Walking to the Gerolimni waterfall on the island of Andros – a hidden gem

Writer: Helena Bergström

The Gerolimni waterfall, on the island of Andros in Greece, was a place for a long time that was only known to the local residents. Now there is also the possibility for tourists to walk here and perhaps in real Tarzan spirit swing in a lian in the water, but this is still a quiet, quiet and picturesque little jewel, unknown to most.

Waterfall Gerolimni

The waterfall of Gerolimni is not that great, but the surrounding nature makes the place unique and almost paradise -like. Most islands in the archipelago of the Kyklades, including Andros, are characterized by relatively dry environments. Andros stands out by being an unusual green island, with many water holes.

The Gerolimni waterfall is located just northwest of the city of Andros (Chora) on the island of Andros in Greece.

An exciting drive to the start of the walk

It is certainly technically possible to only reach the Gerolimni waterfall, but if you are not familiar with the island, it is not recommended because it is simply difficult to find. That is why we have the company keeping track Explore Andros On a tour.

In normal cases, as a tourist you probably jump in one of the cars of Explore Andro and you hang with the guides until the start of the Tour. In our case, the experience was booked in the very last second, when the group was already on the road, and we drove in our own rental car to the Kleine departure road, where we had to follow the Explore Andros car.

“If you can’t drive here, I can jump in and drive your car,” the guide thought. So, huh? After a while we understood the remark of the guide – parts of the road were Real rocky and that us Challenging to run our little Fiat over the stony festivals, but after a moment very slowly we arrived.

In the parking lot we greeted the others in the group – young Greek tourists – and brought our little backpack with swimwear and a water bottle. Because the walk was decided quickly and funny, during a meeting with Explore Andros in a cafe in Andro’s City, none of us “today the outfit” with regard to walking … for my (Helena) part, it was a walk in a dress, and it was pure happiness that at least I had the dress with a few gym …!

Nice walk to the waterfall

Then it was time for the walk! It was an incredibly beautiful walk, on paths and cliffs along a deep river, covered with greenery.

Nature here offers an exciting landscape with fantasy -shaped boulders and crooked trees. Here and there some water, and occasionally a goat jumps behind a stone bump.

Here and there you can see the historic stone walls that are typical of Andros and other islands in the area. These walls are built without mortar and you are often seen on slopes, in the form of “terraces”. In fact, the knowledge, tradition and technology of these walls is formalized as an intangible cultural heritage at UNESCO, called “The Art of Dry Stone Walling, Knowledge and Techniques”.

The walk itself was neither particularly heavy nor long, although it must be said that it includes a number of high steps and has been balanced on stones. Here and there the guide put a helping hand out, while at the same time told us about nature and the area.

Waterfall Gerolimni

After perhaps an hour slow and soothing walk, we arrived at the small waterfall, where we posed for some photos before we settled on a cliff and just enjoyed the surroundings.

The water was currently around 19 degrees and it is six meters deep, so it is excellent for both swimming and jumping. We were satisfied with cooling our feet in the refreshing water, but several of the young person in the group wanted more adventure.

A rope with a lian hangs in a tree and here it was popular to swing out, and then straight in the water with a noisy splash.

Walk back

We probably hung on the Waterhol for an hour or more, and this was really a relaxed and fun moment. When it was time to walk back, we went almost In the same way, but from time to time, the guide chose a number of other paths, giving us a new beautiful views.

More to see and in the neighborhood

There is of course much more to see and experience on the island of Andros. Not far from the Gerolimni -waterfall you will find the nice city Andros Town and it is also nice to visit the Batsi Resort, with all its restaurants. If you like walking, Andros is also an excellent place. There are many certified and clearly excellent joints via Andros Routes. Don’t miss all beautiful beaches on Andros!