Stavrós - Keramotí – massif of the Kóronos and back

Evaluation: From Stavrós, solitarily located between Apíranthos and Kóronos, you can first walk to the authentic village of Keramotí, by following some marvellous trails. Midst a grand landscape you then reach the side of the Kóronos, which is the third highest mountain of Naxos (989m high). According to the Anávasi-map, there is a path that continues all the way to Skepóni and Mirísis, but this path is really unclear. Nevertheless, this very lonely hike deserves an evaluation of ***. 

Estimated time: In about 20 minutes you can descend from Stavrós to Keramotí; it will then cost you 45 minutes to get to the heart of the high mountains, next to the Kóronos. The return route will take a little longer, which means that the total actual walking time is 2h20. We had something to drink in the café "I kalí paréa" in Keramotí twice and we had a long picnic break at the place where you turn back – this brought us to a trip of some 5 hours.  

Route description: [It should be possible to catch the morning bus in Chóra at 9.30am (this bus arrives in Stavrós at about 10.45am) and to return in the afternoon by taking the bus which leaves Apóllonas at 3.30pm and which passes Stavrós at about 4.20pm. This will give you a little over 5 hours to make this hike. It is obvious that your day schedule becomes more flexible when you rent a car.]

(0h00) The chapel of Stavrós is located at the crossing of a number of roads, namely the road from Chóra, via Filóti and Apíranthos to Kóronos and Apóllonas, and the other road from Chóra, via Kinídaros and Moní. Straight across you also notice an asphalt road going down to Keramotí. About 10 metres on the right of this road you find the beginning of a trail, but first you have to open a metal gate. This path descends rapidly into a very green and beautiful valley – because of the loose stones the descent might be a little difficult. On your left, the road to Keramotí describes a number of curves. A little further you can even see the old paving. You should watch out not to walk to high, though, because you then might end up at some crumbled away terraces; you should in fact aim at two little trees, down at the large wall, going down the slope in front of you. In this way you get to the left of the wall after some 9 minutes. Over there you continue by going through an open iron gate.

(0h09) Another 2 minutes further down you turn to the left and with some difficulties you then reach the asphalt road. You take a right and after describing a few slight curves you can already see the little village of Keramotí on your left-hand side. Slightly further, after 5 minutes of asphalt and just before the electricity line goes down at a little chapel, you find a beautiful trail going down on the left. You now walk on a great, white staircase; you pass a water tank and after another 4 minutes you thus reach the first houses. You soon arrive at the café "I kalí paréa" (The good company), a busy place on Sundays. A little further there is the church of Agios Ioánnis Theológos.

(0h22) You continue straight ahead and when you reach a junction you go right. At the end of the village you thus get to a concrete staircase, which descends into the valley next to a watershoot. At the foot of this staircase, after 2-3 minutes, you get to the beginning of a stony path, on the right of a wall. Slightly further you go straight on, of course, and shortly thereafter you curve to the left; you thus cross the very green valley by taking a concrete bridge. You will now continue on the right-hand bank. You go up steeply, but after a couple of minutes you get to a junction, where you take the flat trail off the left.

(0h31) You continue for many more minutes, almost horizontally, on a marvellous trail midst a wonderfully green landscape and so you approach the high massif of the Kóronos.

(0h44) Some 13 minutes later you cross a side-river with water (on the 4th of May 2008), by means of a simple little bridge made of stone. You then continue in the grand amphitheatre at the foot of the Kóronos. The path continues in a jumble of boulders and after some 8 minutes you reach a narrow passage between the rocks – there is a wall on your left-hand side for a short while and you can also see Keramotí behind you. 

(0h52) The valley in front of you gets broader and a little further you can even see the green fields. After a couple of minutes you arrive at a side-valley again, and as a result you have to turn to the right and you have to descend with a great view on the summits of the Kóronos. You walk above some goat stables and you cross two little streams midst a jumble of large boulders – exactly one hour after your departure.

(1h00) The path is narrower now and it zigzags up between the large rocks by describing short curves. After another 4-5 minutes you reach an open spot between some fanciful rocks. A little further there is a small taffóni. The path is almost invisible now and it is actually hard to describe. 

(1h05) We picniced in this magnificent landscape, a kind of amphitheatre with all around fanciful rocks modelled by the wind.

(1h05) When returning you first zigzag until you reach the two streams. You then walk on an eroded path and you pass the goat stables; you then continue on an almost flat trail – you DO NOT go down. The following stretch is wonderful and very easy, so you can really enjoy the grand nature all around you.  

(1h19) After another 8 minutes you get next to the wall and you can already distinguish Keramotí far away in front of you. Some 9 minutes later you cross the first side-river on a little bridge – the trail goes up slightly and is really great. You easily arrive at the concrete bridge and then at the (dry) irrigation canals. You finally climb up the 79 concrete steps and then you reach the first houses of Keramotí.

(1h51) You walk next to the church again and you reach the café, a pleasant stop. Slightly further you keep to the left and in this way you get to the little parking lot. You take the little concrete road on the right. Very soon you notice the beautiful staircase on the left of the little road and in about 6 minutes you get to the asphalt road.