Pylos

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Pylos (Port of Entry)

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	36°54.9′N, 21°41.6′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet
Chart of Navarino Bay Click for larger view

Contents 1 Pylos (Port of Entry) 2 Charts 3 Radio Nets 4 Local Weather 5 Approach and Navigation 6 Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration) 7 Berthing Options 7.1 Marinas & Yacht Clubs 7.2 Anchorages 8 Offshore Islands and Groups 9 Yacht Repairs and Services 9.1 Marine Stores 9.2 Repairs/Yards 9.3 Fuel, Water, & Electricity 10 Tourism and Things to do Ashore 10.1 Tourism 10.2 Grocery & Supply Stores 10.3 Eateries 10.4 Internet/WiFi 10.5 Laundry 10.6 Motorbike & Car Rentals 10.7 Garbage Disposal 10.8 Transportation 11 Routes/Passages To/From 12 Cruiser's Friends 13 Forum Discussions 14 External Links 15 References & Publications 16 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here) 16.1 Personal Notes 17 Contributors to this page 18 Cruising Wiki Navigation

Pylos (Πύλος ) or Pilos or Navarino or Neokastro is a fairly modern town located in the deep bay of Navarino where there was a very famous naval battle of the British, French, and Russians against the Ottomans in 1827. This battle devastated the Ottoman fleet and led to Greek independence since the Turkish-Egyptian troops were totally cut-off and at the mercy of the Greek rebels.

Modern Pylos is at the S of of Navarino bay but the the famous Pylos, the capital of Nestor, the Homeric hero, was located to the N of the bay.

Charts

BA

189 Nisos Sapiénza to Nisos Paxoi

Imray-Tetra

G15 Southern Peloponnisos

NIMA

54301 Kalamai and Approaches

Greek

212 Othonoi I. to Amvrakikos Gulf

Radio Nets

• Greek Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
• Olympia Radio - VHF channels 27, 83, & 86

Also see Cruiser's Nets

Local Weather

See Ionian Sea.

Approach and Navigation

Danger: The only safe way of entering the bay of Navarino is from the S of the long island Sfaktiria.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

Yachts entering Greece for the first time or checking out, should report to the Coast Guard (Limenarchio). They will direct them, if appropriate, to Customs, and Passport Police. All are nearby in the commercial harbor. Procedures here are lax.--Istioploos 14:32, 5 June 2008 (MDT)

Berthing Options

There are anchoring several possibilities within the bay: In the "marina" (free!), the commercial harbor, and anchoring off in N of the bay.

The commercial harbor of Pylos 36°54.9′N, 21°41.6′E, is not only crowded with commercial vessels but it has a very uncomfortable swell. It is to be avoided. Note that the southern end of Navarino Bay has a rocky seabed and is thus poor anchoring. The north end is sandy.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Pylos Marina - free

Anchorages

There are several places one can anchor at the N end of the bay. The shelter is good but anchoring can present problems.

Offshore Islands and Groups

• Sphacteria

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

There is a small chandlery, Fortis, next to the super market in the main square. They also carry Camping Gaz. Walk through the square away from the water. Take the road to the right, towards Methoni. The Chandler is about 100m up on the left.

Repairs/Yards

Only for the outboard.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

A mini tanker delivers to the marina. Call +30 27230 22 107 (speaks English) or another tanker on +30 27230 22 287

Water

There is a faucet near the marina entrance, but not very convenient. There is also an outlet at the commercial harbor (call +30 2723 22 127)

Electricity

N/A (Not Available)

Tourism and Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Bronze Statuette in Pylos Museum Click for larger view

Neocastro Click for larger view

The most important place here is to visit the excavation site of Nestor's Palace in Englianos. The ongoing excavation is described in detail in the excavation reports in The Pylos Regional Archaeological Project. In the early stages of this excavation by the American archaeologist C.W. Blegen many clay tablets were found. These tablets were written in a script (also found in Crete and other Mycenaean sites) that was labeled "linear B". The script was deciphered by the brilliant work of Michael Ventris and John Chadwick and was found to be the earliest form of Greek. Many of the findings from the excavation are in the the Pylos Museum in the town.

A nice walk from the town is Neokastro, the Ottoman castle of Pylos. It is fairly large and well preserved. Within the castle there is an interesting historical and folkloric exhibit. Well worth a visit. There is an entrance charge.

At the north end of the bay there are several items of interest. One can anchor off, or even go by dinghy from Pylos. Once ashore, cross the small bridge. You then have two options: you can take the path to the left which winds up to the castle. It is marked as 'closed' because of some danger of the castle walls or arches collapsing. Or you can take the path to the right, which goes alongside the shallow lagoon to the beautiful horseshoe bay of Voïdokilia - crystal clear shallow turquoise waters which are a popular swimming destination for the locals. Note that this path is also 'closed' owing to dangers from a landslide on one short stretch of it. Easily scrambled over.

If you take the path up to the castle (wear hiking shoes or boots), you can walk the walls with beautiful views across the bay, and across Voïdokilia. At the north end of the castle, scramble through a hole in the wall, and down a steep path (which does have some steel handholds and railings on parts). This will lead you past a huge cave on the right, and then down through the sand dunes to the shores of Voïdokilia bay.

Around the south end of the bay are several war monuments. These are the main destinations of the tourist bay tours. One is on the small island in the middle. The others are on the two islands guarding the entrance to the bay. All of them have small docks to which you can tie up your dinghy.

On the NE corner of the bay is the small town of Yialova with a very shallow quay and a tiny museum. Plus of course seasonal restaurants and a pleasant sandy beach.

Grocery & Supply Stores

There is a small supermarket at the main square.

Eateries

Good food at 1930 and O Koúkos

Internet/WiFi

In Internet cafés.

Laundry

The dry cleaner uphill from the NW corner of the square does laundry but they take at least one day.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

• No motorbikes are to be rented
• Cars near the Miramare hotel, ask for Mr. Nikos Houmas

Garbage Disposal

There are bins around the marina and commercial harbor.

Transportation

There are regular buses to Kalamata from where one can fly to Athens.

Routes/Passages To/From

• Circumnavigating the Peloponnese

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

• Pylos (Wikipedia)
• Nestor's Palace
• Sphacteria (Wikipedia)

References & Publications

See Greece.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details checked:

• June 2001 --Istioploos
• March 2010 --Pete R Spoke to both fuel tankers and are open all year round.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Template:Guide2

Contributors to this page
Names: Istioploos, Lighthouse, Pete R

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