Vatsa & Vrachinari, the hidden pearls of Kefalonia

 Fresh sea food, beautiful sandy beaches, brilliant sunsets at the sea side and much more; you can find them all on these hidden gems of Paliki, Kefalonia.

9 km away from Lixouri, in the south part of Paliki peninsula, you will discover 2 fantastic places, Vatsa and Vrachinari.

These beautiful spots have long, sandy beaches and taverns were you will be delighted by the fresh local dishes. Both of them are situated in a quite big bay in Kounopetra region.

Vatsa has a hippy flavor with its newly renovated fish tavern, right on the beachfront. Have a taste of fried calamari and tsipouro while having your feet in the sand. Relax your senses with the waves crashing near by. There are sunbeds, umbrellas and even a new beach bar there.

Go over the small river using the floating bridge and explore the surroundings for fantastic views of the bay on one side and mesmerizing sunsets on the other.

Rent a boat if you feel adventurous and sail to the incredible Platia Ammos. Ask for Evropi, the daughter of the owner, and she will make sure you get all the best plus a friend for life.

Looking for a wide sandy beach, ideal for sunbathing and relaxation? Go to Vrachinari. Enjoy a draft cold beer in the small beach bar or dip into the clear Ionian Sea. Feeling energetic? Gather around some friends and locals and enjoy a game of volleyball on the improvised beach court.

Are you a sunset by the sea side lover as I am? Than here is the best spot for that. Head into Remetzo Restaurant for a delightful dinner with a view. Ask for Fotis, the maitre, and you'll get a friendly face to suggest you the best dishes.

Enjoy a fantastic time under grape vines, taste the local wine and delight yourself with some of the most incredible sunset colors on the island.

While you're in the area go check out Kounopetra rock and the beautiful beaches near by. Head to Lagadakia beach for a refreshing swim and a good snorkeling session. Rent a boat and travel around Vardiani islet, all the way to the buzzing red sand beach, Xi.

Wanna see more? Discover the wild yet magnificent Agia Eleni beach.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi

Into the wilderness: Lagadakia beach, Kefalonia 2020

Dive into the Ionian blue and relax on another hidden gem of Kefalonia Island, Lagadakia beach. It is a small bay located 40 km west of Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia, and 10 km away from Lixouri. It is known for its grey pebbles in all shapes and sizes, clear blue water and untouched surroundings.

The beautiful landscape around the beach include mountains in the distance, short grass and brown dust that gives you the impression you are in the wild west and rocky formations around the bay. There is also a lighthouse close by and I'll tell you more details below.

Lagadakia is a remote beach, it is a great place to relax and enjoy some peaceful moments with your friends and family. It gets pretty crowded especially in July and August. Most of the people who come here are locals as this beach is not quite well known. There is some space above the beach that works as a parking, pretty dusty though.

If you are looking for deep and clean waters to practice some snorkeling, the pebbly seafloor of Lagadakia is a great choice. As the beach is not very popular, it provides no facilities like sunbeds and umbrellas. Instead, the rocky outcrops act as natural shaded areas for the tourists. They are also advised to carry plenty of water.

Lagadakia beach offers a hidden surprise at the back of the hill on the right hand side as you reach it by car. Take the little trail which climbs up the hill on your right and walk for few minutes to find another more impressive cove. 

If you want to reach it directly you can find the rural road that guides you just above it and just walk down the trail by GPS. This secluded beach is even more private and has natural shades in the caves formed on its left and right.

Lagadakia is also known for having some of the clearest and coldest water. Special shoes are requiered as the beach and the seabed are rocky.

For a day trip you can also walk to the desert-like, interesting landscape of Gero Gobos Lighthouse, 2km away or visit Kipoureon Monastery and Platia Ammos for an incredible sunset view.

Originally built in 1907, Gero Gombos lighthouse was destroyed by the German troops and rebuild in 1947. The altitude of the tower is 13 metres and the height of focal plane is 58 metres.

Gero Gombos lighthouse is just that, a lighthouse on a road to nowhere. The views are breathtaking and you can take some stunning photos but that's it. You cannot enter the lighthouse, which I was hoping to do and there is a big 'Do not enter sign' at the gate. Otherwise you can drive into the parking lot anyway and walk around for a bit.

While visiting Paliki it is a must to spend quality time at Agia Eleni beach, a hidden gem that will blow your mind with its fascinating landscape. Also you will be mesmerized by the beautiful views and sunsets over Petani beach.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi

Kimilia beach, Kefalonia - another hidden corner of heaven

Once a well kept secret and the refuge of locals during the busiest summer months, Kimilia is a corner of paradise.

Located at 2,9 km away from Fiskardo and 47 km from Argostoli it is an oasis of tranquility with crystal clear water and surrounded by greenery. You can also reach Kimilia following a woodland path from Emblisi beach (15min), through the forest. Otherwise while driving north you will turn left in the village of Germenata and pay attention to the road signs.

I've visited Kimilia twice, in 2017 and 2020. This summer I followed the road, past some fields with olive trees and park the car on an off road parking. You will see on your left side a path leading through a forest to the beach. The road is a bit steep but at least you will enjoy the shade. In approximately 10 minutes your sight will be delighted with the amazing shades of blue that the Ionian Sea has to offer.

Before going down to the beach adventure yourself a bit left and right for beautiful views of the small bay. Be sure to bring with you food and drinks as this beach has no facilities. White pebbles cover it so I recommend sport shoes and special ones for swimming.

Kimilia is ideal for sunbathing, relaxing and snorkeling as the water is very clear. The rocks surrounding the beach are a good place for diving even though personally I don't encourage that.

Last summer at the beginning of August it was busy in the middle of the day. As an alternative I chose Dafnoudi, which usually is less crowded. You can find all the details HERE. From Kimilia you can see Lefkada Is..

Off the beaten track explorer, looking for more hidden gems on Kefalonia?! Take a look at Agia Eleni and Kato Lagadi and be sure that they will end up on your bucket list for next summer. 

 'till next time, take care. 

Beldi

Dafnoudi beach, Kefalonia - another piece of heaven on Earth

Mesmerizing white pebbled beach, surrounded by lush greenery, Dafnoudi is ideal for snorkeling and relaxation.

Located in the north of Kefalonia island, Erissos, it is the place you can combine with a day trip to the village of Fiskardo. By car it is 47 km away from Argostoli, approximately 1 hour 15 min.

Dafnoudi is the beach of the Antipata village and it’s a piece of heaven on Earth. On the way to Fiskardo, exactly where the village ends, we turn left and drive on for about 1,5 km. Don't worry, there are signs leading to the place where you can park your car on the side of the road. From that point onwards, the nature of Erissos is revealed intensely as the way to reach the beach is by following a path that leads to it. 

It’s a quite wide and safe path with very tall old cypress trees covering the hot summer sun, offering natural shade throughout the entire route, which only lasts about 10 minutes. Walking the path, one feels like he’s on a green mountain and expects to see anything else but a beautiful beach. But suddenly appears lovely Dafnoudi with its marvelous turquoise to green water.

I recommend you take some footwear suitable to tackle the trek down. Also be sure to take your own food/drinks as there are no facilities on the beach. There is some natural shade at the edge of the beach until noon so an umbrella is more than welcomed.

Dafnoudi is a small, untouched, white pebbled bay with a view towards Lefkada. The waters here are calm and the colors vary from blue to green. At the right side of the beach there is a beautiful cave with a small shaded beach inside. There in the intense coolness one can enjoy the view of the sea or swim and exit the cave swimming this time. It’s a romantic environment which remains unforgettable to the visitor and everybody wants to revisit.

The beach is a shelter for the monk seals Monachus - Monachus. If you are lucky you may come across one.

I've visited the beach for the first time at the beginning of August 2020. There were about 20 - 30 people there on a Saturday afternoon. I totally enjoyed swimming and sunbathing even though the pebbles on the beach can be quite annoying while laying on them.

I've went up a bit on both sides of the beach to take some pics and I didn't regret it. The views are wonderful.

The little cave on the right side proved to be a magnet for photos, girls and boys were trying their best pose for Instagram. 

Unfortunately after Ianos Medicane hit Kefalonia in the middle of September, Dafnoudi is almost unrecognizable. The whole beach has been affected. It looks like some Titan just blew the whole place up. You can see some pictures HERE.

Kefalonia provides some of the most exquisite places for snorkeling and sunbathing. Its natural beauty can be admired on beaches such as Petani, Vouti or Agia Eleni.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi