Corfu is a little island off the western coast of Greece. Shaped like a horse leg and directly across the northern Ionian Sea from Igoumenitsa on mainland Greece, Corfu has been a popular vacation spot since ancient times, and Paleokastritsa is one of those ideal examples of timeless beauty.
We came in via the ferry from Bari and left by turboprop for Athens. From the main town of Kerkira we grabbed a car and drove to Paleokastritsa, the coastal area which faces the boot heel tip of Italy across the mouth of the Adriatic Sea.
In the morning we hopped down to the beach and rented a boat. As we motored out of the bay the Missing Camera alert in my brain went off so I drove the boat up to the rocky shore near a trail up to the hotel. Jumping out onto some shallow reef I called back to Liz to hold the boat. I didn't find out until I returned that she had been completely surprised by this and had to scramble out and grab the boat before it drifted away.
Once we got underway the view of the shore was spectacular. The water is a luxurious sapphire blue and exceedingly clear. Shallow areas glow opalescent.
Along the way to the best beaches we explored several caves and frequently jumped into the water. With some snorkel gear we dove in and explored around a bit. Excellent clarity and a light current created premium conditions for diving and snorkeling. Lots of fishes and underwater features too.
At one beach there was about thirty people and a few kids scampering about. We stopped in for awhile, swimming and tanning in the wonderful sun.
Soon a boat sped in and charged right up onto the beach. People gravitated like iron fillings. Under the awning a husband-and-wife team dealt a plethora of ice cream, ice-cold beverages and other snacky items. We succumbed to the Grecian deus ex machina and gorged on yummy cold desserts and drinks. The sugar rush hastened inspired musings about a similar operation that might serve blended fruit cocktails, cold salads and fresh pizza to isolated beaches during the high season. As a speculative venture its long-term profitability is questionable at best, but it certainly beats a desk job! The concept belongs in the Creative Vacations file.
This was one of the many beaches in whole stretches of the coast not serviced by the road. You can hike or get a day trip with a taxi, but I recommend getting your own boat and exploring at your leisure. It cost us about $24 to rent the boat for the day.
Further down the coast was a wide stretch of beach bisected by a peculiar proboscis of land. Near the jutland was a scattering of people and a boat, but only empty sand beyond. We went out into the middle until nobody was in sight and that's where we spent the day.
The sun was the perfect hot and water felt clean and refreshing. The beach composition gradiates from sand to small smooth pebbles. This is particularly nice if you want to lay out and tan without getting sand in everything. Liz loves sparkling blue water and the beach so our vacations often involve these ingredients. There was plenty of it in Paleokastritsa.
Traveling to Corfu is highly recommended. The people of Greece are friendly and service at the Akrotiri Beach Hotel was excellent. We paid less than $40 per night for both of us, which included a fantastic meal and stunning vistas. At the top of this page are views from the hotel room. Overall, Corfu was totally awesome.
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