Beaches near Azalás

Our sand beach is small, but clean and beautiful. The fine sand is great for building sand castles. The sea is deepening gradually, so that one can play wonderfully in the shallow water. In the whole bay the underground is sand. In summer due to the north winds there are usually waves at our beach, and sometimes it is too windy to be very suitable for smaller children.

In summer, when the usual north wind blows, we like to swim at the “Plakes”, on the northern edge of our bay. Here the underground in the bay is sand too, but the coast is rocky with large, flat slabs. It is a bit more difficult to climb into the water, but it’s great for swimming without waves and wind. The smooth, sunwarmed rocks are wonderful for sunbathing.

To the north of our bay lies the small bay Firolimnári, which was used as a harbour already in the Minoan epoch and where trade ships anchored during the Medieval times. On the beach mounds of dry sea grass get piled up by the winter storms, a wonderful place for an afternoon sleep. In this bay the underground consists of big stones and rocks, so that it is not so well suited for swimming. It is great for snorkeling and fishing though and an idyllic place for a picknick.

One of the most beautiful bays in our area is the hidden cove of Kryfolimanáki, that lies directly next to Firolimnári. It is a bit difficult to climb down to it, but it is worth it! The beach consists of coarse sand; in the water are rocks and large stones. The whole area is great for snorkeling.

Further north follows a rocky coastal stretch with amazing rock formations and pools which are filled with sea water by large waves in winter and then fall dry in summer so that salt remains in them (the origin of the Greek name for this place: the “salt basins”). This area is not very suitable for bathing and swimming, but it wonderful to just stroll around.

Beyond Alatsógournes follows another bay with rocky coast, so that it is difficult to get into the water, or rather to get out of it – you can simply jump in wherever you like. The underground in this bay is sand which makes swimming delightful, and gives the water its amazing bluegreen colour. Here one is truly alone with silence and nature!

Finally one reaches a larger bay at the ravine of Gaidourómandres. It is very remote and idyllic, but usually the waves are too high for swimming, and also the large stones make it difficult to get into the water. The beach consists mainly of large white marble stones and pebbles, but there are a few black volcanic stones in between them – how may they have come here?

Still further north one can walk to one last bay, the narrow bay of Longonári. It is a bit more difficult to reach as there is no path and one has to walk either along the rugged coast or though the Juniper maquis. But the bay is worth the effort, especially if you enjoy solitude and silence, but also if you like crystals: the rocks are in places covered with impressive Calcite crystals.

The amazing beach of Chochlakás lies on the south side of Cape Stavrós near to Moutsoúna, well protected from the north wind and very scenic. It consists of fine pebbles and sand and is of interest not only for people who like a quiet beach where few other people come, but also for geologists.

Moutsoúna has several beaches, right at the harbour but also further to the south, where one can bathe and swim beautifully. With the car one can drive further south to the large beach of Psilí Ámmos (about 10 min by car from Moutsoúna). The road leads on to the southeast tip of Naxos and the wonderful bay of Pánormos, completely protected and always calm in summer, a tempting place for bathing and snorkeling. Here on can also participate in the boat tours with the Gialitissa – always a great pleasure!