Karacaoren

West of Fethiye, on the sheltered side of a tiny islet barely 200 metres across, lies Karacaören Bay. The name refers to the island itself — Karacaören roughly translates as the place of the black ruins — and the islet carries scattered remains from the Byzantine period, traces of the long history of settlement along this coast. The islet sits just off the coast on the route south from Fethiye, and its modest size means the whole shoreline can be explored on foot in a short walk.

Cliffs and a reef to the south shelter the anchorage, so the bay stays calm even when the wind is up outside it; boats typically drop anchor on a sandy bottom at 10 to 15 metres and run a line ashore. There are rocks and reef at sea level in the approach, so boats are best kept close to the island rather than the open passage.

The combination of a protected anchorage and an easy detour from Fethiye's main cruising grounds means many gulet cruises from Fethiye call in here for a swim stop or an overnight before moving on along the coast.