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| SPOTLIGHT | | Tropical
beaches and jungle, Wildlife, natural heritage and sun-kissed islands. |
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| Halikounas beach , Corfu, Greece beach
Travel Information
Chalikounas is a wonderful choice for a peaceful holiday with its endless sandy beach and local tavernas. Lake Korrison is closeby which is a home for many rare bird species. Apart from the fabulous main beach, other pretty spots such as Skidi and Prasoudi offer more secluded options for sunbathing and swimming. Despite its peaceful setting Halikouna is an easy 5 km drive from the popular resort of Agios Georgios which gives you a full range of facilities and nightlife.
On Corfu’s south west coast the long stretch of Halikounas’ sandy beach protects Lake Korission from the sea. The lake is a haven for over one hundred species of birdlife including great white egrets, oyster catchers and curlews. A small wooden bridge crosses the point where the lake flows into the sea and leads to a forest of cedar and juniper trees and then to Agios Georgios beach. Halikounas beach has soft sand dunes, safe shallow swimming, no beachfront building and few visitors.
Agios Georgios beach (Argirades) offers tavernas, bars, watersports and more visitors. The lake is bordered by hillsides of olive groves, citrus orchards and vineyards and looks up to the monastery on top of Mount Agios Mattheos. This area of Corfu island (Korfu) is agricultural and very peaceful
Beach location: From the main Corfu - Lefkimmi road, in the vicinity of Moraitika, take the turn to Agios Matheos. You will come to a"gantry" over the road displaying various destinations. At the gantry, take the left turn and then follow the signs for Halikounas beach through olive groves and agricultural land.
It sounds more complicated than it actually is and you will be rewarded with arrival at an attractive and uncommercial beach. Sand, sea and little else.
Disabled access: There are very few access points capable of taking the width of a wheelchair. Halikounas beach itself is soft sand with the main entrance point at a somewhat rocky stretch. Those who are not wheelchair users will probably find the access ok. Car parking: Park on the roadside.
Food outlets/restaurants: One or two cantina style snack bars and a taverna.
Sand/pebbles/shingle: Rocks at the perimeter of Halikounas beach rapidly give out into soft golden sand. The environment is natural and there is no major "organisation."
Sunbeds/umbrellas: There are but a few and it's probably advisable to bring your own umbrella if you're planning to stay any length of time. Showers: Yes. For toilets, it's the taverna and some beach bars!
Safe for children: Other than the need to be watchful for the rocks, the waters are shallow for some distance and this is a good area for younger swimmers. Watersports: No.
Main users: Used by local people and tourists with the emphasis probably on "locals".
Well cared for: Yes. The area tends to be respected by visitors and is maintained by nature (with a little help from the municipality). A rugged, natural and clean environment. Mooring for boats: No.
Next to quayside/harbour: No. Storm drains/outlets into sea: No.
Natural shady areas: There are sand hills but these provide little in the way of shade.
Any other facilities: No. Distance to main resorts: Messonghi and Moraitika are about 10 km respectively. Public transport: No. Blue Flag: No. (Why not? - it seems to deserve one!)
The variety and extent of Corfu coastline make it possible for bathers to enjoy an infinite number of different places to swim, all of them lapped by warm, crystal clear water.
Water sports are also available in all of them
From Sidari you can take a boat to the three picturesque offshore islands of Erikoussa, Mathraki and Othoni
Agios Mattheos - Paramonas
The village of Agios Mattheos is hidden inside an impressive forest, its houses are a combination of old stone and new which combines the past and the present.
Also nearby is the beach of Halikounas with its famous sand dunes and crystal clear water and the lake Korrision where fish farming is applied and where you can buy fish at a low price
Agios Spyridonas
Agios Spiridonas is located on the north coast of Corfu between Kassiopi and Acharavi and has been recognized by the European Community for its crystal clear water.
Agios Stefanos - Avliotes
Agios Stefanos, Corfu, Greece, a small friendly community on the north-west coast of the island near arillas that boasts one of the best sandy beaches on the Ionion islands and is regarded as particularly safe for children
Arillas
The beach of Arrilas is situated approximately 35 km from the island's capital. The Bay of Arillas has a long sweeping beach with clear blue sea and fine sand, one of the most beautiful beaches in Corfu especially for the lovers of quiet, relaxing holidays.
Dassia Beach
Like much of Corfu, the beach is narrow but the sea is clean and shallow. From here you can enjoy water-skiing, wind-surfing, pedaloes and snorkelling
Glyfada Beach
Glyfada is situated on the west coast, which has some of the finest beaches on the island, where golden sand stretches for miles
Nissaki Beach
The steep slopes of the imposing Mount Pankokrator rise above the fascinating stretch of coastline which is home to the quiet resort of Nissaki
Sidari Beach
The main beach is long and roomy, great for children and has a variety of watersports. There are also plenty of bars, restaurants, tavernas and extremely well stocked shops to visit.
Gouvia Village
The sand and pebble beaches offer many water sport activities
Kavos Beach
This is the place to come if you really want to party.The sandy beach is a delightful 2km long so there’s plenty of room to sun-bathe in comfort and regain some energy for another long night of partying ahead.
Paleokastritsa
Paleokastritsa lies at two bays between impressing steep coasts before a scenery of thick slopes full of cypresses and olive trees.
Roda Beach
Roda has grown from a quiet fishing village into a pleasant resort with a long sand-and-pebble beach and safe bathing. |
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Top Beaches |  |
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Alonissos Beach | | Alonissos has some
of the cleanest water in the Aegean, but it's lacking in sandy beaches. There's
only two really - Vythisma and Vrysitsa. The rest vary from rough to fine pebbles..
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| Khryssi
Milia Beach | | Khryssi Milia, the first
good beach, has pine trees behind the sand and a taverna. At Kokkinokastro, over
the hill to the north, excavations have revealed the site of ancient Ikos and
evidence of the oldest known prehistoric habitation in the Aegean. There's nothing
much to see, but it's a beautiful spot with a good red-pebble beach, and, in July
and August, a daytime bar. | | |
| Vythisma
Beach | | Vythisma, the lovely beach just
before Megalos Mourtias, can only be reached by boat, the path here having been
washed out. Further north, visible from Palea Alonissos, Vrysitsa is tucked into
its own finger-like inlet. There's sand and a taverna, but little else. |
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| Crete
Beach | | But when you lose yourself among
the mountains, or on the lesser-known coastal reaches of the south, it has everything
you could want of a Greek island and more: great beaches, remote hinterlands and
hospitable people. | | |
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Kalamos | | Another island beach is at
Kalamos: get off the Manganari bus at the turning for Kalamos, which leaves you
with a four-kilometre walk. | | |
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Myrtos Beach | | The journey between Argostoli
and Fiskardho, by regular bus or rented vehicle, is the most spectacular ride
in the archipelago. Leaving town, the road rises into the Evmorfia foothills and,
beyond Agonas, clings to near-sheer cliffs as it heads for Dhivarata, which has
a smattering of rooms and is the stop for Myrtos beach. | |
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Megas Lakkos | | Half-hourly ferries
(hourly in winter) ply between the capital and Lixouri throughout the day until
midnight. Lixouri's nearest beach is Lipedha, a two-kilometre walk south. Like
the Xi and Megas Lakkos beaches (served by bus from Lixouri and both with restaurants
and accommodation), it has rich-red sand and is backed by low cliffs. |
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| Pefkoulia
Beach | | Tsoukaladhes, just 6km from
Lefkadha, is developing a roadside tourism business, but better beaches lie a
short distance to the south, so there's very little reason to stay here. Four
kilometres on, the road plunges down to the sand-and-pebble Pefkoulia beach, one
of the longest on the island, | | |
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Mylos Beach | | Sea taxisply between AI
Nikitas and Mylos beach, or it's a 45-minute walk (or bus ride) to the most popular
beach on the coast, Kathisma, a shadeless kilometre of fine sand, which becomes
nudist and a lot less crowded beyond the large jutting rocks halfway along. |
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Myconos | | The closest beaches to town
are those to the north, at Tourlos (only 2km away but horrid) and Ayios Stefanos
(4km, much better), both developed resorts and connected by a very regular bus
service to Mykonos Town. There are tavernas and rooms to let (as well as package
hotels) at Ayios Stefanos, away from the beach. | |
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