Tilos

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WorldMediterraneanAegean SeaGreeceDodecaneseTilos
Tilos
36°24.970'N, 027°23.200'E Chart icon.png
lat=36.41617 | lon=27.38667 | zoom=11 | y
Greece Tilos S.jpg
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Satellite image of Tilos

Tilos (Τήλος) or Telos is a fairly remote and off the beaten track island. It is not very picturesque but it is quiet and more true to its traditions than the more developed neighboring islands.

In the 1990's the mayor of Telos, a member of Greenpeace, banned all hunting on the island and declared it a wildlife refuge. Since then, there is an active environmental conscience on the island and it is known as the Green Island of the Dodecanese. The island has now been designated as a Special Protected Area under the European Birds Directive, since it hosts endangered species such as the Bonelli's eagle, Mediterranean shag and Eleanora's falcon. The island now manages the SPA itself, planting trees, rehabilitating natural springs and encouraging traditional cereal crops in order to protect the habitat for these species. Details of the programme, which is funded under the LIFE-Nature scheme of the European Commission, are available at the Tilos Information Centre 200m south of the harbour in Livadhia.

Charts

BA
1055 Rhodes Channel and Gökova Körfezi
Imray-Tetra
G35 Dodecanese and Coast of Turkey
NIMA
54400 Samos to Rodhos
Greek
451 Leros to Rhodos

Weather

See Aegean Sea.

Passages

Islands

None.

Communication

  • Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
  • Olympia Radio - VHF channels 01 & 63

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Navigation

All approaches to Tilos are without danger but, with the meltemi there can be very strong gusts and the harbour should be entered with care. Once inside the harbour, shelter is good, although a slight swell can creep in during strong winds.

Berthing

There are two anchorages in Tilos, the small harbor of Livádia and a cove at the N of the island.

Ports

Chart of Livádia

Livádia

Livádia/wiki/Tilos#Liv.C3.A1dia
Harbour icon Livádia [[Tilos#Livádia|Livádia]] (Λιβάδια) 36°24.970'N, 027°23.200'E

Already one of the most yacht-friendly Greek harbours in the Aegean, Livadhia or Livádia is now even more so with the establishment in 2008 of ten laid moorings along the main quay. As a result, no anchoring in the harbour is now permitted. Yachts go bow or stern to the quay as directed by the friendly Dutch harbour mistress, Eddie, or – subject to ferry schedules – alongside the inside of the mole. Depths at the quay are just over 3 metres and alongside the mole between 6 and 7 metres. Water and electricity are available at all berths. The harbour gets very busy in July and August and it is wise to arrive early to be sure of a berth in those months. Once the harbour is full, yachts anchor off in the bay (although a swell sets in with moderate to fresh winds and with strong winds the anchorage can become untenable).

  • Update August 2017, Approximately half of the 8 or so berths (stern to) have laid lines. Those closest to the town must anchor. Others go alongside on the outer mole and raft up dependent on conditions (i.e. harbour master will raft up if needed). The Harbour is run by the very capable "Stefanos" (you'll hear him before you see him). He has a football whistle! Very helpful, besides Greek, he speaks English and French very well. And, does a very good job of organizing everyone. --Speedbird


Warning: Anchoring off should be avoided during strong winds.
Livádia Harbor from the South
Livádia Harbor from the East

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Anchorages

The beach of ´Eristos

´Eristos

´Eristos/wiki/Tilos#.C2.B4Eristos
Anchorage icon ´Eristos [[Tilos#´Eristos|´Eristos]] (Έριστος) 36°25.898'N, 027°20.805'E

´Eristos is a fairly deep cove and offers good protection from the meletemi but it develops a rather uncomfortable swell. The beach is low key and very attractive. Few tavernas.

Anchor in 4-6 m depth. The bottom is sand very good holding.

UPDATE 2018 - JULY 2018 The swell can become a problem when trying to beach a dinghy as it is quite strong - I had to jump in the water to avoid the 3,4m dinghy from being thrown on the beach by the swell. So, excellent for a stop, but if thinking to go out check the swell! Two tavernas, one a hundred meters from beach and the other 200m. Simple, average food. --Ioannis

The village of Megalo Chorio is about a 40 minute walk from here.

Ayios Antónios

Ayios Antónios/wiki/Tilos#Ayios_Ant.C3.B3nios
Anchorage icon Ayios Antónios [[Tilos#Ayios Antónios|Ayios Antónios]] (Άγιος Αντώνιος) 36°27.600'N, 027°20.000'E
This cove is exposed to the N.

Amenities

Facilities
Water Livádia: on the quay
Electricity Livádia: on the quay (extra charge)
Toilets Not available (N/A)
Showers N/A
Laundry N/A
Garbage There are bins around the harbors and in several anchorages
Supplies
Fuel N/A
Bottled gas ?
Chandlers None
Services
Repairs N/A
Internet In Internet cafés
Mobile connectivity 3G in most of the island
Vehicle rentals N/A

Provisioning

There is very good bakery and several food stores in Livádia.

Eating out

Armenon/wiki/Tilos#ArmenonEatingout icon Armenon [[Tilos#Armenon|Armenon]] offers a slightly more creative version of Greek cuisine than most tavernas.
Trata/wiki/Tilos#TrataEatingout icon Trata [[Tilos#Trata|Trata]] is recommended.
Irina/wiki/Tilos#IrinaEatingout icon Irina [[Tilos#Irina|Irina]] is also recommended.
Ilidi Rock Hotel/wiki/Tilos#Ilidi_Rock_HotelEatingout icon Ilidi Rock Hotel [[Tilos#Ilidi Rock Hotel|Ilidi Rock Hotel]] Good value, home cooked food + sunbeds.
To Kastro/wiki/Tilos#To_KastroEatingout icon To Kastro [[Tilos#To Kastro|To Kastro]] this restaurant is very popular and serves outstanding grilled meats.

Transportation

There are ferries to Athens, twice a week, and hydrofoils to Kos and Rhodes.

Tourism

History

Telos has had an interesting history. It seems that the island was connected to Asia Minor and elephants roamed its land. When the island was separated from the mainland around 10,000 years ago, the descendants of these elephants evolved into a more compact size. Remains of these small elephants have been excavated.

According to the mythology, the island was named after Telos the son of the sun Helios and Alia. Alia got sick and the dutiful son came to this island to find herbs to cure his mother's sickness. After she was cured he built a sanctuary dedicated to Helios-Apollo and to Poseidon. He became its first priest. In antiquity the island was fairly prosperous and had founded a colony in Sicily named Gela. Telos was a member of the Delian League. The island was famous for its export of perfumes. The poetess Erinna who was said to be a "female Homer" was from Telos. In the third century Telos was allied with Rhodes. In 226 BC there was an earthquake that destroyed part of its citadel, near today's Megalo Chorio. From 42 BC Telos came under the Romans.

During the middle ages Telos was known as Episcopi and was under the Knights of St. John from 1309 to 1522. It withstood several attacks by the Turks. Later Venetians and pirates raided the island. This continued as late as 1821 when the revolutionary Greek boats from Mykonos and Spetses raided it.

In 1912 Telos was occupied by the Italians, who called it Piscopi, and then in 1943 by the Germans who destroyed all of the island's livestock. Finally, in 1948, along with the rest of the Dodecanese, Telos was united with Greece.

Places to Visit

Megalo Chorio

Near Megalo Chorio is the Venetian castle, the Kastro, built on top of the ancient acropolis. The town is pretty, with whitewashed houses. There is a small museum with the bones of the miniature elephants. On July 28 and November 8, there is a festival here with local dances.

A few kilometers N of Megalo Chorio at the beach of Ayios Antónios there are the petrified remains of human skeletons of sailors caught in the lava of the Niseros eruption of 600 BC.

Mikro Chorio
From ´Eristos
A Street
Mikro Chorio

Along the road from Livathia to Eristos (Έρυστος), about an hour's walk, there is the deserted ghost village of Mikro Chorio. This is well worth a visit. There are two 15th century churches with frescoes. The village, which was the most populous in the island, was too remote from the sea and had no water. In older times people lived way inland because of the fear of the pirates, but as this fear receded the rational also went away. So, it was abandoned in 1950 and the inhabitants moved to harbor of Livádia. Now the only building that is not abandoned is a restored house that is being used as a bar/disco. It actually does look attractive. The marked "parking" area in this wasteland is kind of ludicrous. It is all very spooky!

A short distance from the village there is the cave where the bones of the pigmy elephants were found in 1971. These were supposedly the last elephants in Europe. They were killed around 4000 BC.

Mikro Chorio
The Central Street
Abandoned House

Friends

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

Forums

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

Links

References

See Greece.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. A secure harbour - now even more so with the laid moorings - on one of the most beautiful islands in the Dodecanese. It is a joy to see the efforts being made to preserve the unique environmental features of the island for the benefit of the endangered bird species that inhabit it. You go to your grave a poorer man if you've never seen an Eleanora's falcon hunting dragonflies on the wing ... --Atheneoflymington 11:04, 13 July 2009 (UTC)

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Names: Istioploos, Atheneoflymington, Summercruise


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