Γαλαζια Σπιλια

Galázia Spiliá - Perastá Cave - Blue Grotto - Phokeale - Refuge of Seals


Useful Information

Location: Kastellórizo Island, (Meyísti).
On the southern coast of the island, visited by boat only.
(36.1258646, 29.5790362)
Open: no restrictions
Fee: for the boat
Classification: SpeleologyKarst Cave Speleologysea cave ExplainBlue Grotto
Light: none
Dimension: L=155 m, W=80 m, H=25 m.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
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As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History


Description

This cave is on the southern coast and accessible by a 45 minute boat ride from the town of Kastellórizo. The grotto of Perastá, or Galazia Spiliá warrants a visit, not only for it's stalactites, but for the strange blue-light effects. The low entrance is only negotiable by an inflatable raft, and gives little hint of the enormous chamber within. There are monk seals who occasionally nest in an adjacent cave and when disturb leap noisily into the sea. A ninety minutes rubber raft trip to the cave costs Euro 6.00 minimum per person. For a minimum of Euro 15.00 a larger boat, will take you on a 5 hours trip.


Text by Tony Oldham (2002). With kind permission.

Γαλάζια Σπηλιά (Blue Grotto) is one of dozens on caves with that name, but unlike other such popular names, this one actually has a meaning. A blue grotto is a cave which has an underwater connection to the sea and when the sun shines on the water outside, only the blue wavelengths are not filtered by the seawater. As a result the cave is illuminated in an eerie blue. This cave is also the biggest sea cave of Greece (at least currently). It was used as a refuge by many ships, including pirates and smugglers.

The cave entrance is very small, it is rather wide but only 1.20 m high. The first hall, lighted by the blueish light from the seawater, contains numerous speleothems, coloured stalactites hanging from the 25 m high cupola of the 155 m long chamber. At the end of the first chamber, a passage leads to a second chamber. This one is circular with about 40 m in diameter and 15 m high.

At the end of the second water-filled chamber, the cave ends with a short dry passage. This place is used by seals as a resting place. The cave is locally known as Phokeale (Refuge of Seals). It is also called Φοτσαλίκι (Photsaliki, Fuchsia). Another alternate name is Τρύπα τού Παραστά (Hole in the wall).

The cave is visited on boat trips around the island, there is no access by land. The tours start at Kastellorizo, the only harbour and city on the island. Some also include the Σπηλιά του Παραστά (Σπηλιά του Παραστά, Cave of Parastas). And this cave is also named Τρύπα τού Παραστά (Hole in the wall). We guess the last name is a synonym for sea caves on the island.