Fiskardo

It is the only village to have been spared by the 1953 earthquake that struck the island of Kefalonia, the only one therefore that still retains the picturesque typical architecture, is located right almost at the north end of the island, and offers a small but well sheltered landing place. This explains, very briefly, the “luck” of Fiskardo, the first port one encounters when approaching Kefalonia from the north.

It goes without saying that, as a result of the beauty of the small town and the few berths available (about 25, making good use of all available moorings), it is difficult to find berths in high and very high season. The ports offer good shelter from the prevailing winds, those from the north and northwest, and just enough shelter from the south and southeast.
Inbound, watch out for ferries that often whiz by at fairly high speeds and are not visible from a distance because of the lay of the coast.

At Fiskardo there are the following mooring options: at the breakwater (depth 3.5-4 meters), at the south dock (caution: depth on 1-1.5 meters maximum), at the west dock (depth 2-3 meters), and, if necessary, also at the ferry dock on the north side, provided you leave the mooring by 11 a.m. Beware that even in the latter case the available depth does not exceed one meter.

The seabed of sand and kelp is fair holding and also allows anchoring in the northern part of the bay that houses the ports, in depths of 10-12 meters. Here, you will find mooring rings attached to the rocks on the shoreline. There are no services. Water can be found at the waterfront taverns, while in the village you will find the usual (supermarkets, bars, taverns, scooter rentals).

An alternative to Fiskardo, continuing southward, may be Sami, which is also on the east coast of the island, opposite Ithaca, 13 miles further south. It is the main port on the east coast for ferries serving the island and offers 30-35 berths for yachtsmen. Sheltered well from all winds, it suffers somewhat from strong westerly and northwesterly winds. It anchors reasonably well on muddy bottoms. The port has water at the dock, and one can refuel thanks to a delivery service with small tankers. If you cannot find room in the ports, with good seas you can anchor anywhere on the south side of the wide Sami Bay.

Sami is also an ideal starting point for visiting Lake Melissani, or “Cave of the Nymphs,” an underground lake inside a cave composed half of fresh water. A hike, moreover, can take you on foot to the heights above the town to the remains of the ancient acropolis: there is not much left to see but, on the other hand, the view of the bay is spectacular. Finally, a few kilometers away from the town is Drogarati Cave, a pure spectacle of stalactites and stalagmites.