Katelios beach

Kefalonia holiday report and map

Katelios beach Kefalonia

KATELIOS began life as an overspill resort from nearby Skala but it has now grown into a tourist resort in its own right. Although development is relatively low key, new apartment blocks and hotels are springing up all the time.
Katelios is located in the south-east of Kefalonia, about 25km from Argostoli. It is long and flat and has as a large turtle nesting beach at the western end.
Katelios was originally a small fishing village but only a few boats now use the small harbour and tourism is the main moneyspinner these days.
Now little more than a tourist beach resort Katelios has two main parts. The beachside strip has a few tavernas and shops beneath a string of large trees while, set back inland and about 1km from the beach, are the bulk of the apartment blocks along a road that cuts through olive and citrus groves.
Katelios is down as one of the friendliest resorts on Kefalonia, with taverna owners and shopkeepers all very welcoming.
Katelios beach is not as good as neighbouring Skala, just a narrow strip of sandy shingle with rocks and 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. Stray cats and dogs can also be a nuisance. There are sunbeds but no toilets or showers and no watersports.
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 by the bus stop just outside Kato Katelios.
The Marine Turtle Project records the nests on the nearby beaches of Kaminia and Mounda and is staffed by volunteers from all over the world. The main turtle beach is at Mounda, a 15 min walk around the headland.
The beach is sandy and clean but visitors are asked to respect the nesting grounds. There are details on www.kateliosgroup.org.
Other 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 to Poros or in the opposite direction to Argostoli but car hire is recommended as the Katelios area is quite remote.