Golden sand
A long arc.
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Koukounaries is a beach in the southwest of Skiathos, one of the Sporades islands in the northern Aegean, about 8 km west of Skiathos town in a straight line. Its name means «stone pines» in Greek. Here a wooded peninsula covered in stone pine forest separates a lagoon from the sea, and on the seaward side runs the beach, also known as Chrysi Ammos, «golden sand». Until 1964 Skiathos town was the island's only settlement; then a coastal road was built to Koukounaries and the first large resort was built here. A long arc of soft golden sand faces shallow, clear turquoise water, shaded behind by dense green pine forest. From the air the calm lagoon appears behind the woods, with the beach a crescent between green and blue. Visitors arrive by bus from Skiathos town, as Koukounaries is the last stop on the line, or by boat. They swim in the shallow water, good for children, and walk in the shade of the pines and around the lagoon; the beach is crowded in high summer.
A long arc.
Natural shade.
Behind the woods.
Southwest Skiathos island, Greece
Yes, the water is shallow.
By bus from Skiathos town.