Just a few nautical miles away from Ios is the island of Sikinos. In ancient times, the island was called Oinoi, meaning winemaker. Located on the northwest side of Sikinos, Manalis Winery is attempting to revive the atmosphere of that era, when everything was natural.

Petra can help you organise a boat tour to Manalis Winery on Sikinos island. Depending on your preference and the condition of the sea, you can take either a speed boat or a traditional sailing boat from Ios and explore the charming island of Sikinos before your visit to the winery.

Included in the tour is the transfer from Sikinos Port to the winery.

The winery facilities operate in an organic wineyard exclusively with renewable energy. It is perched at 400 meters above sea level and is cultivated on terraces. The landscape is carved out of stone and sea while our estate is situated on a wild, rough, but fertile vineyard land. Manalis have revived this vineyard with arid Cycladic varieties, which they cultivate with passion in the rugged microclimate of the Aegean sea.

Manalis Winery currently produces four wine labels:

The SIKOINOS White: Assyrtiko, Aidani, and Monemvasia.
The SIKOINOS Rose: Aidani and Mavrotragano.
The SIKOINOS Red: Mavrotragano and Mantilaria.
The Liosato: Sweet local wine.

Whether you are an experienced hiker or trail runner who is interested in challenging treks or a beginner who enjoys short hikes to admire beautiful scenery while on holiday, you’ll find what you are looking for here in Ios. A hiker’s paradise, Ios Island offers a huge variety of hiking routes thanks to the work of Ios Paths. There are at least 136km of hiking trails, suitable for walkers of any age, to walk through.

If you love walking, then Petra Holiday Village is the best place to start from and explore the unique landscapes of Ios island. An amazing hiking experience starts with great hospitality! We provide detailed information & maps about the best hikes, in printed or electronic form, and also have a wide range of hiking gear (backpacks, walking poles, first-aid kit, binoculars…) for guests’ use as well as offering healthy packed lunches.

Nutritious Greek breakfast starts the day off just right, with a selection of traditional homemade products using local ingredients, which will provide you with all the energy needed for your hike.

Setting off from our accommodation at Petra, you can explore one of the many trails below, with views of the sea. Take a break and swim off one of our blue flag beaches.

Gyalos-Koumpara-Faros (1,2 km)
From Petra Holiday Village, follow the road to Koumpara. The route is offered for an enjoyable evening walk.

Mylopotas-Sapounohoma beach-Klima beach (3,7 km.)
The trail starts from the dirt road of Mylopotas beach and leads to the beautiful beach of Sapounohoma or Klima, passing through a fascinating landscape.

Chora- Agios Spiridon- Agios Prokopis-Anemogenitries-Agii Anargiri-Agia Theodoti beach (7,4 km.)
This beautiful path starts from Ios Chora, offering amazing panoramic views all the way.

Chora-Skarkos-Ellinika-Agia Triada-Agios Prokopis
A route in a very good condition, with dry stone walls to your left and right.

Agia Theodoti-Ormos Avlaki Kastrou (1,5 km)
Follow this beautiful short route for an afternoon walk with views to the nearby islands.

Psathi-Ormos Ntomino (1,4 km)
For a breathtaking view to Psathi beach from above.

Theater- Agios Dimitrios- Ioannis Prodromos monastery- Pyrgos (6,2 km)
This route offers a view to Mylopotas beach, a visit to Agios Ioannis church, and it ends up at Pyrgos.

Port – Agia Eirini-Valmas beach (0,8 km)
The path starts from the port and the entrance of Agia Eirini church and it offers a view to the sea, leading to the beautiful beach of Valmas.

For more information on the trails, visit Ios Paths. We kindly ask our guests to help us keep our paths clear of litter.

When you return from your hike you can wash your shoes and change your clothes. Our beachside Bar Café is also the ideal oasis in which to enjoy a delicious snack after a long day’s trek.

If you are looking for an escape into both nature & tradition and love explorations, Ios island is a perfect place for a walk along paths enjoying the birdsong & wildflowers. If you prefer, we can also arrange for you to be accompanied by an experienced and independent guide, who will give you a lot of interesting information, hints and tips on the way. We can also lend you books on nature and culture!

Enjoy your stay, explore the trails and have a fantastic hiking experience! We look forward to welcoming you in this new alternative adventure!

 

Ios is an ideal Greek destination for all age groups. It is well known for its nightlife, but it also has another side, less documented by travel media. If you are interested in history, archaeology, culture, geography, architecture, sport, biodiversity or religion, Ios has much to offer you.

 

Start exploring the port of Ios, with the picturesque church of Agia Irini, built in the 17th century. The village of the island “Chora”, with the traditional Cycladic houses and the small streets, has a distinct history to tell. It is built on a slope just two kilometers from Petra Holiday VIllage. Walk through the narrow cobblestone streets and reach the church “Panagia Gremiotissa” or the “Lady of the Cliffs” to enjoy the magnificent sunset view. On a clear day, you can see all nearby islands and even as far as the mountains of Crete. Get to know the archaeological museum and learn the long history of Ios island, from the third millennium B.C. till the Roman era. Don’t forget to visit the area of the traditional windmills!

 

The old roaming donkey paths of Ios have been preserved and now provide plentiful trails for hiking enthusiasts through beaches, picturesque monasteries and ancient sites.

 

At Petra, we love hiking so don’t hesitate to ask us for advice! The following are the best paths to discover Ios island, the ideal Greek destination, by foot.

 

Gyalos-Koumpara-Faros (1,2 km)
From Petra Holiday Village, follow the road to Koumpara. The route is offered for an enjoyable evening walk.

 

Mylopotas-Sapounohoma beach-Klima beach (3,7 km.)
The trail starts from the dirt road of Mylopotas beach and leads to the beautiful beach of Sapounohoma or Klima, passing through a fascinating landscape.

 

Chora- Agios Spiridon- Agios Prokopis-Anemogenitries-Agii Anargiri-Agia Theodoti beach (7,4 km.)
This beautiful path starts from Ios Chora, offering amazing panoramic views all the way.

 

Chora-Skarkos-Ellinika-Agia Triada-Agios Prokopis
A route in a very good condition, with dry stone walls to your left and right.

 

Agia Theodoti-Ormos Avlaki Kastrou (1,5 km)
Follow this beautiful short route for an afternoon walk with views to the nearby islands.

 

Psathi-Ormos Ntomino (1,4 km)
For a breathtaking view to Psathi beach from above.

 

Theater- Agios Dimitrios- Ioannis Prodromos monastery- Pyrgos (6,2 km)
This route offers a view to Mylopotas beach, a visit to Agios Ioannis church, and it ends up at Pyrgos.

 

Port- Agia Eirini-Valmas beach (0,8 km)
The path starts from the port and the entrance of Agia Eirini church and it offers a view to the sea, leading to the beautiful beach of Valmas.

For more information, visit Ios Paths.

 

The diet of Ios’ is based on olive oil, legumes, vegetables, fish and meat. Traditional recipes include ‘revithokeftedes’, ‘tomatokeftedes’ and ‘tsimetia’ (filled zucchini’s flowers). Ios honey (made with thyme), olives and cheese are just some of the local products worth tasting and bringing home from the island of Ios.

 

One of the known cheeses in Ios is “Kefalotiri” that is salty and spicy. Another soft and acid cheese is “skotiri” a mixture of mizithra and other aromatics and of course sweet mizithra. You can visit Diaseli, a family-owned, traditional cheesery for a tasting tour, where you will learn the history of cheese on the island.

 

Ios has a wide variety of traditional sweets such as “Xerotigana”, “Kalasounia” and the traditional “pasteli”, which comes from “Niotiko” thyme honey and sesame seeds. It is offered in weddings and christening ceremonies. Don’t hesitate to taste ‘amigdalota’ the traditional sweet of Cyclades islands.

 

The menu at Petra Café-Bar features many of the above ingredients, including products from the traditional foods store at the port and the local winery.

Continue your tour with “Skarkos”, the prehistoric settlement of the island, one of the most important excavations of the middle of the third millennium B.C, located at Kampos area. Visit “Paleokastro”, the ruins of an old castle, located in Psathi area and the ancient tomb which claims the burial of the great poet Homer, located in Plakotos area and enjoy the unique view of the nearby islands. During your tour you will see many small semi – private churches, they are estimated to be three hundred and sixty five in all of Ios. Many of them, dated from the Byzantine years, have been characterized as historical monuments.

 

Ios has 32 beaches of unique beauty, golden and sandy, with crystal waters. Some of these are regarded as the best in Europe. Among the most famous beaches of the island are Mylopotas, with its crystal blue waters and Manganari, with its five beautiful bays.Many other beaches of astonishing beauty wait for you to explore them, such as Gialos, Koumbara, Kolitsani, Agia Theodoti, Psathi, Kalamos, Plakes and many more. The many beaches on the island is why many believe Ios is the ideal Greek destination.

Many of the island’s cultural events take place in the stone built theatre of Odysseus Elytis, with an amazing view in Mylopotas. Ios municipality organises various cultural events, such as theatrical performances and concerts. Ios also has many religious festivals. Once a year, the island honors all the saints that the churches and monasteries are dedicated to, with religious feasts and local celebrations. Some of the notable feasts which take place in Ios are:

 

24th June – Festival of Pyrgos
The most significant folklore festival is held at the highest peak on the island, on the site of the Byzantine church of Ayios Ioannis.

 

August 15th; The Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
On that particular day, there is a procession of the icon of the Virgin Mary in Chora. Later on, a traditional gathering is held in front of the church.

 

August 29th; The Feast of Agios Ioannis (Saint John)
This festival is held in Kalamos and Psathi during which a meat soup and the traditional bean soup are served, accompanied with traditional music, wine, and dances till the late hours.

 

8th September;
There are 2 festivals – one on the beach at Agia Theodoti and one at the little church of the Panayia Paliokastritissa at Paleokastro. Both are devoted to the Virgin Mary. The celebrations are authentic and the local people make the most of them!

On many beaches, including Gialos, you will find water sports facilities. For those who want to experience the marine biodiversity around Ios, there is a diving school in Mylopotas.

Fishing from the shore in Ios, which includes harbours and beaches, does not require a licence. Nor does fishing from a charter. The following are the main regulations regarding fishing in Greece;

• It is not permitted to fish with a net.
• It is not permitted to fish with spears that use any kind of compressed gas, including air and CO2, or any kind of explosive charge.
• You are not allowed to spearfish in Greece during the month of May.
• There are size limits regarding certain species.

 

If you want to explore the island on your own, we suggest you rent a car or a scooter. For more information, visit the website of Ios Municipality.

 

We can offer you best available rates for our traditional cycladic accommodation with no booking fees or hidden costs with flexible cancellation and payment policies

Ios does not have it’s own airport. However, there are daily coastal connections with Athens, Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Sifnos and many other islands. Plan your trip to Ios using this super map of ferries!

For transport information and tickets, you can also visit Acteon Travel Agency, which is located at the port of Ios.

 Following the road to Koumbara, our Ios holiday houses are located at the northern corner of Gialos beach. We are within walking distance from Ios port and Chora, the capital town of Ios Island and the largest settlement on the island. For those staying with us, we provide a complimentary transfer to and from the port.

For all other transport services, Michalis, a local and former stone artisan, can take you everywhere you want to go. Visit ios4u.gr.

We can offer you best available rates for our Ios holiday houses with no booking fees or hidden costs with flexible cancellation and payment policies.

The small amphitheatre periodically hosts painting, dancing and theatrical performances.

In this area many cultural events have taken place, such as theatrical performance Faysta of Bost, from the theatrical team of University of Piraeus, Latin dance performances from the Argentinean dancer Hernan Toledo and his partner, paint exhibitions and body paintings from the artists Michel Aero, Helmut Kand and others, painting and dancing lessons, lectures of historic and cultural interest and live music events.

The area is suitable for social events of any kind.

Upcoming events

This year’s program will be published in spring.

If you wish to propose or participate in any events please contact us.

The café-bar at Petra is open daily from early morning until midnight offering you traditional-style breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Petra Café Bar Ios, with the small amphitheater (read about our traditional Cycladic architecture), has stunning views of Chora and the beautiful church Agia Irini. It is the square or the ‘’meeting point’’ of Petra village, just by Gialos Beach.

Petra Café Bar Ios is open for everyone so even if you are not staying with us, don’t miss out on some breakfast or a typical Greek lunch before heading off to the beach or come by for some home-made food and drinks, all this just a few meters away from Gialos Beach.

It is the ideal location to gather with friends and family and to host birthday parties, anniversaries or other celebrations.

Start your day with a wholesome breakfast of Greek authentic produce.

Our typical breakfast, served 8:30am to 10:30am includes;

– Coffee of your choice/ Tea

– Homemade pie

– Bread & Croissant

– Jam

– Yoghurt & local Ios honey

– Local sweet

– Fresh orange juice

– Fresh fruit

After a nice swim on the beach, enjoy fresh juices, coffees, drinks, fresh salads and healthy sandwiches.

 

On Bread

xinotiri cheese, fig/strawberry,
toasted pumpkin seeds, must
nectar, black olive ciabatta

 

hummus/melitzanosalata, oregano,
cherry tomatoes, rocket, baguette

 

hummus/melitzanosalata, beetroot,
toasted pumpkin seeds, wholegrain
baguette

 

smoked turkey, xinotiri cheese,
grated carrot, fresh green salad,
cucumber, wholegrain baguette

 

club sandwich; bacon, mayonnaise,
hard-boiled egg, tomato, turkey,
salad leaves, white/wholegrain
bread

 

toastie; ham/turkey, cheese,
white/wholegrain bread

 

 

 Eggs

fried eggs, bacon, rocket, bread

 

kayiana – scrambled egg, cherry,
tomatoes, xinotiri cheese

 

Salads

watermelon chunks, mint, xinotiri
cheese, toasted pumpkin seeds

 

eggs, xinotiri cheese, hummus,
pomegranate, cherry tomatoes, pickled
sea fennel, roasted almonds, seed mix,
olive oil with basil dressing, fresh green
salad

 

rusk, cherry tomato, xinotiri cheese,
capers

 

green salad, bacon, kefalotyri cheese,
capers, dried tomato, croutons, honey
vinaigrette

 

cherry tomatoes, cucumber, pepper,
onion, capers, olives, xinotiri cheese

 

Sweets

yogurt, fruit, local ios honey

 

petra pana-cotta

 

ice-cream scoop

Join us every Saturday for BBQ at Petra Beachside Café Bar.

All are welcome!

The BBQ is €25 per person (vegetarian €18). The buffet includes pork steak, chicken souvlaki, sausage, grilled potato, pita, salads (green, tzatziki, beetroot, greek).

For those interested in joining us, please contact us on Facebook Messenger or by phone before 12pm on the day of the BBQ.

Our cocktails menu includes;

mojito mastiha

caipirinha

rum & coke

campari spritz

aperol spritz

gin & tonic

moscow mule

Are you looking for an intimate area to throw a private party away from other bars & restaurants in Ios? Over the years we have hosted birthday parties, anniversaries and other celebrations. You don’t even need to have a particular reason to throw a party. Just gather your friends and reserve Petra Café Bar Ios. Leave the rest to us.

 

Of course, we welcome walk-ins but you can also call us to reserve a table +302286091409

Overlooking the port of Ios, Petra Holiday Village is in an ideal location to view the beautiful sunsets over the Aegean sea. Comfortably nestled on the hill to the north of Ios bay, experience stunning, uninterrupted sea views as the boats come & go at the port.

Gialos Beach is a blue flag beach and is quite literally footsteps away. It is a long and narrow sandy beach with shallοw water. On windy daуs, the bаy is protected therefore thеre are few wаvеs. There are watersports available; perfect to keep the kids occupied!

Each house is cleaned daily by our team and is equipped with the following;

– Kitchenette
– Refrigerator
– Kettle and tea/coffee in the room
– Hobs
– Cookware
– Television
– Individually controlled air conditioning
– Safe deposit box
– Bathroom with shower
– Hairdryer
– Clothes dressing
– High-speed wifi

The design of Petra Holiday Village aimed to have the least possible intervention in the natural landscape as possible. Nikos, engineer and his wife Aspasia, architect, sought to create a holiday housing settlement in absolute harmony with the Ios environment. Parts of the village have since been renovated by their daughters, Ioanna & Maria, whom are both architects.

The layout of the houses was designed so that each terrace and open space is protected from wind. Respecting the local Cycladic architectural style of simple and minimal aesthetics, the houses were built with natural local materials: local stone and wood.

The houses are bright inside yet the layout of windows and doors are designed specifically for ventilation and protection from the sun. As the windows let the daylight in, they provide for coolness during summer nights. The thick walls help maintain room temperature. Take a look!

Guests will roam the village patios, stony walkways and garden of olive trees, eucalyptus, myoporum, vines, fig, rosemary, bougainvillea, cedar, prickly pear, geranium, acacia and pistacia plants.

Come and visit for an authentic Greek experience!

Petra Holiday Village has been family-run since the day it began welcoming guests. We have a passion for what we do and can offer something a bit more personal, a friendly, family-like atmosphere. Our staff work hard to make sure your needs are met during your stay in Ios and that you feel a little at home even if you’re on your authentic greek experience!

We have experience with everything from the best beaches to the local architecture to the history of the island. All you need to do is ask, and we’ll help you find the local’s favourite taverna or where to listen to greek folk music.

As an independent hotel, Petra has made a conscious choice to focus on what’s most important to our guests, the details that matter. You may notice the absence of a swimming pool. However, we are sure that you will appreciate nature’s ocean only footsteps away! We aim to provide you with everything you need and adjust our prices to match.

Enjoying simple and genuine Greek hospitality. Our reception is available from 08:30 till 00:00. We go the extra length to ensure that you enjoy your stay with us. We offer the following to our guests;

– Free transfers from and to the port free of charge (upon request)
– Luggage storage & carry service
– Free parking
– Room service
– Wake up service
– Baby cot (upon request)
– Iron and airing board (upon request)
– Change of towels (upon request)

We offer the following services at additional cost;
– Laundry service
– Breakfast from 08:30 till 10:30.
– BBQ Dinners (for a minimum of 10 people)

We can offer you best available rates with no booking fees or hidden costs with flexible cancellation and payment policies.

Modern technology once more deprives us the contact with nature. Road construction and the convenience of the car, discredited the network of paths, which continue to be used even today for stockbreeding activities. It is worthwhile to turn back the pendulum and discover the traces of cultural elements of Ios, as well as the cultural and natural wonders.

We recommend you various hiking trails, and you decide what suits best your concerns and your needs. Before selecting one, you should consult the map with the trails. The routes can also be walked in the opposite direction.

 

1st Route: Hora – Aghios Spyridonas – Perivolia – Aghios Prokopios – Pelekania

 

The first urban image of the island is an area of natural interest and fully integrated into the natural landscape. The traditional settlement of Hora, which protected, is one of the best preserved examples of Cycladic architecture. With very interesting elements such as steigadia (roofed parts of alleyways) and benches (stone benches, we would say today).

Monuments of faith and love of the locals to the gleaming white, are the 365 churches scattered throughout the island. Each one with its own personal story and specificity. On our hiking routes we will come across several small chapels fully integrated into the Cycladic landscape and simultaneously a representative image of it.

In the region “Perivolia”, you are impressed by the vegetation and the fruit trees, not reminiscent of the Cyclades, but area with abundant water. In this region, there is the church of Agios Prokopios and the landowner (Rania Cave-Mykoniatis), has done an attentive reconstruction of the area, highlighting older structures that existed before, such as the spring, the stone water tanks, and the stone groove that watered the gardens and buildings.

Throughout the island, by having a closer look, you can distinguish old stone buildings, which are “cells”, as the locals call the stockyards or the summer derelict houses. Before the motorways were built, the inhabitants, after the end of the winter, moved to their farmhouses, where they spent their summer, engaged in the land and their animals. They sowed, mowed, and pillaged (there are countless half ruined threshing floors) so they can have their own bread. They dug their vineyards and harvest grapes, to have their own wine (there are several crushers and some of them are even sheltered). They nurture their olives to have olive oil and the table olives that accompanied their food. They were grazing their animals and made cheese  (There are several stone built dairies, shown the focus which they put the cauldron and stone shelves for maturing of cheeses). Equally interesting, is the image of the summer residence, with the oven for bread baking, the parostia (the fireplace where they were cooking), the fitted cupboards and the locations of various items. The houses and the sheepfolds, were all roofed and manufactured in the following way: the rafter are put on the bottom, over it a layer of pole, then a layer of bulrush and a layer of seaweeds for the roof insulation (humidity and heat). Finally, it is covered on the top with salt lake ,or if it wasn’t available, they used red dirt.

Also the biggest part of the island is covered with terraces (drystone walls), that gathered the little fertile soil. There are many wells that ensured the precious water for the needs of the family and the animals, as well as the watering the small garden of vegetables and fruit trees. If there wasn’t a well, the household and the animals had to drink water by a nearby spring, but fortunately the island has a rich aquifer, contrary to the other islands of Cyclades.

 

2nd Route: Pelekania – Patelas Viglari – Gaitis’ Museum – Odysseas Elytis Theatre – Windmills – Hora

 

You will of course recognize the cultural monuments of the previous hiking trail and enjoy the nature of the massif of Ios. It really is a pleasure for the visitor to walk the old paths of the island that give him the ability to approach all of the above: the residences, the sheepfolds, the terraces, the wells, the threshing fields and much more. The whole island is full of surprisingly found herbs, wildflowers and rare plants of the Cyclades (don’t just think that the land is dry like the summer). There are also birds (e.g. hawks, shags, owls) and wild animals (π.χ. hedgehogs, wild rabbits, ferrets).

The municipality of Ios, has built a shrine of modern culture, the Gaitis Museum. The location of the museum is supervisory to the modern images of the Cycladic culture and nature, while being a focal point a passing of centuries (connecting present days with the past). The Gaitis museum brings together the residents of Ios, the visitor of the island and the intellectual with the personality and work of the renowned contemporary painter, while hosting periodic and / or permanent works of other eminent artists. For the time being its closed.

When there is not a cultural event, taking place at the Odysseas Elytits theatre, you can try your own acting skills while viewing the whole bay of Mylopotas and the deep blue. The theater “Odysseas Elytis” is stone built, with Parian marble, where the orchestra is usually located. It is worth mentioning the Environmental sensitivity of the Municipality of Ios, who built the theatre at the natural inclinations of the old dump site of Ios, making it a cultural monument.

There is also of course, the beautiful image of the windmills. Wind was a crucial part fort the life of the local society, providing flour for bread or nut. The windmill region of Ios had 13 windmills. The Municipality of Ios has already renovated three of them.

 

3rd Route: Aghios Prokopios – Perivolia – Epano Kampos – Ellinika – Pretesis Bridge – Skarkos – Hora

 

Epano Kampos was the old granary of the island, and nowadays it can be described as a land of high productivity with its terraces and the most fertile soil of the island. At this particular region you can see for yourself the Island’s rural tradition.

The residents of this small island have tangible signs of the greatness of the Cycladic civilization in their immediate surroundings and have adopted techniques and practices by observing the achievements, left by their great ancestors. Adapting them using their inventiveness , to the requirements of the lean Cycladic natural environment and to their personal needs, they continue so far to produce unique cultural samples.

At the area Ellinika, outside  the church of Panagia, you can notice ancient architectural elements and by having a closer look at the cell located next to it, you will be impressed by the size of the slates used for its construction. The toponym “Ellinika” (Greek) predisposes an area of archaeological interest. You can make your own estimate about the construction age of the building next to the church.

After Aghios Vlassis you can take alternative routes. If you take the left route will pass in front of the archaeological site of Skarkos. The modern archaeological research of Ios by the group of Mrs.Martharis, brought into light a unique specimen of the Protocycladic Ι and ΙΙ period (2.800 – 2.700 B.C.). The earliest traces of human presence that are identified at the island, so far, are found at the Skarkos location. It’s a  hill with an urban organization similar to the hill which is now the Hora of Ios. You could say that Hora a replica of the ancient settlement, even the activities of the residents have similarities despite so many centuries have passed. It should be noted that the archaeological site of Skarkos, was awarded for its outstanding quality of its  space  configuration and most of all, for the minimal and extremely sensitive interventions, which did not alter the unique landscape. The awards of cultural heritage, were awarded jointly by the EU and Europa Nostra (Pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage).

At the region Pigadakia, are 3 old wells.

 

4th Route: Hora – Kolitsani beach

 

Of course we cannot forget the 33 beaches. The beaches of Ios are suited for every taste, whether one wants sand or pebbles, either you want a crowded place or solitude, with unique landscapes of stone artefacts of nature, with rare flora and fauna. For the warm days of summer there are routes ending up at the sea breeze.

For Kolitsani beach there 2 different routes, each one of them starting at a different point in Hora.

 

5th Route: Port – Valmas beach

 

There is a dirt road with large slopes reaching the Valmas beach, but it’s relatively difficult for conventional cars. We suggest you left your at the port and follow the path starting behind the church of Aghia Irini.

At Valmas beach you will also find a traditional tavern, so you can have a beverage and cover yourselves from the sun under its shade.

 

The Municipality of Ios has restored cobbled paths and cleared traditional aging paths, thus restoring the past routes, so the visitors of the island can enjoy with walks, the Cycladic nature and our kids to follow the footsteps of their ancestors.

The natural environment of Cyclades is our most precious heritages and must preserve it by any means. The island, in its bigger part, is covered by terraces (drystone walls), gathering in the past the little fertile soil and giving the opportunity to the Cycladic family to harvest the land and feed its children. The effort and the toil of so many generations and the pristine nature of the Cyclades is our duty to preserve it and keep it clean.