The Hot Springs of Kos
Kos is an island of possibilities, favored not only for its beaches and beautiful landscapes but also for its hot thermal springs. Only 14 km from your Astir Odysseus, you will find the thermes of Agios Fokas, right on the beach, coming from a crack in a rock, and mixing with the waves that crash on the shores in a sizable sea pool.
Therma Beach, where you will find the rocky pool fed both by sea water and hot thermal springs, is a pebbled beach, with sun umbrellas and changing cabins, very popular with locals and tourists, some visiting the island especially to take advantage of the health benefits offered by the springs.
The springs were discovered in 1934, by an Italian archaeologist. It didn’t take long for them to become popular: a special pool was created by stocking rocky boulders to allow sea water in, in order to cool off the waters of the spring, which usually flow at 50°C or less. The shape of the pool may change during the winter when sea storms disrupt the boulders, but they are put back in place at the beginning of April. This is when tourists return to the beach, first in small numbers, then taking over every square meter of the pebbled shores.
The spring is rich in sulfur, as well as other mineral elements, like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which give the waters important therapeutic benefits. Thermal springs have important health benefits, increasing blood circulation and cell oxygenation; stimulating the secretions of the intestinal tract and the liver; stimulating the immune system; helping with physical and mental relaxation; helping in treating injuries and skin conditions such as psoriasis and dermatitis; and much more.
Besides being enjoyed for its health benefits, the hot springs of Kos are also a place to forget about the stress of the daily routines. Many of the locals enjoy coming here at night when the sky is illuminated by the full moon: they bathe and gaze at the light that rules the sky. The thermal pool stays busy till late in the autumn. Admission is free, and access is easy, with local bus lines, or private transportation means.