Stoupa is a coastal town in the Peloponnese, which is situated 45 kilometers southeast of Kalamata (with its airport - bus connection to Stoupa 4 times a day). Not long ago Stoupa was a small fishing village but especially in the last decade, the travel agencies in the various countries and individual travellers discovered this seaside resort. There are some (mostly small) hotels and apartment complexes and there are quite a number of beautiful villas with private swimming pool offered for rent.
In Stoupa there is plenty of choice in restaurants, mini markets and shops and there is a pharmacy. There is no bank here but there are two ATMs.
Probably the name Stoupa comes from the Albanian word "stopa" which means beach. In Stoupa there are three beaches and in the area you can find many more small beaches. The first beach is called Kardamyli beach. It is a large sandy beach with facilities such as sun beds and parasols. At the beach there are also a few tavernas. The sea is shallow here and therefore it is ideal for families with small children.
Kalogria beach is also known as Zorba's beach. The Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis made friends with Alexis Zorbas here and based his book Zorba the Greek on him. In honour of Kazantzakis there is a statue for him at the beach.
The main beach of Stoupa, Stoupa beach, which is centrally located in the village, is a large sandy beach with facilities. You can rent pedal boats and canoes here, and there are sunbeds and parasols. It is also a good place to snorkel. Stoupa beach is the most popular beach of the village. The water is more steep here though than on Kardamyli beach.
Halikoura beach is a small beach with some pebbles. At the beach there are a couple of taverns. Halikoura beach is a good place to snorkel, as there are some rocks in the sea. Therefore it is recommended to keep an eye on where you're walking if you go into the sea here.
Delfini beach is situated a fifteen minute walk north of Stoupa and is indicated from the road with a sign. To reach the beach you have walk the last piece down over a steep trail. It is sandy with lots of shingles and some rocks. There is not much shelter from the sun to be found on Delfini beach. At the beach there is a camping site. As I understand there is a cantina at the beach nowadays where you can buy drinks, but maybe it's still a good idea to bring a bottle of water in anyway, if you want to go to this beach. Delfini beach is quieter than the three beaches in the village of Stoupa itself. It is a beautiful spot for snorkeling because of the coloured fish and the anemones that you can find here. Delfini beach drops off quickly in the sea and the water is deep quite fast, so it is not really suitable for small children.
Foneas beach is situated a little further north of Delfini, between Stoupa and Kardamyli (but closer to Stoupa). Also this beach is quieter than the beaches in Stoupa itself. You can see the beach from the road. Characteristic of the beach is the very big rock here standing on the beach in in the sea, which makes Foneas beach into a very photogenic place. The cliffs around the beach provide some shade in the morning. Foneas beach is a beach of white stones and pebbles with the only facility of a cantina where you can buy drinks and snacks (high season). The village Kardimili lies at a distance of 10 kilometers north of Stoupa and has a pebble beach.
For all hotels, apartments, studios and villas in Stoupa - click here.
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