Erimitis is an unspoiled peninsula of natural beauty on the northeastern coast of Corfu. Although the area is not an officially protected nature reserve, it is undeveloped and houses several small bays with virgin beaches that can only be reached by boat or on foot.
The rugged coastline of Erimitis has many capes, coves, bays, and sea caves, while the land area itself is mostly forested with some wetlands and small lakes.
Flora And Founa At Erimitis
Erimitis is an area with one of the largest biodiversities on the island, and that has everything to do with its history. Unlike other parts of the island, the Venetians have never interfered with nature in this area to cultivate olive groves or build any defensive structures. Therefore, the ecosystem has been preserved over time.
The dense forests and wetlands house a large variety of trees, wildflowers, reed beds, and other flora. The area is also home to a large number of bird species, including migratory birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Seals, rhino dolphins, sea turtles, and otters can also be spotted in the waters surrounding the peninsula.
Beaches At Erimitis
The peninsula of Erimitis is mostly famous for its stunning bays with beautiful turquoise waters and incredible virgin beaches. From north to south, these are the named beaches:
- Avlaki Beach
- Avlaki East Beach
- Vrachli Beach
- Vouvalomantria Beach
- Tzoufaka Beach
- Arias Beach
- Akoli Beach
- Vromolimni Beach
- Korfovounia Beach
- Aspalathra Beach
Apart from these named beaches, there are also a few small unnamed beaches. With the exception of Avlaki Beach, all of these beaches are completely virgin and unorganized, which means that there are no facilities at all. So if you want to visit any of these beaches, make sure to bring your own drinks, snacks, and other supplies for the beach because you can’t get anything in the entire area.
Lakes At Erimitis
Erimitis is also home to wetlands and three small lakes or ponds:
- Savoura Pond: located next to Avlaki Beach.
- Akoli Pond. located next to Akoli Beach.
- Vromolimni Pond: located next to Vromolimni Beach.
Hiking In Erimitis
Apart from enjoying the beaches, hiking is the most popular activity in Erimitis. If you don’t have a boat, then hiking is also the only way to get to the beaches. There are several trails, but there is one trail that follows along the entire coastline and connects most of the beaches. The trail starts in Agios Stefanos Sinion Beach in the south and finishes at Avlaki Beach in the northwest.
There is one road through the forest of Erimitis between Agios Stefanos Sinion and Avlaki. Along this road are also a few starting points of the trails.
Peristeres Rock And Lighthouse
About 1.2 kilometers from the shore of Erimitis, you can observe a small islet, which is not much more than a large rock. The rocky islet houses a the 9-meter-high Peristeres Lighthouse, which was built during the British rule of the island. This is the second-oldest lighthouse in Corfu, after the Sidero Lighthouse on top of the Old Fortress.
Once you’ve spotted the lighthouse, you might also wonder what’s on the horizon. If you think you’re just looking at the mainland of Greece you’re wrong, because that is Albania! The city you’re looking at is Saranda, one of the fastest growing resort towns on the Mediterranean coast.
