This small rocky island with the steep slopes has two access points: a pair of docks located on the southern side of Gioura. From then on, several dirt paths will lead you to the local settlement, which is not immediately visible from sea-level. This so-called settlement consists of a hunting lodge and two small buildings. One belongs to the guy who watches over the island and the other one is a church dedicated to Panagia (Virgin Mary) Giouritisa, all that’s left of a thriving monastic community. Another path will lead you to the west side of the island and then guide you towards the north, alongside steep slopes overlooking the sea and verdant stretches of land full of wild fig-trees, maple trees and holly. After a 20-minute walk, provided you stay on the path, you will come upon the cave of Kiklopas (Cyclops). According to greek mythology, this legendary one-eyed beast used to sink the ships that went sailing by his beautiful cave because he didn’t want anybody else to find out about it. It is located on the west side of the path and the entrance is perfectly camouflaged by a big fig-tree. The locals obviously knew about it for years having discovered several oil lamps from the Roman period buried in the floor of the cave, which proves that it must have been a place of worship. Many of these lamps were destroyed and broken pieces were found covering a large part of the rocks. In the early 90’s some archaeologists took interest in the area and four summers later their excavations brought amazing things to light, including hundreds of oil lamps and traces of settlements dating back to 8000 B.C., leading them to believe that Gioura was the first island to be inhabited in the entire Aegean Sea. The findings also included multicolored ceramics from the Neolithic period, fishhooks carved out of bones and lots of fish bones, positive proof that the people who used to live in this part of the Mediterranean were mostly fishermen and sailors before becoming farmers and cattle-breeders.
The cave of Kiklopas is more than 40 meters deep and very declivitous, making it impossible for the light of day to reach all the way down to the bottom. If you decide to explore it you will have to take strong flashlights or lamps to penetrate the thick darkness. At the back of the cave there is a basin firmly planted on the ground, possibly used to collect the water from the melting stalagmites. If you manage to obtain the special permission necessary to visit the island, don’t even think of venturing near the cave without bringing at least two independent sources of light with you. You must be very careful on your way down because the rocks are wet and extremely slippery, but the stalagmites, especially those hanging from the vaulted roof in the lowest part of the cave, are definitely worth seeing.

Gioura is also famous for a rare species of wild goat that lives on the steep slopes of the island, called Capra hircus aegagrus, unique in the whole world. Sometimes people confuse it with a similar kind living in Antimilos (in the Cyclades Islands), but the two are actually quite different. It is a bulky animal with long curved horns and a bushy chestnut-colored coat with black stripes on its back and shoulders. The island has been isolated for many years, which has contributed greatly to the survival of the species. Unfortunately, after the war, a large number of common goats were transferred to Gioura and naturally mated with the purebloods, and even though the genes of the Capra hircus aegagrus eventually proved to be the dominant ones, the purity of the species was blemished. Nowadays, the island is divided in two with barbed wire, keeping the half-breeds and the purebloods apart.
From time to time the number of goats increases so dramatically that the local vegetation isn’t enough to feed them all and the ecological balance of the island is disturbed. In such cases, the authorities issue a limited number of hunting licenses. The hunt always takes place under close surveillance and the hunters are especially careful to only kill half-breeds. In an effort to deal with an occasional shortage of water, the forest inspection officers have had two artificial springs constructed that draw water from the island’s two wells, even though neither species needs too much water in order to survive. If you actually want to see one, you’ll have to use binoculars because the animals have become very cautious when it comes to human presence.
The north side of the island is not accessible, but its steep rocky shores provide the perfect refuge for two rare species of seabirds, Artemis and Michos. Another uncommon species of fowl nesting a bit higher up in that same area is a tiny migratory falcon with dark plumage, called Falcon eleonora. It usually arrives in the island in early spring and migrates to Madagascar in October.
This part of the island is called Erimitis (Greek for hermit), named after a sailor whose ship sunk near Gioura in 1888 and ended up staying there for three whole years. He was finally rescued by a small boat carrying workers and material for the construction of the lighthouse on the island of Psathoura.

Gioura also boasts a small number of seals that seem to prefer the low sea caves on the east side of the island, which has become one of the most important reproduction centers in the world.

It is forbidden to approach this island, but you can go around it on a boat if you like.