This post is number three in the series Complete Guide to the Island of Andros:

#1 Landscape, history and architecture | Andros
#2 Attractions on the Andros & culinary world | Andros
#3 Beaches & nature | Andros

Agenda

Beaches

You will find many great beaches in Andros. Here you can choose from 40 beaches, both sandy and rock, secluded and more crowded, for families or nudists. As they say – something good for everyone. The waters surrounding the island are exceptionally clean, depending on the region they can also be cooler or warmer.
On the west side of the island, you will find mainly organized sandy beaches, easily accessible, including:

Agios Petros (St. Peter) – the largest sandy beach on the island, with shallow waters. Fully organized with deckchairs, bar and taverns.
Location: close to the main road from Batsi to Gavrio.
How to get there? By car or bus. There is a large car park next to the beach.
Chrisi Ammos (Golden Beach) – the most popular sandy beach on Andros. Sheltered from the wind, but with loud music playing from beach bars.
Location: close to the main road from Batsi to Gavrio.
How to get there? By car or bus. There is a small car park next to the beach, you can also park your car along the main road.
Agios Kiprianos – a small sandy beach, where you can take advantage of diving lessons.
Location: on the west side of the island, on the main road leading from Batsi to Gavrio, just before “Chris Ammos”.
How to get there? By car or bus, follow the main road from the port in Gavrio to Stavropeda. There is a car park next to the beach.
Batsi – a fully organized beach with sand and shallow waters, ideal for families. In the area, there are many bars and restaurants, including The Dolphins and Oti Kalo.
Location: in Batsi
How to get there? Very easy, by car or bus. There is a lot of parking space near the beach.
Aneroussa – a small sandy beach, mainly for the customers of “Aneroussa Beach Hotel”, but also available to everyone, with a bar and sun loungers.
Location: on the west side of the island, after Batsi and towards Chora.
How to get there? By car. Coming from Batsi, it is located between Stivari and Agia Marina.
Chalkolimionas – sandy beach with shallow waters. Surrounded by rocks and ideal for fishing. Sun beds and a beach bar are available.
Location: right in the centre of the western side of the island, in the Stavroped area.
How to get there? Very easily by car. Follow the main road towards Chora, turn right at Stavropeda and then turn right to get to the beach. There is a lot of parking space.

On the East coast conditions for sunbathing are a little less convenient, mainly due to the strong wind. On windless days, however, you can experience here calmer sunbathing.

Tis Grias To Pidima (“Old Lady’s Leap”) – a unique feature is a tower-like rock formation emerging from the water. It is a rather small beach with sand and pebbles and crystal clear water.
Location: In the south-eastern part of the island, in the northern part of Ormos Korthiou.
How to get there? By car, 10 minutes from Korthi. Continue walking down the path. You can also take a boat trip.
Syneti – one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, with pebbles, crystal clear waters and sea caves.
Location: on the east side of the island, between Chora and Korthi.
How to get there? By car, follow the main road from Chora to Korthi, turn left to the village of Syneti and then turn left towards the beach.
Achla – probably the most beautiful beach in Andros, with fine sand, small white pebbles, magnificent waters, plane trees and a stream.
Location: on the eastern side of the island, north of Chora.
How to get there? Access is not easy, because of the gravel road leading from the village of Vourkoti. A lot easier, by boat from Chora.
Vori – a sandy beach with crystal clear water and trees providing shade. Its unique feature is the shipwreck emerging from the rocks.
Location: in the eastern part of the island, near the village of Arni.
How to get there? Along the road towards Remata and Arnia, choose the gravel road on the left and turn left again at the first intersection.
Zorkos – a large beach with golden sand and crystal clear water, ideal for lovers of fishing. There is a summer tavern nearby.
Location: in the north-eastern part of the island.
How to get there? A half-hour route by car from Gavrio. After Varidi there is about 5 km of a good gravel road.
Peza (Mikri I Megali) – ideal for fishing and for those who like to be in seclusion.
Location: on the north side of the island.
How to get there? By car. Follow the road from Gavrio to Fellos, cross the intersection towards Mermigies and turn left at the next intersection. After Sidontas, take a gravel road towards Hartes, and from there go to Peza.

Nature

As we have often mentioned, Andros is an exceptional island, different from the other ones in the Cyclades. Thanks to the mountainous landscape and natural springs, the island is home to various animals and plants. The most important of the plants are alluvial forests of Common Alder, Chestnut woods, as well as White Willow and White Poplar, unique in the Cyclades. Thanks to the presence of springs and rivers, you can find here a lot of small wetlands near the coast. The rocky coastline of the island, as well as the small islets surrounding it, are home to two protected species of birds: the Mediterranean Shag and the Audouin’s Gull. But that’s not all, because you can also see here Eleonor’s Falcons, the most emblematic birds in the Aegean Sea. The centre of the island is a home for such raptors as the Peregrine Falcon and the Bonelli’s Eagle.

Being in Andros we had a unique opportunity to get to know the fauna on the island more closely, as well as a program protecting the exceptional ecosystems, which are a place of nesting for the mentioned birds. We met an amazing George from the Andros Life Program, who told us about the goals of the program and how his work looks like every day. George is a passionate enthusiast who is totally devoted to his work. Together with co-workers, they look after ecosystems, create artificial nests for the birds, take care of balance, purity on land and underwater, and spread public awareness, which seems to be crucial. Due to pollution, also from plastic, many ecosystems die, and with them endangered species. We would like to recommend all those who have not seen the Blue Planet documentary series, which shows the life in the oceans in a beautiful way, and also draws attention to the problem of tons of waste that land every year in the waters and destroy this underwater world.