| The
beaches of Kos are no secret. Every foot of the 180 miles of mostly sandy
coastline has been discovered. Even so, for some reason, people pack themselves
together in tight spaces. You can spot the package-tour sites from afar
by their umbrellas, dividing the beach into plots measured in centimeters.
Tingaki and Kardamena epitomize this avoidable phenomenon. Following are
a few guidelines to help you in your quest for uncolonized sand.
The
beaches just 3 to 5 kilometers (2 to 3 miles) east of Kos town are among
the least congested on the island, probably because they're pebbled rather
than sandy. Even so, the view is splendid and the nearby hot springs worth
a good soak. In summer, the water on the northern coast of the island is
warmer and shallower than that on the south, though less clear due to stronger
winds. If you walk down from the resorts and umbrellas, you'll find some
relatively open stretches between Tingaki and Mastihari. The north side
of the island is also best for windsurfing; try Tingaki and Marmara, where
everything you need can be rented on the beach. A perfect day exploring
the northwestern tip of the island would consist of a swim at Limnionas
Bay followed by grilled red mullets at Taverna Miltos.
Opposite,
on the southern coast, Kamel Beach and Magic Beach are less congested than
Paradise Beach, which lies between them. Either can be reached on foot
from Paradise Beach, a stop for the Kefalos bus. The southwestern waters
are cooler yet calmer than those along the northern shore; and, apart from
Kardamena and Kefalos Bay, the beaches on this side of the island are less
dominated by package tourists. Note that practically every sort of water
sport, including jet-skiing, can be found at Kardamena. Finally, for surfing,
the extreme southwestern tip of the island, on the Kefalos peninsula near
Ayios Theologos, offers an ideal stretch of remote shoreline. |
