Greece has lots of famously beautiful beaches; beaches where the sand is pale white and soft as cotton and the waters that lap against the shore are crystal clear and a shocking blue that seems too perfect for real-life. There are many excellent beaches in the area around the Aegean Sea, in particular, but if you have found a vacation rental in the North Aegean region and are looking for a beach that is both especially picture-perfect and a little bit tropical-looking, then you need to head right to Seychelles.
Seychelles, of course, is a stunningly beautiful country in East Africa but it is also the name of a beach on the island of Ikaria in the North Aegean Sea. Somewhat confusingly, it is often referred to as the “Jamaica of the Aegean Sea,” but gained both the real name and this nickname due to the especially rich blue colour of the water at the beach, which is enhanced by the white pebbles that line the shore and seabed and reflect the sun strongly, making the sea look an even more vibrant blue.
Seychelles, of course, is a stunningly beautiful country in East Africa but it is also the name of a beach on the island of Ikaria in the North Aegean Sea. Somewhat confusingly, it is often referred to as the “Jamaica of the Aegean Sea,” but gained both the real name and this nickname due to the especially rich blue colour of the water at the beach, which is enhanced by the white pebbles that line the shore and seabed and reflect the sun strongly, making the sea look an even more vibrant blue.
Ikaria is part a “Blue Zone,” one of the parts of the world where people live long and well and, as such, gained popularity as a holiday destination in recent years among those who want serious rest and relaxation. As an island, it boasts several excellent beaches but Seychelles is, surely, among the loveliest.
Located 25km west of Agios Kirikos, not far from the fishing village of Mangganitis, the famously lovely beach is set within an intimate cove surrounded by fascinating rock formations and is a real looker. In fact, it is a great source of pride for inhabitants of the village and a bit of a well-kept secret that they would very much prefer to keep that way.
Unfortunately for them, word has now gotten out enough that tourists in the know have come to find out about this precious gem and it is sought out by seasoned travellers who want to experience its near unparalleled beauty for themselves.
While there aren’t many facilities to speak of, such as beachside eateries, showers, changing rooms, etc, near to the beach you’ll find several cafés and restaurants that you can visit before or after your time on the beach to make it a proper day out and to enjoy the area and its many bountiful pleasures fully.
You can get to Seychelles Beach by parking in an outdoor parking lot on the main road near Maganitis and then by following the rough path that starts out at the parking lot and descends along a river bed. It should only take around seven minutes to walk from the parking lot to the beach but note that it is not a paved path and is rocky and a little treacherous. Be sure to remain aware of your surroundings and cautious and to wear sturdy shoes for the journey! You can also sometimes take a water taxi directly from Manganitis’ fishing port, which would be a nice and scenic way to get to the beach so you may want to enquire about that in the village before heading out to the beach.
Be sure to bring your snorkel and goggles so you can enjoy the crystal clear waters to the max, try and swim out to the small private cove across from the main beach and explore the large cave there, discover the underwater caves, jump into the water from the big granite rocks, sunbathe on those same smooth rock faces, and enjoy this incredible little beach and all that it has to offer by way of natural beauty to the max as you spend time in this part of Greece.
Located 25km west of Agios Kirikos, not far from the fishing village of Mangganitis, the famously lovely beach is set within an intimate cove surrounded by fascinating rock formations and is a real looker. In fact, it is a great source of pride for inhabitants of the village and a bit of a well-kept secret that they would very much prefer to keep that way.
Unfortunately for them, word has now gotten out enough that tourists in the know have come to find out about this precious gem and it is sought out by seasoned travellers who want to experience its near unparalleled beauty for themselves.
While there aren’t many facilities to speak of, such as beachside eateries, showers, changing rooms, etc, near to the beach you’ll find several cafés and restaurants that you can visit before or after your time on the beach to make it a proper day out and to enjoy the area and its many bountiful pleasures fully.
You can get to Seychelles Beach by parking in an outdoor parking lot on the main road near Maganitis and then by following the rough path that starts out at the parking lot and descends along a river bed. It should only take around seven minutes to walk from the parking lot to the beach but note that it is not a paved path and is rocky and a little treacherous. Be sure to remain aware of your surroundings and cautious and to wear sturdy shoes for the journey! You can also sometimes take a water taxi directly from Manganitis’ fishing port, which would be a nice and scenic way to get to the beach so you may want to enquire about that in the village before heading out to the beach.
Be sure to bring your snorkel and goggles so you can enjoy the crystal clear waters to the max, try and swim out to the small private cove across from the main beach and explore the large cave there, discover the underwater caves, jump into the water from the big granite rocks, sunbathe on those same smooth rock faces, and enjoy this incredible little beach and all that it has to offer by way of natural beauty to the max as you spend time in this part of Greece.
Photo credit: Vasiliki Theodoridou / CC BY 2.0
