Cirali
A Small Beach Village Of Orange Groves And Pensions, A Protected Loggerhead Turtle Nesting Beach, The Chimaera Flames On A Hillside And The Ruins Of Olympos A Short Walk Away. A Relaxed Base With No Big Hotels, On The Lycian Way · Kumluca, Antalya
Cirali is a small beach village on the Lycian coast, about 80 km south-west of Antalya, set between a long pebble beach and a valley of orange groves, with pine-covered mountains behind it. It has no large hotels, only low pensions and bungalows, and cars move slowly along its few lanes. The beach is a protected nesting ground of the loggerhead sea turtle (confirm), and the village has grown around that fact, with strict rules on lights, digging and noise at night. At the north end of the beach lie the ruins of the ancient city of Olympos, and above the village the Chimaera flames burn on a rocky hillside, a natural fire that has been seen since ancient times. The Lycian Way long-distance walking route passes nearby. The place suits quiet, careful visitors who want sea, forest and ruins in one low-key base. Plan two to four days for a slow stay, with a swim, a walk to the ruins and the flames after dark.
Cirali, a quiet pebble-beach village beside the Chimaera flames and the ruins of Olympos on the Lycian coast, about 80 km south-west of Antalya; coordinates approximate, Kumluca, Antalya, Turkiye
The beach and village are open at all hours, but the nesting beach is protected and strict rules apply at night during turtle season, roughly May to September (confirm). The Olympos ruins commonly open daily from about 08:00 to dusk, with a ticket booth at the entrance (confirm). The Chimaera flames can be visited by day or after dark, and the path is steep and dim at night, so bring a torch. Pensions, cafes and small shops keep irregular hours, often 08:00 to 22:00 in summer and much shorter or closed in winter, and services are limited (confirm).