Situated in Messinia, in the southwest Peloponnese, the sprawling luxury resort destination of Costa Navarino is ideal for families looking for adventure in Greece’s great outdoors.
Blessed with outstanding natural beauty and a rich history, Costa Navarino greets travelers with dramatic cliffs, azure seas, and fertile land overflowing with nourishing fruits of the earth. From mountain biking and basketball to gardening and ancient castles, youngsters can pick up new skills and delve into the myths of ancient Greece.
Here are some ways to keep the entire family entertained and educated during a stay at The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino or The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Go Mountain Biking for the Views
Families can fulfill their need for speed and open space with cross-country biking up hilly trails, across flat expanses, and around a rare wetland habitat. Equip yourself with two wheels at your resort’s bike stations or book a guided tour through the resort and get ready to work up a healthy sweat.
At Gialova Lagoon, a marshy wetland, depending on the time of year, you may spot stunning migrating birds such as little egrets, glossy ibises, and sandpipers. Viewing the impossibly beautiful omega-shaped Voidokilia Beach from above will forever remain etched in your memory.
Raise a Green Thumb
Here’s a chance for the kids to play with their food — and for good reason. Youngsters aged 4 to 11 can discover the delightful flora that abounds in Messinia at Costa Navarino’s Young Gardeners program.
Give kids the opportunity to connect with Mother Nature by planting seeds and gathering various seasonal fruits, which they will watch the chef use to create traditional farm-to-table dishes. They’ll even get some seeds to take home and plant in their own garden.
Conquer a Castle and a Pirate Island
Take a ride to the medieval seaside Castle of Methoni, which features a natural harbor. One of Greece’s most significant fortresses, Methoni was a bustling commercial port between the 13th and 15th centuries during Venetian rule. The tiny islet of Sapientza sits opposite Methoni and is famed for its crystalline waters, which are lined with shipwrecks. Yacht trips through the islands can be booked through your resort.
Swing Big on the Tennis Courts
Year-round sunshine and warm temperatures make Costa Navarino a natural fit for your kids to perfect their tennis serve. Some of the best coaches in the world are teaching at the first European location of the Mouratoglou Tennis Center, founded by esteemed coach Patrick Mouratoglou, and offer personalized lessons to your littles on the center’s 12 thoughtfully designed courts (along with three padel courts and two pickleball courts).
Players of all ages and levels can benefit from an extended playing season and coaches help players develop their physical, technical, and tactical skills via private or group lessons and tennis clinics you can do as a family.
Train Like a Champion at a Professional Basketball School
Through three-, four-, five-, or six-day camps, rising stars can become all-stars while learning from leading development techniques at state-of-the-art NBA Basketball School, a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the league.
Elite coaches will instruct basketball players in groups for ages 6 to10 and 11 to 17 through the professional league’s approach to on-court training, skill development, and game fundamental instruction.
Take A Dip Below the Surface
Introduce the kids to snorkeling in the warm, tranquil waters of the Ionian Sea, where visibility is excellent, and set out in search of sea life. If you’re lucky, you may spot dolphins or encounter the Caretta-caretta, an endangered Mediterranean sea turtle species that nests at specific locations in Messinia. Snorkeling excursions are available by boat and from the shore at the nearby Aqua Divers Club.
Experience Spills and Thrills at the Aqua Park
Navarino Dunes is home to an Aqua Park featuring waterslides, a play pool with fun installations, and a playground with ropes and climbing frames, all of which will keep kids of all ages amused for hours. Hang out poolside on a sun lounger and watch the little ones splish-splash about in safety.
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