HIKES IN AGISTRI
Those who love hiking, Agistri, without high altitudes, is an ideal destination for hiking excursions, on the old paths of the retsinades inland.
Agistri is a walker’s delight, combining the study of the unique Flora and Fauna of the island, with the very beautiful green and untouched natural environment, which visitors can explore in its pine-covered hinterland.
The hikes in Agistri are easy, short and particularly pleasant, amidst the smell of pine trees, the rare wild flowers and the wonderful view that the visitor encounters in its diverse environment.
Along the way, the hiker is excited by the various findings, the colors of nature and the amazing view from above.
1st Route: Megalochori – Dragonera – Agia Varvara – Limenaria – Mareza
2nd Route: Limenaria – Agios Nikolaos – Limni – Aponisos
The main hiking route in the Agistri pine grove starts from the Megalochori Fire Station. The path, after some time, meets the asphalted road of the route Skala – Megalochori – Dragonera and Aponisos. A little later we follow a small dirt road on our right which leads to “Mikri Dragonera”. At the turn of the dirt road, there is a fork and the road goes straight to the beach of “Megali Dragonera”, while on the right it goes to “Mikri Dragonera” which is about 1000 meters from “Megali Dragonera”.
From the center of the beautiful pebbly beach of Dragonera, in which the pine trees reach all the way to the sea, behind the canteen, a dirt path starts in the forest that leads us to Polemi, to the old Church of Agia Varvara which is located on the previous asphalted road we had to meet.
In the Church of Agia Varvara which was also consecrated by Agios Nektarios of Aegina, there are the old threshing floors of the island and the 200 spring water collection wells, some of which you can see around the Church, among the vineyards and figs.
We continue walking on the asphalt and after about 1000 meters we reach the picturesque village of Limenaria, to which we go east following the signs to Mareza.
After about 500 meters the road we follow stops and we then descend on foot to the picturesque plateau of Mareza, a rocky secluded beach, drowned in pine trees with deep blue crystal clear waters, which is a sample of the beauty and magic that has to be show this area.
Returning to Limenaria, we continue the road to the west and after about 1000 meters we come across a cemetery with two old graves that are said to have belonged to pirates, as well as the ancient Church of Agios Nikolaos, with a characteristic old stone well.
Walking about two hundred meters after the Church of Agios Nikolaos, we reach the Lake of Agistri, a very beautiful area drowned in pines, in fact a wetland of Agistrio which used to be a salt flat and was called Lekani.
After the Lake we continue walking and after about 500 meters we reach the area of Aponisos, an exotic location with pine trees hugging its beach, which ends in small flat rocks.
