian page (in summer it was 18:00) and 17:00 on its English one - treat that as closing time rather than the latest arrival, since the agency doesn’t publish a last-entry time and the site takes a couple of hours to see.

Nearby

Sataplia lies close to Kutaisi and is usually combined in a single day with the Prometheus Cave and Okatse Canyon. The agency also sells a combined ticket for Prometheus, Sataplia and the smaller Navenakhevi Cave: 35 GEL for citizens and residents, 75 GEL for foreign visitors. Bought separately, Prometheus and Sataplia cost a foreign visitor 40 GEL plus 30 GEL and a resident 16 GEL plus 15 GEL, so the combo only pays off when Navenakhevi is on your list as well. The easiest way to get around the sights of Imereti is by car - for how to rent one, see the car hire section; more places are in the things to see section.