Katelios Kefalonia resort report and satellite view of Katelios

Katelios Kefalonia

Katelios began its resort life as an overspill resort from nearby Skala but has grown in recent years, though tourist development is still very low key. It's still an 'away from it all' resort, with a just a handful of tavernas and shops with a few apartments springing up along the beach road and more development a little further inland in the fertile plain behind the beach.
The area around Katelios in the south east of Kefalonia, about 25km from Argostoli, is flat and it has some of the island's most dramatic beaches as well as a major turtle nesting beach over the rocks at the western end of Katelios beach.
Katelios was originally a fishing village but only a few boats use the small harbour and tourism is now the main moneyspinner. This is basically now nothing but a tourist beach resort. It has two main parts - the beachside strip has a few tavernas and shops that sit in the shade beneath a string of large trees and the bulk of the apartments, set back inland about 1km from the beach along a road that cuts through olive and citrus groves. Though the road is not particularly busy it is unlit so you should take a torch at night. Katelios is down as one of the friendliest resorts on Kefalonia, with taverna owners and shopkeepers all very welcoming.
The beach is not as good as neighbouring Skala, a narrow strip of sand shingle with several rocks and rock pools to add interest. It is gently sloping into the sea, go good for families with children. Some say its looks scruffy and dirty with gobs of seaweed, others that the beach is full of cigarette ends. Don't you love those smokers! The stray cats and dogs can also be a nuisance. There are sun beds but no toilets or showers and no water sports.
Katelios is a good base if you enjoy walking. There are plenty of footpaths and the area is noted for it wild flowers and rare birds. There are also the loggerhead turtles which nest nearby and a Katelios environmental group has set up a small museum and information centre. The office is by the bus stop just outside Kato Katelios and has a large sign showing a dolphin, turtle and eagle.
The Marine Turtle Project was set up to observe and record the nesting female turtles on the nearby beaches of Kaminia and Mounda and consists mainly of local people and volunteer students from all over the world. The turtle beaches, a 15min walk around the headland over rough ground, are sandier and cleaner but please respect the nesting grounds .There are details on www.kateliosgroup.org.
Other nearby places of interest are the wine estates of Mavrata, noted for their Robolla wines and the Sissia Monastery and church of the Virgin of the Snakes. There is a local bus service to Skala and along the coast road to Poros or in the opposite direction to Argostoli but car hire is recommended as the area is quite remote.