Çıralı PDF Print E-mail

Çıralı Caretta CarettaÇıralı (pronounced tcherale!) is a small village located on the mediterranean coast, in the district of Kemer and the region of Antalya, south of Turkey. Çıralı is situated 80 km west of Antalya, between the towns of Kemer and Kumluca. Located in the foothill of Mount Olympos (Tahtalı Dağ 2366m), the bay of Çıralı is a triangular shaped plain surrounded by mountains, with a 3,2 km long beach limited on both ends by cliffs. The beach with a width varying from 50m to 100m, is a mixture of fine sand and pebbles. In the winter months, three streams reach the sea on the Çıralı shore.

 

Çıralı OlimposAlong with its beautiful natural and historical features, Çıralı is also famous for its citrus groves and its greenhouses producing vegetables in the winter. With a population of 1000 local inhabitants, the village has a touristic capacity of 1500 beds, mainly offered by family-run guest houses.

 

Çıralı KumsalıThe bay is protected by legal status aiming to preserve both its natural assets and its historical and archeological wealth. İt is divided into different zones of protection trying to control the impact of development. The valley sheltering the ancient city of Olympos and the neighbouring shore are protected archeological sites.

 

Çıralı Yanartaş (Chimera)The beach and the bay have been designated as a protected areas of natural interests of 1st and 2nd degree. The ecological environment of the bay along with a rich and diverse fauna and flora also plays a vital role in the reproduction of the sea turtles Caretta caretta, an endangered specie.

 

 

Çıralı SahiliAlthough tourism has been a growing sector in the village over the years, its protected status has spared it from major touristic development so that no big hotels nor commercial centers have been built. It is one of the only places left on the Antalya coast where you will find small scale alternative tourism with most pensions hidden amongst the orange trees and chicken roaming freely on the streets. Because of the agriculture sector and the village school, life in Çıralı can be felt all year round.