Boat route
By boat from Simos to Panagia
The wild south and west coast: pirate caves, Cape Agia Marina, St Patapios and the Panagia islets.
A boat route from Simos, around the cape of Sarakiniko, along the south and west coast to Panagia.
Along the way
You pass the Kournospila caves and Lygia. Among the rocks at Vrakozonas there were once lime kilns, and boats came right in to load. Further on, a band of strong red shows the red rock of the area.
Then come the cave of Stapas, an old pirate hideout, Pori and Cape Agia Marina, which old sea charts called Santa Maria: here the Laconian gulf, the Ionian and the Aegean meet, and the remains of a shipwreck lie on the seabed. Just after, fresh water springs from an opening in the mountain; legend says it comes from Mount Taygetos.
St Patapios
After the wild coast of Chourchoulakia and the cove of Ammouditsa you reach St Patapios beach with its islet, the 1960 chapel and the grooves of ancient roads running into the sea.
On to Panagia
Heading north you pass Kakovracha, Alatsospilies and Ntrizoi. Take great care at the cape of Kassela, which has shallows. Finally you reach the Panagia islets; ruined churches stand on Lepto Nisi.
