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The Area

The Beaches of Karystos

The bay of Karystos is of a horse-shoe shape forming two headlands facing south, while its coastline is over 20 km long.

The western headland is called Paximada. Off the tip of the eastern headland, Cape Mandelo, there is the small islet of Mandili. Due to its key position for sailing within the Aegean sea the islet hosts a most-valuable lighthouse which navigates boats through the Straits of Cavodoro.

The massif that overlooks the bay (Mt Ochi) gradually loses its height towards the southern coasts, where it forms a series of beaches with shallow, warm and calm waters.

The beaches on the eastern coast have more rocky sea-beds in comparison with those of the northern and western coasts which are sandy and quite shallow.

All these beaches are very clean as Karystos is connected to a main sewage system and a biological waste disposal system, which eliminates any risk of water pollution caused by domestic detergents and other waste.

Οrganised beaches (with umbrellas, deckchairs, changing rooms, cafés, cantinas etc) are:

Psili Ammos beach 

It is the east beach of Karystos with a more cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is situated on the east edge of the town, some 600 m from its actual centre.
The beach faces south and the slopes which enclose it lend it a unique character as well as protection from the wind.
On the north side, with immediate access to the beach, there is a hotel with swimming pool, beach bar, sun-beds and umbrellas.
The beach is some 300 m long. It is covered with fine sand (hence its name) and the warm, shallow and safe waters make it suitable for families.
The seabed is sandy and the edges form rocky outcrops all the way to the shore.
Access is easy via the stone-flagged steps from the main coastal road of Karystos.
This beach offers good swimming and leisure opportunities and is therefore frequented by a large number of young people.

The 3 West beaches of Karystos

It starts from the western edge of the harbour, in the town centre, and stretches westwards for about 2 km. The first part is the west beach of Karystos, the middle part is called “Gallida” and the western part is “Rigia”, named after the river that discharges there, forming an interesting biotope.
The beach faces southwards. Parallel to the beach, throughout its whole length, runs the town’s coastal road which offers direct access to it. The road is separated from the beach by a line of “armirikia” (Tamarisk trees).
Along the most frequented parts of the beach there are changing cabins and showers.
On the east part of the beach there are deckchairs with umbrellas set up by the cafés along the front. That part of the beach is called Kremala.
It attracts a substantial number of visitors who enjoy the services offered by the various waterfront businesses (refreshments, drinks and food).
All along this stretch of beach (300m) the water is clear, shallow and warm with a sandy sea-bottom, which makes it safe for young children.

Immediately to the west the beach is still sandy, apart from a stretch of about 250m of rocky sea-bed which is suitable for snorkeling and amateur underwater fishing. About 7-8m off the beach the sea-bed is sandy again.

The tamarisk trees bordering the northern side of the beach offer good shade. There are also permanent straw umbrellas all along the beach. At the west edge of this part of the beach there is a slipway for the launching of small leisure boats.

From there starts the part of the beach called “Gallida”, which stretches westwards for about 750 m. The beach is sandy with calm shallow waters, suitable for the whole family.
The tamarisk trees and the umbrellas offer good shade. There is also a cantina and a small river that flows parts of the year, forming an interesting little biotope. It is accessed directly from the main road.

The westernmost part of the beach is called "Rigia". This is also a sandy beach (about 550 long), with sandy sea-bed and rather shallow waters.  What makes this part of the coast distinctive is that here the row of tamarisk trees separates the beach from a small biotope of about 1000 m2 on its north side. This is the mouth of the river Rigia and the low-lying vegetation that grows here consists mainly of bamboos and reeds.  This area floods during the winter rains until late in the spring and forms a natural habitat for various species of migratory swamp birds. Various kinds of fish, mainly salt water fish that swim upstream from the sea, are also found in the river.

In the western extremity of the beach we find 2-3 picturesque small beaches separated from the rest by high rock formations, which also offer good shade.  The extensive sandy seabed in this part of the bay of Karystos is a great biotope that shelters a large variety of shellfish which, in their turn, provide food for octopi and seabed fish. Hence, the area attracts the attention of amateur fishermen and snorkelers.

Alykes beach (Kavos)

It is situated in the east, southeast part of the bay of Karystos, about 5.5 km from the town centre. The area is called Alykes, or Kavos. The beach faces southeast and its western extremity is sheltered from the north winds. There is a cantina, sun loungers and umbrellas. The beach is about 450m long.

It is mainly a sandy beach with some pebbly areas. Due to its extensive length, the seabed is not uniform. The water is largely shallow and sandy and at the edges there are rocky formations that stretch back to the shore.

This is a beach frequented by all age groups.

The variation of sand and rock continues further off the shore, making the water ideal for snorkeling and amateur fishing. It is generally a good beach for water sports.

It is easily accessible via the asphalted road that comes from Karystos.
Starting from Karystos we head east and after the village of Aetos we take the right hand turn and follow the coastal road. At the west extremity of the beach there are high rocks that offer natural shade and shelter from the sun.

Bouros beach – Agalma

It is situated in the south-easternmost part of the bay of Karystos, approximately 10 km from the town centre.
The area is called Bouros. The beach faces southeast and is sheltered from all the winds. There is a cantina as well as deck-chairs with umbrellas.
It is a sandy beach, approximately 80 m long, with relatively shallow and calm waters, which makes it ideal for families.  After about 20-25m off the shore, the seabed becomes rocky and offers itself to snorkeling explorations and amateur fishing.

It is easily accessible from the main road which is asphalted from Karystos to Bouros. Starting from Karystos we head east and after the village of Aetos we take the right hand turn and follow the coastal road.

On the west extremity of the beach, built on top of a rocky outcrop, there is a distinctive statue depicting “the centaur and the nymph”, work of a folk artist.
There is also a slipway for the launching of small leisure boats.

Νon organised beaches

Some of them are close to inhabited areas and thus easily accessible and others are more remote and unspoiled. All can be found on the listed map along the sea shore.

10 beautiful Remote beaches in the Cavo d’Oro

For most of the east coastline of Karystia, Mt Ochi maintains a high altitude and as it meets the sea it causes the formation of many high cliffs and few beaches. It is mainly the mountain torrents that over the years have cut through the mountain, forming narrow valleys and gorges and quaint beaches at their mouths. Access to these beaches by land is rather hard. It is much easier to reach them by boat. There are few which are accessible by fairly good roads.
In the vast majority, these beaches are remote and are enclosed by high cliffs.
All of them face east and their seabed, either sandy or rocky, shows all the characteristics of a coastline that is weathered by large waves. It gains sudden depth, has very little algae and almost no shells.
These large waves are a result of the strong air and water currents formed in the straits between Karystia and the Cycladic island of Andros.

1. Potami beach

It is the most popular beach on the southern part of the cape “Cavo d' Oro” coastline.
From Karystos we head east and go through the village of Aetos. At the end of the village we come to a forked junction. We take the left-hand fork. The road starts climbing quite high and we head north (we are 11.5 km from Karystos). From this point on we lose sight of the bay and the town. On our right we have the view of the Cavo d' Oro Straits and the island of Andros. We follow the asphalted road to the village of Platanistos. 2 km after Platanistos we turn right into a dirt road, following the signs to the hamlet of Potami.
The distance is about 30km from Karystos.
The area was named Potami (potami=river) after the river that flows from the village of Panochori, higher up on the mountain, crosses Platanistos and ends in a small and fertile valley by the sea. Just before it flows into the sea the river crosses a plane-tree forest and in the summer, when the water is low, the area under the trees is popular with campers.

The beach is mostly sandy, with some pebbly sections and its seabed is not uniform. Near the shore the water is relatively shallow and sandy, with some rocky formations in parts. As we swim away from the shore, it suddenly becomes deeper and the seabed consists of sand and fine pebbles with beautiful turquoise water.

The beach is about 1km long and quite wide (up to 150m at its southern tip) and it is enclosed at both ends by high cliffs.

Very close to the beach there are three taverns which offer food and basic supplies. There is also a small unit with rooms to let.
It is an area that combines natural beauty, tranquility and isolation with the option of some facilities.

2. Kastri beach

Kastri is a hamlet situated on the southern part of the Cavo d' Oro coastline. The hamlet is built on the hills which enclose a small east-facing cove that is blessed with all the advantages of a natural harbour.
The beach stretches in a circular shape for about 350m and is in parts sandy with some pebbles and small rocks. The seabed is sandy with some rocky formations and the water is calm and safe.
This area offers great historical and archaeological interest. In the ancient years this natural harbour (Geraistos) was very important due to its strategic navigational position and was used as a key post for the expeditions of many mighty fleets in different historical eras. Many archaeological finds have also been recorded there.
There is a small store in the north side of the cove which provides food and basic supplies.
From Karystos we head east and go through the village of Aetos. At the end of the village we come to a forked junction. We take the left-hand fork. The road starts climbing quite high and we head north (we are 11.5 km from Karystos). From this point on we lose sight of the bay and the town. On our right we have the view of the Cavo d'Oro Straits and the island of Andros. We come to a tight bend (this location is marked "Tsolias" and we are now at about 11.9 km from Karystos) and from there we turn right into a dirt road which meanders past a wind farm and descends towards the east coast. After about 19.6 km from Karystos we reach Kastri.

3.  Amigdalia beach

It is situated on the north part of the eastern coastline of Karystia, near the village of Amigdalia which is at a distance of about 62.5 km from Karystos.

The beach faces east and it is small and mostly sandy with some small stones.
The seabed is rocky and ideal for snorkeling and amateur fishing.
From Karystos we head east and go through the village of Aetos. At the end of the village we come to a forked junction. We take the left-hand fork. The road starts climbing quite high and we head north (we are 11.5 km from Karystos). From this point on we lose sight of the bay and the town. On our right we have the view of the Cavo d' Oro Straits and the island of Andros. We follow the asphalted road to the village of Platanistos. The main road becomes a dirt road 5km after Platanistos and continues as such for about 34km north until the village of Amigdalia. We go through the village and 1.5km after we come to the beach.
At the south tip of the beach there is a small harbour for fishing boats, which makes access by boat quite easy.

4. Zacharia beach (Mylos)

It is situated on the north part of the eastern coastline of Karystia, 3km from the village of Zacharia which is at a distance of about 58 km from Karystos. The beach faces east and is about 40m long; it is sandy but there are also parts covered with fine pebbles. The water deepens quite sharply and 1-2m from the shore the seabed becomes rocky, ideal for snorkeling and amateur fishing.
A mountain torrent flows into the beach all year round. Its water runs over the rocks, creating beautiful colours and shapes. Two geological formations are the main characteristic of this beach. These are two huge boulders, one on the beach and the other in the water, sculptured over the years by the waves and the running water into unique pieces of natural art.

At the right end of the site, some 50m off the beach, we find a large and spacious cave. You can swim to it or access it by boat. A small beach that has been formed inside the cave serves as a shelter for seals. It is believed that this cave was a hideout for the submarine "Papanikolis", which was operating in the Cavo d' Oro straits during WW2.This is a beach that offers you relaxation and isolation in a beautiful natural setting, while the plane trees further up the gorge provide good shade.

From Karystos we head east and go through the village of Aetos. At the end of the village we come to a forked junction. We take the left-hand fork. The road starts climbing quite high and we head north (we are 11.5 km from Karystos). From this point on we lose sight of the bay and the town. On our right we have the view of the Cavo d' Oro Straits and the island of Andros. We follow the asphalted road to the village of Platanistos. The main road becomes a dirt road 5km after Platanistos and continues as such for about 30km north until the village of Zacharia. 2km before Zacharia, we follow a dirt track that turns off to the right and leads to the beach. The track stops 10' before the beach. From there, we follow a path that runs along the river and goes past an old watermill (hence the name of the beach).

5. Archaboli beach

The beach is at the exit of Archaboli gorge, on the north part of the east coastline of Karystos. The area is full of surprises not only for its natural beauty but also for its historical and archaeological importance. Ancient ruins scattered all around the area stimulate our curiosity and admiration for the feats of our ancestors.

The river that flows through the gorge starts from Mt. Ochi and flows into the small bay of Archaboli, whose aspect is often altered by the huge waves that wash onto the beach.

Access is possible via two footpaths (besides boat access). One starts from the village of Thimi and the other from the village of Evangelismos.
From Karystos we head east and go through the village of Aetos. At the end of the village we come to a forked junction. We take the left-hand fork. The road starts climbing quite high and we head north (we are 11.5 km from Karystos). From this point on we lose sight of the bay and the town. On our right we have the view of the Cavo d' Oro Straits and the island of Andros. We follow the asphalted road to the village of Platanistos. The main road becomes a dirt road 5km after Platanistos and continues as such for about 42.5km north until the village of Evangelismos and 49km until Thimi.

Thimi-Archaboli footpath: The footpath starts from the main road on the edge of Thimi and descends through the hamlet of Arabaleika, where it joins the path that comes from Zacharia, at about 800m from the sea. The path runs just below the cliffs that enclose the impressive bay of Archaboli and ends at the north tip of the beach. The distance from Thimi is about 3km.

Evangelismos-Archaboli footpath: Climbing up from Evangelismos, the path joins the junction with the main road and continues on or alongside the dirt road for about 1km. When it reaches the saddle on the south side of the bay, it starts descending towards the beach from an altitude of about 200m. This section of the path is the most impressive as it offers open views of the bay, the gorge and the ancient ruins on the beach but it is also the hardest because of the rough, rocky and eroded terrain and the fact that for about 1km the path is not visible. This route is about 4km long.
If you have a boat, access is easier from the sea.

6. Evangelismos beach

It is situated on the north part of the eastern coastline of Karystia, 1km from the village of Evangelismos which is at a distance of about 47.5 km from Karystos.
The beach faces east and it is enclosed by steep cliffs which offer good shelter from the winds. It is about 60m long.
This is a sandy beach with some pebbly sections and here the seabed is not uniform. The water deepens sharply for most of its length and is pebbly near the shore with some rocky sections, which makes it ideal for snorkeling and amateur fishing.
On the west side of the beach there are plane trees which offer thick shade.
From Karystos we head east and go through the village of Aetos. At the end of the village we come to a forked junction. We take the left-hand fork. The road starts climbing quite high and we head north (we are 11.5 km from Karystos). From this point on we lose sight of the bay and the town. On our right we have the view of the Cavo d' Oro Straits and the island of Andros. We follow the asphalted road to the village of Platanistos. The main road becomes a dirt road 5km after Platanistos and continues as such for about 20km north until the village of Evangelismos.

7. Dipotamos beach 

This beach can be accessed by boat and lies further south from the beach of Evangelismos.
It is a small beach, about 40m long, and very well sheltered from the winds as it is formed in a deep recess of the bay.
It is covered with sand and fine pebble and its main feature is the waterfall that cascades onto the beach when, during the rainy periods, it flows in full torrent.
It is a beach that combines natural beauty with peace and isolation.

8. Limionas (Spilitses) and Linari beach

These are two beautiful and remote beaches that lie in the centre of the Cavo d' Oro coastline. They are about 150m each and they face east.
From Karystos we head east and go through the village of Aetos. At the end of the village we come to a forked junction. We take the left-hand fork. The road starts climbing quite high and we head north (we are 11.5 km from Karystos). From this point on we lose sight of the bay and the town. On our right we have the view of the Cavodoro Straits and the island of Andros. We follow the asphalted road to the village of Platanistos and at about 29 km from Karystos we come across a cluster of wind turbines. Just before this wind farm, we follow a dirt road that goes off to the right. This dirt road descends towards the coast, following a line of wind turbines. Further down the hill, it is easier to follow the power cables (a series of wooden electricity poles). We reach a point where we are facing a hillock with 5-6 turbines on top, separate from the rest of the wind farm. At that point there is a forked junction (we are now 31km from Karystos).
If we turn left, we get to Limionas. The road descends steeply and goes past the last of the turbines, through the narrow valley and ends near the beach. We come across a small chapel where we leave the car and from there we walk for about 5'.
If we turn right, we head south. We must pay attention not to turn left into the first dirt track that we come across after the first 150-200m. We stay on the same road which will take us across onto the opposite hillside to the south. We go over a saddle and descend towards the beach until we eventually reach Linari.
From the main road to the beaches, the dirt roads are not in good condition and a four-wheel drive is often necessary.
Both beaches are sandy outside and inside the water, and the high rocky outcrops that enclose them offer good shelter from the winds.
On Limnionas beach there is also a water-well and the little caves that are formed in the rocks offer good shelter from the sun and any adverse weather conditions. The area is called Spilitses after these caves (caves=spilitses).
These beaches offer isolation and tranquillity. Their natural beauty is unparalleled and the colour of the water there is unique.
If you have a boat, access is easier by sea.

9. Livadi, Platis Gialos and Agioi beach 

These are small, spare beaches on the south part of the Cavo d' Oro coastline.
They are a mixture of sand, pebbles and rocks and the seabed is suitable for snorkeling and amateur fishing.
They combine natural beauty with a remote and peaceful environment.
There are two ways to access these beaches.
From Karystos we head east and go through the village of Aetos. At the end of the village we come to a forked junction. We take the left-hand fork. The road starts climbing quite high and we head north (we are 11.5 km from Karystos). From this point on we lose sight of the bay and the town. On our right we have the view of the Cavo d' Oro Straits and the island of Andros. We come to a tight bend (this location is marked "Tsolias" and we are now at about 11.9 km from Karystos) and from there we turn right into a dirt road which meanders past a wind farm and descends towards the east coast.
The other way is to turn right after the village of Aetos and follow the coastal road that leads to Bouros, at the southern tip of the bay of Karystos (10km from the town).
The asphalted road ends there and a coastal dirt road continues and takes us to the above beaches.

10. Avlakia beach 

Avlakia is the part of the coast which starts after Bouros, on the eastern tip of the bay of Karystos, and stretches east to Cape Mandelo and the lighthouse. It faces south and is the south-easternmost part of Karystia and Evia.
As the land slopes into the sea, it creates 5-6 promontories quite close to each other which enclose a series of small beaches.
Because this part of the coastline is exposed to the open sea, the waves here are often severe. The rocks are mostly limestone and schist and over the years sea erosion has formed caves, rocky platforms over the water and large grooves in the boulders. The seabed also displays many alcoves and interesting rocky formations.
Here you will enjoy the peace and quiet of a small beach, the beautiful rocky landscapes but above all the sense of isolation. It is an ideal spot for snorkelling and amateur fishing.
From Karystos we follow the main costal road east and after the village of Aetos we come to a forked junction. We take the right-hand fork and we continue on the coastal road that leads to Bouros, at the southern tip of the bay of Karystos (10km from the town). The asphalted road ends there and we continue on a dirt road. After a tight left bend we lose sight of Karystos and we arrive in Avlakia.

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