At Skiathos airport there is a box. Visitors leave in it the pebbles they took, perhaps without thinking, from one of the island's beaches. The beach is Lalaria, and its pebbles are not supposed to leave.
The beach
Lalaria lies on the steep northern coast of Skiathos. The beach is covered in smooth white and grey pebbles, rounded by the waves. Sheer cliffs rise around it, and at one end the sea has opened an arch in the rock, the "Trypimeni Petra" (Pierced Rock).
The water is clear and changes colour, from green near the shore to deep blue further out. Because the coast faces north, when the north wind blows there are waves and the boats may not go.
Why the pebbles stay
The white pebbles are what make Lalaria special. If every visitor took even one, in a few years the beach would change. That is why removing them is forbidden. Photograph them, hold them, but leave them where you found them.
Getting there
No road reaches Lalaria. The only way is by boat. Caiques for the round-the-island trip leave daily from the old harbour of the town, weather permitting. They stop at Lalaria for a swim, at the Kastro and at caves along the coast. You can also rent a small boat if you are experienced.
Caves and coastline
Near Lalaria there are sea caves, such as the Blue Cave and the Dark Cave, which the boats visit on the trip round the island. The north coast of Skiathos is generally wilder and less built up than the south, with its organised beaches. It is worth seeing from the sea.
Practical notes
There are no umbrellas or snack bars on the beach. Bring water, sunscreen and something for shade. Water shoes help, because the pebbles heat up in the sun. September is ideal: fewer people, warm sea, calm days.
