Outdoor Sports

Mild climate almost all year round makes the Coast and Villages of the Angels the perfect destination for those who want to spend their free time practising some physical activities really close to nature. A walk in the mountains, a ride with a mountain bike or a dive into the silent sea bottom of the Ionian Sea ….there is a little something for everyone! Whichever is your favourite outdoor sport, owing to its territorial conformation between the sea and the mountains, Ionian Calabria is ready to become your open air gym, offering you emotions, ranging from green to a thousand shades of blue.

Unmissable experiences

If you like wearing your hiking shoes, having a stick and a backpack, you are in the right place. Our area offers many hiking paths, surrounded by endless natural beauties. Whatever is your experience level, we recommend relying on an expert guide, since many paths are not marked. One of the most evoking experiences is taking the hike which leads to the Marmarico waterfalls, near Bivongi. Here, the wooded valley features uncontaminated nature, the scent of wild plants, which grow freely and the sweet melody of the Stilaro river, which flows between the rocks. The fatigue of the path is rewarded by the view of the highest waterfalls of all the Southern Apennines, which, with their impetuous fall, convey emphasis and energy. Another interesting path for hikers is the one involving the towns of Davoli and San Sostene, which can be accomplished even using a mountain bike. Departing from Davoli Marina, you arrive in Davoli Superiore ending in San Sostene, a colourful village with green surroundings. Among pine trees and cork oaks, if you look back, you will catch a sight of the beauty of the sea, which is even more beautiful from up here.

Other craved paths by hikers are those following the upstream of the torrents, the water streams with a wide and pebbly bed, featuring very poor water flow. Among these, there is the upstream path of the Assi torrent or the one of the Gallipari torrent, which leads to the old hydroelectric plant, no longer operating, and to the fascinating waterfalls of Romito.

But, as we were saying, there is always something small for everyone and, hence, also for those who love the sea and its activities, such as diving. The sea bottoms of our coast treasures many wrecks, very precious treasures, which bear witness of the role, which these territories had in the past. Apart from getting to know the rich biodiversity contained herein, those who dive into these waters can admire the wrecks of ancient ships, war and cargo ships, leaning on sandy bottoms. The diving centres of the area arrange fun trips, with the most expert scuba divers in possession of a license, but also with amateur snorkelers, who, wearing a diving mask and flippers, can admire the show from the surface.

Unusual experiences and fun facts

Our beloved villages offer ideas for outdoor activities even to those who prefer dedicating themselves to more spiritual activities, such as yoga. The yoga lessons take place in the shadow of the centuries-old olive trees, which decorate the nearby countryside, allowing to enter into contact with uncontaminated nature and its rhythms, which we often are not aware of. The colour green and the air quality of this small piece of Calabria have calming and rebalancing effects on the magnetic field of our nervous system and constitute an occasion to talk to yourselves.

There are other outdoor sports and our territory offers a further alternative to those who wish to keep in shape away from smog and traffic. The beaches of our sea centres are often located next to long boardwalks, which are the perfect setting for jogging. The bravest runners often prefer to run on the water’s edge or on the sand, an activity requiring more training but entailing clear benefits.