Kocakari Bay

Tucked between Kaş and Gökkaya Bay, Kocakari Bay is one of the classic overnight stops on the Kekova run. Cliffs and pine forest wrap around three sides of the inlet, cutting the wind and keeping the water flat even when the open sea outside is choppier, which is one reason it has long been a favoured anchorage for traditional gulet boats working this stretch of the Lycian coast.

The water here is known for its clarity: with little current and good visibility, the bay is a reliable spot for snorkelling, and divers regularly report sightings of octopus, starfish and sea urchins along its rocky margins. The wider Kekova archipelago that Kocakari Bay opens onto is dotted with the remains of small Lycian cities such as Simena and Aperlae, whose partly submerged ruins are only a short sail away.

Most visitors arrive by boat rather than by road, and an overnight stay in the bay, watching the sun set behind the islands, is a classic stop on a Turkey blue cruise itinerary, typically combined with a swim stop and a visit to the sunken city area the following morning.