Beach Guide
When we first visited the area
in February 2004, we found the beaches amazing- great sweeps
of sand with stunning views and not a soul on them. When we returned in
July/August, we expected the beaches to be just as beautiful but full of people.
We were astonished to find them just as empty as they had been in February!
Without a doubt, the quality and variety of nearby beaches is probably the
most compelling reason to visit the area, though there are many others.
Below is a sample of just a few of the very many nearby beaches all within
easy reach,
starting with the nearest.
Velikas Beach
This long sweep of sandy beach faces south and nestles in the arms of the
two peninsulas of the Mani and Messinian County. It is about a 15 minute
drive and is probably our favourite beach. The area we go to even has a
small river flowing out into the sea,
and in the early summer evenings we have heard nightingales singing in the trees along the river
bank. It is an amazingly beautiful and peaceful location, backed entirely by
farmland. There is an area of Eucalyptus trees for shade if the
sun is too hot, but the one end there is a beach bar which is open in high
summer.
A gentle breeze usually keeps the temperature on this beach comfortable.
Due to the immense size of this beach there is never any problem going naked
as it is easy to find an area where there is no-one else within sight. Panoramic View
Smuggler's Cove
This beach is our little
secret and is just oustide our local village of kalamaki. It is a charming
little cove all
by itself and is always deserted. However, reaching it is not for the
faint-hearted, as the last few metres,
after and easy walk through native scrub, involves a fairly steep scramble
down the rocks to reach the beach below.
Romanos Beach
About an hours drive from Fig Leaf Villas will bring you to this