The golden sandy beach Pontamos in Chalki island
Pondamos is a beach that has remained indelible in my memory thanks to its waters that are so transparent that you think there is no water but an invisible substance that dissolves the light in the blue hue and spreads it across the sandy bottom.
An awesome beach I tell everybody that I swam there even though no one knows it, not even Chalki as an island. It is necessary to know that it is shallow and therefore suitable for families, it has sunbeds for a fee and a beach bar that serves coffees and snacks.
The landscape is deserted, on the one side is the Aegean Sea and on the other the rocky mountains of Chalki. I also walked to the adjacent Agia Thekla chapel to see it up close because I think it represents the architecture of the Dodecanese.
Agia Thekla church
The locals call it Pon / tamos, they cut the word in two and put a pause in between. It sounds sing-song.
The incredible waters of Pontamos
Below is a list of my suggestions for stay:
- (€€) Chalki Sunrise Suites (⭐ 9.8) a comfortable and well-built house on the hill of Chalki with sea views, an outdoor terrace, a bedroom and easy access to the city center and the beaches
- (€€) Halkis Muses (⭐ 9.8) luxury and comfort with stunning sea views, one of the best stay options in Chalki
Chalki has no activities, but you can visit neighbouring Symi from Rhodes. So I suggest:
excursion to Symi and swimming in Agia Marina from Rhodes town
excursion to Symi and swimming in Agios Georgios from Faliraki
How to get to Pontamos
I took the uphill road from Chalki port and it didn't take me long to arrive. It is located less than 1 kilometer away and is easy to hike to. There is also a bus with frequent routes to the beaches if you don't want to hike.
To eat
At the tavern "O Nikos" on the seafront you can enjoy a wide variety of fresh fish and meat all in traditional dishes. What stands out is the Chalki spaghetti with fried onion, olive oil and cheese.
The tavern "Nikos"
Map
Below is a map with the exact location of Pontamos.
