Petani beach, Kefalonia - The Caribbean blue in Greece

Yes, I've said it! The Caribbean blue has nothing on Petani. Probably the best beach in Paliki, the western peninsula of the island, Petani delights the visitors with its crystal clear water and wide beach.

My 7th summer on Kefalonia couldn't start otherwise than with a visit on Petani beach. Located 13km away from Lixouri, or 23 minutes by car, Petani is the gem you didn't know you need to discover.

The first sight takes your breath away as the whole bay, including a variety of green hills, other small beaches and the infinite Ionian blue unveil before your eyes. Stop on the top for a few pictures that will make all your friends jealous.

The road that leads to the beach is by itself an adventure. The steep curves will test your driving skills but believe me when I say it will all be worthy.

Once you get close to the beach you can either go left for the main attraction or right for a smaller, more private bay. If you decide to go to the right side, here's what you'll find.

Wonderful little white pebbles intertwine with the turquoise water. Be sure to bring adequate shoes, an umbrella and refreshments.

Feeling adventurous, like myself? Climb the big rock at the beginning of the beach for a 360 degrees view of this Ionian beauty.

Otherwise if you chose to go to the main beach there are a few restaurants and bars to choose from. Umbrellas and sun loungers are available to rent. There is a shower on the beach as well. During the busiest months, July, August, it will be a bit of a struggle to find a parking place but you can always leave the car further to the right and then have a small stroll on the beach.

What I like as well on Petani is that you can find both stripes of sandy and pebble beach. Also, except sunbathing, swimming or snorkeling you can go for a longer walk further to the left side until you reach a row of impressive rocks.

This beach has no water sports and load music is never played here so it is ideal for relaxation.

In the end Petani is one of my favorite spots to watch an incredible sunset by the seaside. You can either choose to do that while being down on the beach or you have the option to go up for a panorama view. Hotel Petani Bay View is my all time favorite place to unwind, have a cocktail by the infinity pool and get lost in the mirage of the sunset.

What do you think? Did I convinced you to visit Petani? For more details leave a comment below!

'Till next time, stay safe!

Beldi

Wanna discover more stunning places on Kefalonia?!

Look no further:

Kato Lagadi, Kefalonia, Greece - paradise beach 2020

Kefalonia 2020 - a must see guide to an unforgettable holiday

The pictures were taken with a Samsung Galaxy S20+

Traveling to Kefalonia. First days: Lixouri and Petani

Hello travelers.

Today I'm going to share with you details about my journey back to Kefalonia. It was 29th of May when I flew to Athens and then to the island. I was going back for the 5th time. As always I had a mix of excitement - about the new summer season, new colleagues and new experiences, happiness - thinking about seeing old friends, and a bit of nostalgia thinking that I'll be in the same place where I had so many memories with some of the people that I got attached to but which will not be there anymore.

The flights were smooth as always. I have never had a flight with great turbulences or any kind of trouble. As we started to descend towards Kefalonia I found myself smiling looking at the blue sea and the coast line. Very soon I will be on a beach, catching some sun. I grabbed a taxi from the airport to the harbor of Argostoli, I got on the ferry to Lixouri and I stopped for a beer and a pyta gyros in the main square.

I am lucky to have met amazing people from different countries and age groups. Working in hotels for the past 10 years allowed me to developed my social skills so I've became a flexible, easy adapting person.
The next couple of days I have met old friends and I have enjoyed their company - fresh food, sunny shores and plenty of laughs were the main attraction.
I've got a new haircut and I've walked on the streets of Lixouri village admiring the colorful houses and flowers.

If you're looking for a oasis of silence, good food and a pool to sunbathe next to, I recommend you Palatino hotel in Lixouri. When it comes to fresh, tasty dishes and a warm smile Marina is the best one.

When it comes to finding a quite close spot for a relaxation session, try Petani beach. It is less than 30 minutes away from Lixouri. The view is spectacular, the sunsets are a must see. The beach is long and quite wide, both with sand and pebbles. There are some restaurants and bars there and plenty of sunbeds. You can also explore the sides of the beach, on the far left there are plenty of rocks and hidden spots for nudists and on the right side, behind a big cliff there is another small beach with clear turquoise water.

Back to Ionian Sea Hotel, my work place for another season, it's getting pretty busy. Usually we started having a fully booked hotel after the 20th of June but this year it is absolutely crowded from the first day of the month. It is a clean, family hotel, situated on a remote location. It is the perfect spot for relaxation, leaving any kind of trace of the stressful city life behind.

Kids can enjoy the pools, the game fields, the water park and the shallow water beach in the hotel's vicinity. There are plenty of entertainment programmes for the entire family. The personal is the most kind I have ever met and the restaurant presents itself with a variety of dishes.

This is the place I will live and work for the next 4 months, on my 5th season on Kefalonia.

Next time we will talk about Vrahinari and Vatsa beaches, Kounopetra rock and the mistery behind it.

Have a great day, travelers.

Beldi

Cronicile Kefaloniene - ep.10: Plaja Petani

      Toamna aduce cu ea in Grecia o liniste bine venita dupa agitatia verii Nu spun ca gata, pleaca toti si ramanem noi linistiti insa simti in aer cum atmosfera se calmeaza. Dupa un sezon cel putin genial, presarat cu atatea aventuri si locuri noi, despre care puteti citi in capitolele anterioare, a venit si timpul despartirii. Le-am spus la revedere Paulinei si Marysei, fetele se intorc in Polonia pentru ultimul an de facultate, Paulina in Cracovia si Marysia pleaca pentru un semestru in Turcia cu Erasmus. In locul lor, pentru ultimele doua saptamani jumate din sezon, a venit o noua tipa, Asia, poloneza si ea. Dupa 6 luni petrecute in Corfu intr-un hotel foarte mare, trecerea la atmosfera familiala a micului hotel in care lucram este pentru ea surprinzatoare, insa e o fata descurcareata si se acomodeaza rapid. In prima zi libera de cand a sosit, impreuna si cu Rinata, urcam in masina si pornim la drum catre o noua destinatie: plaja Petani.

     Aflata tot pe partea vestica a insulei, undeva intre Platia Ammos si Myrthos, plaja Petani este cea mai populata dintre cele mentionate. Lasand la o parte drumul cel putin interesant care duce la ea, privelistea este extraordinara: apa turcoaz, plaja intinsa, nisip fin, taverne si baruri. Revenind la drum, de ce spun ca este cel putin interesant? Ei bine, pentru ca urci printre munti si ai o priveliste spectaculara de la inaltime, doar ca mai apoi sa cobori in curbe una mai stramta ca alta. Va dau un exemplu in filmuletul de mai jos puteti vedea un cuplu care filmeaza din masina drumul de care v-am povestit.



     Imi aduc aminte prima data cand am vizitat plaja, in toiul unei nopti de august , pentru o petrecere numita "Full Moon Party". Nu stiu sigur daca a fost luna plina dar cu siguranta imi amintesc multimea de oameni veseli dansand pe plaja si pe stanci, unii se aruncau in apa iar altii socializau relaxati pe sezlonguri si hamace. Eram doar cu Rinata iar ea conducea deci avea interdictie la alcool. Da, da, buna asta! Sa-i interzici unei rusoaice alcoolul!! Dupa cateva whisky+suc de mere Rinata a mea, inota la 5 dimineata ca sa-si revina. Iar eu dupa vreo cateva cuba libre, hmm, de la 5 incolo le-am pierdut numarul, imi luasem foarte in serios rolul de prieten responsabil si ma impleticeam catre bar ca sa-i cumpar apa. Urcat in masina am adormit imediat lasand in urma strigatele Rinatei care imi tot spunea sa ma trezesc. La un moment dat m-am trezit insa mare mi-a fost mirarea sa vad ca sunt inca in masina, soarele era deja pe cer si in partea dreapta o manastire. Oare cum si ce si cand se intampla?! Rinata a mea trasese pe dreapta de oboseala si-si pusese alarma la 8 jumate. Un loc mai bun de tras un pui de somn dupa o noapte de betie nici ca se putea, langa manastire . Mereu ma apuca rasul cand imi aduc aminte. Zis si facut, ne-am trezit si am plecat catre hotel unde am avut parte de o zi, surprinzator, mai fresh ca niciodata.

 

 

     Revenind la povestea initiala, dupa cum va spuneam, este septembrie si ne indreptam catre plaja Petani. Oprim pentru cateva fotografii cu privelistea si cu ocazia asta va recomand un hotel bun, Petani Bay, amplasat exact in punctul cel mai inalt din care se vede plaja, punctul din care incepe coboratul printre curbele sinuoase. Ziua este fierbinte insa briza ne racoreste usor. In partea dreapta a plajei sunt amplasate cateva barci parasite si un bar linistit. Inspre mijloc cativa zeci de turisti se bucura de vacanta autumnala. Ne indreptam catre partea stanga unde plaja este doar a noastra. Fetele se pun la soare in timp ce eu ma aventurez pe stanci pentru a surprinde cateva cadre bune.

 

     In partea aceasta sunt valuri destul de puternice insa asta nu ne opreste sa intram in apa. Cativa oameni se plimba de-a lungul plajei in cautare de scoici si pietre in forme deosebite.

     Dupa cateva ore cand deja ne simtim pe de-a intregul incinsi, ne indreptam catre un chiosc unde ne racorim cu inghetata. Drumul de intoarcere este la fel de frumos, cativa nori rasfirati deasupra cerului Kefaloniei se reflecta in apele golfului dintre Argostoli si Lixouri.

      Se simte finalul in aer, cateva fire de nostalgie sunt deja presarate peste intreaga poveste, insa ea nu se opreste aici. In ultima saptamana din septembrie, impreuna cu Rinata, ne avantam intr-o ultima aventura. Traseul nostru: Kounopetra-Lixouri-Argostoli-Skala si inapoi, despre acesta aflati mai multe in urmatorul capitol.

Va urma.
B.

P.S.: Despre excursia in Zakynthos gasiti detalii in Capitolul 8 si Capitolul 9 , iar despre Lefkada in Capitolul 5.