Kalamos Island

Kalamos is the largest of a fringe of small islands located in the region of Lefkada. The island’s landscape combines high peaks and steep slopes ending to the coast which are surrounded by the boundless blue of the sea.

The first evidence of human habitation on the island dates back to the Neolithic era. It is certain that Kalamos was inhabited also in the Mycenaean and Classical periods. 

Kalamos is not a conventional island. It is a tall mountain range that floats on the sea, its northern side overgrowing with towering, thick pine trees. It is obvious to even the non-specialist visitor that these pines are of a special species.
They perch everywhere, even at the most precipitous points, sprouting from the rocks and reaching as far as the edge of the sea, as though they insisted on demonstrating their superiority over the place.

Kalamos has a surface area of around 20 square kilometres and a highest mountain peak of 200 metres. There are around 580 permanent residents, increasing in the summer when friends and relatives visit the island.
The centre of the island is the port of Kalamos, which is on the eastern side. This is where many people sailing the Ionian moor their boats in order to visit the island, enjoy some seafood at a seaside taverna or seek refuge from bad weather.
The residents’ boats, a vital means of transportation and communication with the rest of the world, are kept at the small, new port. 

On the other side of the island is Porto Leone, a charming, little bay so named by the Venetians who first drew up the maps of the area. Nearby is an old bridge built many centuries ago. The pine forest is very rare and the only other forests of this type are found on the Sporades islands in the Aegean Sea. It is a thickly-grown verdant forest, powerful and vibrant and home to many species of birds. 

Near the port are the beaches of Myrtia and Asproyiali, whilst further south are Agriapidia, Pefkoi and Kefali with Kedros, Alexaki, Kipoi and Trachilos to the west. The island also has some interesting caves.
The road that goes from Kalamos to Episkopi has not had much of an effect on the landscape and is ideal for all those who delight in rambling through a beautiful natural environment. The island has only a few cultural monuments. It does, however, have a remarkable natural landscape and an atmosphere which transports the visitor to eras long gone. ve a remarkable natural landscape and an atmosphere which transports the visitor to eras long gone.