Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are three buses daily from Gerolimenas to Areopoli (€5, 45 minutes), and on to
Athens (€30), Gythio (€10, 1¼ hours) and Sparta (2¼ hours). The bus stop is outside
Hotel Akrotenaritis; tickets are bought on board.
Gerolimenas to Porto Kagio Γερολιμένας προς Πόρτο Κάγιο
South of Gerolimenas, the road continues 4km to the small village of Alika, where it di-
vides. One road leads across the mountains to the east coast, and the other goes south to
Vathia and Porto Kagio. The southern road follows the coast, passing pebbly beaches. It
then climbs steeply inland to
Vathia
, the most dramatic of the traditional Mani villages,
comprising a cluster of closely packed tower houses perched on a rocky spur.
A turn-off to the right 9km south of Alika leads to
Marmari
, with its two sandy
beaches, while the main road cuts across the peninsula to the tiny east-coast fishing vil-
lage of
Porto Kagio
, set on a perfect horseshoe bay. The village's three competing ac-
commodation options are in as remote a place as you'll find anywhere in the Pelopon-
nese.
A 10-minute walk will take you to a peninsula, on which perches the tiny
St Nicholas
church. Hardier walkers should head to one of Europe's southernmost points,
Cape Ten-
aro
(or Cape Matapan), where the beautiful lighthouse has been recently restored. The
cape has been an important location for millennia and was first mentioned by Homer in
The Iliad
. Follow the signs from Porto Kagio; from the car park it's a solid 45-minute
walk. You'll pass some Roman ruins - look out for the stunning wave- patterned, circular
mosaic.
For a seafood dinner, choose from three waterfront tavernas (open all day in high sea-
son). Prices are much the same for all (mains €7 to €17, fish per kilogram €40 to €70).
Sleeping
Hotel Psamathous
HOTEL $
( 27330 55221;
www.portokayio.com
; Porto Kagio; d €50, tr €70-80, incl breakfast; )
This
Flintstones-style (modern Maniot) place is owned by the crowd at Porto Taverna. Set
back from the waterfront, it has stone- platform beds, mezzanines and a nearly-but-not-
quite-there designer touch.
Porto Kale
GUESTHOUSE $
( 6980755528, 27330 54202; Porto Kagio; d/tr €50/65)
A good option in Porto Kagio -
simple but with an appealing range of clean and stylish rooms.
