SKALA and the South

Skala: Blue Flag. Watersports. Beautiful sandy beach with shallow waters backed by a small pine forest. Plenty of sun-beds and beach umbrellas available and choice of snack-bars. Water sports centre on the beach. This is one of the most popular beach resorts on the island.

From Skala beach you can walk for about 45 mins to one hour allong the coastline to reach Mounda beach.

From the village of Radzakli, take the road down to the long sandy beaches of Potamakia and Kaminia with warm shallow water. The local area known as Kaminia which is plural for the Greek word 'kamini' (kiln) took its name from the roof-tile artisanship that flourished in the south hill-side village Ratzakli.
PHOTO from
www.kateliosgroup.org<

The bay at Mounda stretches for miles out towards Cape Mounda and it is here that the caretta caretta turtles return from great distances to lay their eggs. Learn the Turtle Code before visiting this beach and if you bring your own beach umbrella, make sure you use it as near to the shoreline as possible, so as not to disturb any turtle's nests. The water is usually warm here and it is so shallow that it is quite a walk out to just get in past your knees. There is a small cantina with sunbeds for hire. Please visit this website for local conservation
www.kateliosgroup.org

Traditionally a fishing and farming village, the local beach of sand and shingle has a selection of tavernas, famous for their fresh fish and a beach bar nearby. The sand is not the bright yellow to be found in Skala and Lassi but the beach is awarded the Blue Flag each year for its cleanliness.

Ag. Varvara, or Ag. Barbara Beach located in Elios-Pronni district. Katelios is a rural, urban beach resort.Its beautiful sand and pebble beach is 200m long and 15-20metres wide, offering visitors a variety of activities such as environmental education with seminars and lectures and beach clean operations. Local facilities include rent a car and motor-boat rentals. Nearby, Eucalyptus and Pine trees, rose-bay bushes add to the resort's tranquil beauty. The beach is accessible by foot, car and bicycle.
More information from the municipal website
www.elios-pronnoi.gr.

From the village of Thiramona, walk down a steep path to the quiet sandy beach or hire a boat from Katelios. Mix up a mud pack with the therapeutic clay with algae which is found here!

Accessible only by boat is the lovely bay of Lefka which is in the area of Platies/Aghios Grigoris.

Reached by rough track past the Sissia monastery, this is an uncommercialised sand and pebble beach with three bays and a fresh-water spring. Only those driving 4x4 should even think about attempting the road towards this beach.

Blue Flag beach. Watersports.
The second largest bay in Kefalonia, Lourdas provides wonderful swimming with views to Zakynthos and a backdrop of Mount Ainos. Also known as Lourdata Beach.

There is a small snack bar on the sand and shingle beach which has sunbeds for hire. There are a few tavernas along the beach to chose from, all serving traditional Greek food. A long, steep and winding road runs down to the beach from the village of Vlahata on the main Argostoli to Poros road.

The beach of Lithero is sandy and within the large sweeping Bay of Lourdas. Accessible from Lourdas beach or by a rough track from above the beach.

Lithero taverna is situated on this beach and the next sandy stretch is Kanali beach - also reached by rough track. The tracks down to these beaches have difficult access and sensible footwear is needed (trainers not sandals).

Lovely panoramic coastal views can be seen from the top of Kanali beach.

The sandy beaches of Trapezaki (Little Table) are also within the Bay of Lourdas.

This is accessible by a steep but well-surfaced road from the village of Moussata. The beach is divided by a small marina for local fishermen and motor-boats. The beach on the right hand side has a small beach bar which offers sunbeds and umbrellas for hire. This beach to the right is actually the beach known as Trapezaki.

At the end of the road leading down to Trapezaki you will find a taverna which is open in the summer season.
For anyone with walking difficulties you can drive very close to the sunbeds by this taverna and the taverna has a ramp and facilities for wheelchair users.

To the left of this area past the small fishermen's jetty are sandy coves of Kaminia (not to be confused with Kaminia beach at Mounda ) where there are sunbeds available for hire. A small beach cantina is open in high season.

Not so much a beach, more a collection of rock formations providing excellent sunbathing platforms, with steps down to the sea below. Snorkelling is great around these volcanic rock formations.

There is also a small sandy cove. Showers are available and there are two small tavernas open in the summer. Access is by road through the village of Karavados with its natural spring waters.

This is the local port for the ferry to Zakynthos and there is no real beach here, although it is possible to reach a small cove, down some steps with flat rocks nearby for sunbathing. There are no beach facilities except the cantina serving the ferry port. There is also a small fishermen's harbour with rocks suitable for snorkelling.

This is a haven for sailing because of the local wind conditions. Spartia bay incorporates the large clay rock called Hatzokli, Klimatsias and Thermanti beaches. There are some interesting rocks which are encrusted with fossilized shells and this is a good area for snorkelling. There is a small jetty used by local fishermen. Klimatsias beach has a sandy and a rocky part with easy access by road with parking space.

Above this beach you will find the Waterway restaurant and the cafe-bar at Panas Hotel. Set between the beach and Panas you will find the small church of Agios Nikolaos. Hatzokli is a long strip of sandy beach which is more private and less crowded with rocks circling roundthe beach. Facilities above Klimatsias beach can be accessed. Thermanti beach is less accessible and can be reached by car then a steep track. Take water with you as no facilities are available on this beach.

The small cove of Nipsias is best accessed by boat. There is a narrow track leading down to it from the Liakas villas. Take care when swimming here as there are strong currents and deep waters. Good place for snorkelling.

The other side of the long stretch of rocks at Avithos is Paliolinos, which is a small rocky cove. Access is by road from Kleismata village. Difficult access into the sea and no facilities here make it suitable only for keen snorkellers and those who prefer sunbathing on the rocks.

BF (BLUE FLAG) TT (Turtle Territory)
Avithos is a long sandy south facing beach which is protected by sloping sandstone cliffs and extends 400 metres to the east towards a headland. The beach faces the small island of Dias, where in antiquity there was an altar of Zeus. Now you can see the tiny white chapel of the Panayia Vlahernon, with many steps carved in the rock leading up from the jetty. The sea at Avithos is shallow and the beach is generally uncrowded, making it a safe haven for children.

There is a taverna above the beach and a family run taverna almost on the beach. There is also a beach bar serving drinks and snacks and offering sun-beds and beach umbrellas for hire.

The far end of the beach on the left towards the headland is a more rocky area giving some privacy from the rest of the sandy beach and this tends to attract nudists.

Turtles love sandy beaches like Avithos, so please follow the turtle code.

Towards the west and past an outcrop of rocks there are a further two sheltered bays with massive rocks lying in the sea - locally known as Megalipetra beach.
This is more secluded than the beach at Avithos with no facilities available. Access is by road and rough track. At this quiet beach is is possible to see the rough legged buzard and other birds of prey who soar on the thermal air currents. This is a perfect location for snorkelling. Bring drinks and beach umbrellas with you.

Situated close to the village of Svoronata Ai-Helis is a tiny secluded bay with mink coloured sand, with access down a long steep track and some steps. The small beach is on the coastline between the beaches of Avithos & Megalipetra and Ammes

Close to the village of Svoronata Aghia Pelagia is a small cove with a local fishermen's marina. It is accessible from the road opposite the Irinna hotel in Svoronata. Recent works have taken place to expand its use as a marina.

This is a small sandy beach with a local cantina and sunbeds available for hire. It has easy access from the nearby road, which runs from Svoronata to Ammes. It is advisable to swim close to the coast as there can be some undercurrents.

Close to the airport with some low flying planes!

Minies is a tiny village not far from the airport, with one mini-market and a taverna nearby. It is completely underdeveloped for tourism because of the proximity to the airport and the fear of aircraft noise. However, although the beaches at Minies are in the flight path, there is not much noise as the level of aircraft is low. In high season there are a few domestic flights each day and the UK charter flights operate 4 times a week.

Taking the road from Svoronata which runs parallel to the runway, the first small secluded cove you find is Eglina. Beyond a rocky outcrop is the longer sandy beach of Megas Amos. There are some interesting rocks in this bay suitable for snorkelling.