Greece – Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast

On our way to the Temple of Poseidon, Mr. H and I spotted what seemed to be a perfect body of water and immediately commissioned our bus driver to pull up at the next bus stop, where we alighted and took ourselves by foot on a summer’s day adventure…

Apollo Coast, Attika Greece: f/8; 1/250sec; ISO-100

Apollo Coast, Attika Greece: f/8; 1/250sec; ISO-100

Soon enough we came across a delightfully sized pebble beach, crouched over on two sides by blonde igneous boulders, secluded to the elements and so well hidden from the Apollo Coastal highway that tourists would not know it existed…

Secret's Out: Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast: f/10; 1/250sec; ISO-125

Secret’s Out: Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast: f/10; 1/250sec; ISO-125

It was only by gingerly navigating the steepest of ancient marble steps that Mr. H and I became aware of the cult that surrounds Haraka Beach. You see, only those in-the-know trendy Athenians actually know that this plâge exists: sunbrellas, tiny bikinis and ice cold bottles of beer our hot feet stepped between to find a cosy cove in which to lay our towels.

Marble Steps to Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast: f/10; 1/250sec; ISO-125

Marble Steps to Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast: f/10; 1/250sec; ISO-125

See, you don’t have to get on a ferry boat to the Greek islands to enjoy swimming in the Aegean. Athens has a string of beaches along the 65km stretch of Apollo Coast which begins in Pireaus and end at the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion. And like any city, the futher you get out of town the better the beaches are.

Aegean Waters of Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast, Greece: f/10; 1/250sec; ISO-110

Aegean Waters of Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast, Greece: f/10; 1/250sec; ISO-110

Located about 60 km southeast of Athens and 5km west of Sounion, Harakas is in essence  a protected cove. The water is very clean and chilly: ideal for the sting of a Greek summer. For refreshments punters can climb back up those steep steps to transact with the cool mobile cafè operator selling the classic Eurotrash beverage: ice cold nescafè frappè.

On location @ Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast, Attika: f/10; 1/200sec; ISO-100

On location @ Haraka Beach, Apollo Coast, Attika: f/10; 1/200sec; ISO-100

Do not under any circumstances come to Harakas expecting a jumping day-club scene. In fact there are no tavernas in the direct vicinity, making this beach extra retro-special and one of a kind. Just wear flip flops cause those pebbles make a mince meat out of your feet!

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