Katakolon Review - DIY

CM2J2R2S · #1 June 19th, 2012, 10:04 AM

We found the information on this port was scant and not overly helpful. We did not want to go to the Olympic site and there is not a lot listed for things to do.

When getting off the ship, there are two very small tourist streets in the town. The main street is lined with shops and kitschy tourist things to buy. When a ship or two docks, the street is packed with people. The second street is a little less busy and has some restaurants. There is a third street there in the town but it mostly has housing.

There is a beach that runs from the cruise docking port around the whole side of the island. Someone told us that it runs 120km. It is an okay beach. If the city invested a bit in it (ie. cleaned it up a bit, doesn't need much and graded the sand) it would be a lovely beach port. That being said, we did spend some time on this beach and it was very nice.

We walked the street as things were opening up and found these absolutely lovely guys who just opened up an ATV/scooter store, almost directly in front of the port. They were friendly, knowledgeable and their gear is all in great shape as it is a new business. We took off on, yet another, scooter and headed out just to tour the country side. We drove the Wine Road, lots of farms and trees and deeked off the road a few times to see a few beaches and sit and rest our weary bums. We hit a main boulevard and went up and down that and then headed back toward the ship and had lunch at a great beach restaurant, Kastro Bar and Restaurant, near the port.

The one thing that would have been helpful was a really good map as opposed to the general tourist one that we had, we may have gone further had we had that with us.

One thing we may have done differently was hop onto the scooter/atv and head to the Olympic site before the 645 tourist buses and do our own mini tour and then headed south along the coast for lunch. We certainly had enough time, just not a good enough sense of distance and that better map. Overall, it was a nice day for a drive and we had a good tour.

pkt1976 · #2 July 19th, 2012, 02:44 PM

I'm thinking of doing something like this too in September. Was it pretty comfortable to drive the atv around?

CM2J2R2S · #3 July 20th, 2012, 08:04 AM

We rented a scooter instead of the ATV - but yes, it was comfortable. The weather co-operated - not too hot, not too windy... all good.

kdspark · #4 July 20th, 2012, 12:25 PM

Did you see children on the scooters/ATVs as well? We will be there in a little over a week with a 10yrold and 14yrold. Would like to do a quick picture trip to Olympia and then go venture the country roads.
TIA

CM2J2R2S · #5 July 21st, 2012, 07:56 AM

While there was very little traffic on most of the country roads, I am not sure I would take a ten year old on the scooter as there are a couple of major boulevards to cross. Again, these are not hugely busy roads, but I am not sure. It would depend on the kid. I think the ATV may be the way to go but some places would not put two people on ATVs, some wanted only one person on it. The bulk of the traffic that traveled at higher speeds were the buses full of cruise ship passengers and to be honest, some of these drivers were not the safest but they were the fastest on the roads.

kdspark · #6 July 22nd, 2012, 06:55 AM

Thanks!

goldmom · #7 July 22nd, 2012, 09:31 AM

Also, for anyone just wanting a relaxing day, Katakolon is lovely in itself. We opted to just stay in port after a hectic schedule of touring. We had a leisurely breakfast, then got off the ship and strolled around the town.

Katakolon is a lovely seaside town with lots of shops and restaurants overlooking the water. We just poked around and had a drink and were probably done in about 2 hours. There is also a beach area to the right of town, although we didn't see many people there.

It was a very pleasant relaxing day.

nunuc2000 · #8 August 7th, 2012, 12:38 PM

The beach just off to the side of the cruise ship port... any idea if there is decent snorkelling in the waters there?

CM2J2R2S · #9 August 12th, 2012, 09:35 AM

I am thinking 'no', but I cannot say for sure.

kdspark · #10 August 13th, 2012, 02:45 PM

There was quite a few jellyfish in that water just off the ship. We took the little put put train that is just a walk through the town. It goes up the hill on the other side of town and will drop you off at the water on the other side. We got right in there and no jellyfish and a lot of rock and such for maybe better looking under water.

nunuc2000 · #11 August 14th, 2012, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdspark

There was quite a few jellyfish in that water just off the ship. We took the little put put train that is just a walk through the town. It goes up the hill on the other side of town and will drop you off at the water on the other side. We got right in there and no jellyfish and a lot of rock and such for maybe better looking under water.

Thank you - do you know what the name of that beach is on the other side?

kdspark · #12 August 15th, 2012, 03:29 PM

I looked at our pics and there is a little resturant there called Liri. We went through town and veered left and then when the road veers right towards Andreas we got off there and walked left down the little road and down to the water. It was maybe 10-15min from the boat.

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