The island of Symi is a magical and beautiful place.
Around 25 miles from Rhodes, it is easily accessible by boat for a
day-trip but is really worth a longer stay in order to discover its
charms. Once you visit Symi, you will come back again ... and
again. You won't want to go home.
The Dodekanisos catemaran takes only 50 minutes to reach Symi
from Rhodes, and slightly longer from Kos or Kalymnos. It's worth
the trip.
If you're on a day trip, please check the timetables as whilst
you can do this cache in a few hours from the harbour, it's much
better to do a trip that gives you a full day in order to have
lunch in the wonderful 'Taverna Metaponitis' at Nimborio, swim in
the crystal clear waters ... and perhaps grab another cache on the
way!
You won't regret staying for a week, or two. Relax, unwind ... and
see if you can find all the caches on this small but beautiful
island.
Nimborio (or 'Emborio') is a quiet bay with beach and
taverna, easily walked from Yialos harbour in around 40
minutes.
You can take the coast road from the clock tower past Nos
(town) beach, or the inland route by taking the road from the
pedestrian bridge away from the harbour, bearing slightly right and
up the steep hill to the monestary of Agios Georgios Drakoundiotis.
Shortly after the monestary, Nimborio comes into view. Walk down
the zig-zag kalderimi (paved donkey road) and take a left towards
Nimborio.
Either route will take you past a small beach with two benches
and crystal clear waters, which some regard as the best spot for
swimming and snorkling on Symi. Continue along the road for around
5 minutes to reach the far beach and the wonderful Metapontis
taverna which is open in season.
Alternatively, you can hire a small motorboat for around 50
euros a day to visit Nimborio and the rest of the island! Look for
the 'Boats to Hire' sign near the Aliki hotel just round the corner
from the clock tower.
The catacombes are reached by walking along the waters edge
until you reach the first wide entrance on the left - a stony
river-bed track. After around 20m take the white-edged steps on the
left up past two small churches. Here you can see the enclosed
remains of a wonderful Byzantine mosaic. Follow the path up from
here under the Turkish oaks, using the red and blue waymarks
through a gate to a flat area that overlooks the beach.
The catacombes (the 'Dodeka Spilia' or twelve caves) are
here. The main entrance is obvious and you can climb down fairly
easily, but please take care and look after the catacombes and
yourselves. Goats will have gone before you and left some evidence
of their visit behind, so good shoes are preferred ;)
The coordinates will take you to the main entrance of the
catacombes. The cache is hidden in a small crevice in one of the
side caves (the third cave on the left as you enter - opposite the
cave with a square 'doorway' to a smaller side entrance). The cache
is behind a small loose rock. Please don't pull at any stones, you
don't need to (!) - and please hide the cache well and replace the
rock as you found it.
The history of the catacombes is uncertain, they are perhaps the
remains of a basilica which once stood here. If you discover more,
let us know in your log ! Please sign the log and upload a photo if
you can.
Lance Chilton's book, "Walks in Symi" is an invaluable guide to
visiting this wonderful island, and finding this cache.
Enjoy the island, Nimborio and the cache !
Small note on cache maintenance: Shared
maintenance agreement with YanniG - thanks!