Driving from Neo Itilo to Kardamyli you will notice that the access to the sea is very difficult if not impossible. The few roads are extremely narrow for a camper van and the seacoast is craggy. There is no doubt that it’s not worth the try! Even so, this beautiful region is not totally out of question. We discovered two beaches that are suitable for motorhomes: the first between Agios Dimitrios and Agios Nikolaos and the second in Kardamyli.
The main road coming from Neo Itilo to Kardamili is inland at least until the seaside village of Agios Dimitrios where you can finally approach the coast and reach the first stopover. Turn left just past Platsa village and when you arrive at the coast turn left again where after a small bridge you will find a very nice place to park [36.8174, 22.2945] just a few meters away from this superb beach know as Pandasi. The beach is not only huge but also it offers plenty of natural shade, thanks to the tamarisks!
Heading further north-west on the main road to Kalamata, you will bypass Stoupa, a pretty village but crowded with tourists during the summer. It is wiser to avoid crossing the narrow streets of the village with your camper. The fact that cars are parked everywhere makes the things worse.
On your way to Kardamyli you will see a couple of coves where you can leave your vehicle and go for swimming but not adequate for an overnight stay. If you want to spend the night there you shall enter the village of Kardamyli and turn left when you see the church on your left hand. At the end of the descent there is plenty space for parking [36.88980,22.23081] close to the sea and to the village but away from the noise. The shade from the tall trees completes the picture of paradise. This is the place to be!
The location is perfect if you want to visit the village because it is very close to the main road. Instead if you want to be more isolated, you keep driving on the coastal road and after a few hundred meters you come to another open space on your right [36.89395,22.22637], next to the football field. This parking lot is closer to the organized beach of Ritsa with plenty of shade too.
We parked our camper and we walked to the main road of Kardamili lined with shops, restaurants and cafes.
Arriving at the top of the hill we entered the square of the castle, with the beautiful, medieval-inspired church of Agios Spyridon.
The entrance to the tower of Mourtzinos family and its inner courtyard costs 2 €. The site is open daily from 9.00 – 20.00 (Sundays till 16.00) and it is closed on Mondays (check the Greek ministry of Culture site for the winter timetable). It is strongly recommended for fans of medieval history …
Τhe guardian of the site advised us to walk a hundred meters from the church of Agia Sofia, just outside the walls, to visit these two ancient tombs carved in the rock, allegedly of Castor and Polydefkis of Pollux (Dioskouri) …
