Kaputaş Beach

Beach / Bay

On the Kaş–Kalkan road, where a canyon opens to the sea — Turkey’s most famous beach view, a turquoise strip wedged between sheer cliffs.

Appearing suddenly as you round a bend on the coast road between Kaş and Kalkan, Kaputaş is one of Turkey’s most photographed views. The beach in fact formed at the mouth of a narrow canyon (the Kaputaş Gorge) running from the mountain to the sea: sheer cliffs rising hundreds of metres on either side, a small white-pebble strand in the middle, and an unbelievable turquoise before it… That colour is no accident; underground freshwater springs beneath the canyon mix into the sea and refract the light differently, creating that singular blue-turquoise tone.

The shore is reached by a staircase of about a hundred and ninety steps down from the road — easy going down, a workout coming up; this small trial is amply rewarded by the view below. The water deepens quickly and is cool because of the springs; looking back toward the canyon while swimming is an experience in itself. As the beach is small, early morning is the most pleasant time. Kaputaş, with Kalkan, Kaş and Patara, forms the classic coastal route of the western Mediterranean. Being far from Bodrum, it is usually included in multi-day trips to the region.