Polylimnio, Messenia

People say that Polylimnio is heaven on earth – and they are right! The lush green gorge with waterfalls, wooded paths and 15 lakes is very close to the Kalamata-Pylos road, so if you’re in the vicinity in summer or autumn take a detour and go walking and swimming in this earthly paradise.

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People say that Polylimnio (meaning many lakes) is heaven on earth –and they are right! The lush green gorge with waterfalls, wooded, shady paths and 15 lakes is very close to the Kalamata-Pylos road. So, if you’re in the vicinity in summer or autumn, take a detour (signposted) and go walking and swimming in this earthly paradise. One word of warning –it’s best avoided in winter and early spring as the waters can be in spate.

In recent years, Polylimnio has become a favorite destination for nature lovers and walkers. The route is signposted, and there are recreational and picnic areas along the way.

The starting point for the walk is the village of Charavgi which is 34 km from Kalamata. The paths take you alongside the stream that flows into the Messinian Gulf, and on the way  you cross over small bridges and pass by cascading waterfalls that tumble into beautiful turquoise lakes. When it’s hot you can swim in these beautiful lakes to cool off before hitting the trail again. 

Some of the waterfalls are quite small, but some fall from an impressive height such as Kalouda which has a 25m drop.  Some points to look out for are Mavrolimna, the Italian’s Lakes (the first you will see when you start your walk), Tycheros, Panagos, Stathoula – all names that hide various local traditions. The most popular lake is the larger Kadi lake with its imposing waterfall.

The 3km route is suitable for everyone other than children under 5, but it's a good idea to wear stout shoes. The walk lasts a total of 2 hours, without stops.

There are companies that organise Polylimnio tours with a picnic and archery.

Location

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