Greece – Marathopoli (En)
Marathopoli is a small fishing village on the west coast of the Peloponnese, known for its lovely tavernas serving fresh fish and seafood. The island of Proti lies just offshore. There is no beach in the village itself, but the sea is accessible via some steps—ideal for snorkelling and spotting turtles. We loved the village; the people are incredibly friendly, and the waterfront tavernas are delightful.
Where to stay
We stayed at Camping Proti (37.067299, 21.579201 lat, long), located right across from the beach and a 10-minute walk from the village. The campsite accepts the ACSI card and offers a 10% discount for week-long stays. We paid 18 euros a day without electricity, as the pitches are shaded. The pitches are spacious; we chose one facing the pool that had a roof and easy access. The facilities are located at the entrance, next to the reception. There is a dishwashing area with hot water, restrooms equipped with toilet seats and paper, and hot showers—though the water pressure isn’t very high. The water filling and dumping station is at the campsite entrance, as is the chemical toilet disposal point. The highlight of the campsite is its huge pool, featuring sun loungers, umbrellas, and a bar with a terrace for drinks. The pool is open to the public, provided they purchase something. The staff were incredibly friendly and let us use the bar’s fridge and freezer. Next to the pool, there is a gate that leads to the beach and to the town. We really enjoyed our stay here; we met a German couple and had drinks with them, and hope to see them again.
What to see
The landscape includes Proti Island and the village with its charming tavernas. So, we walked to the village, taking photos of the island along the way, until we reached the small harbour. The harbour is charming, with two geese that live there.
Just past the harbour, there’s a seafront street lined with really cool taverns. The one we liked best is the first tavern—the one with a very expensive hippie shop inside.
Afterwards, we went into the village and saw the church. When we went to buy bread and fruit, the shopkeepers offered us samples of watermelon and melon. They were delightful people; one of them spoke just like my brother-in-law Paco. We bought a watermelon—which was delicious—and they gave us the melon free.
What to do
Snorkelling and swimming with the turtles. We didn’t see any turtles, but we did see plenty of colourful fish and coral reefs. We really enjoyed it.
Enjoy the pool: relax on the sun loungers, take a dip, and have a drink on the terrace.
Watching Spain in the World Cup at one of the village taverns.
We left this charming village—which we thoroughly enjoyed—and headed to Kryoneri and the Nostos Beach tavern, a popular seaside spot famous for its relaxed atmosphere and its beach volleyball and ping-pong facilities; you can see it in the next blog post.
