Çakraz

Amasra’s slower side

Central Amasra is busy in summer. The castle, the bazaar, the two harbours — all packed into a small headland, all full. Çakraz lies 15 km east along the coast road, and what waits there is a kilometre of open sand.

Let’s be clear about one thing: Çakraz is not a deserted cove. In July and August the beach fills up, umbrella beside umbrella. The difference from central Amasra is not the absence of crowds but the kind of crowd — most people here have come for a week, not for the afternoon. The pace is slower.

The village has two settlements: Çakrazova and Çakrazşeyhler. Both face the sea, and both have places to stay and to camp.

Getting there

By car. Leave central Amasra heading east, towards Kurucaşile and Cide. Follow the D010 coast road for about 15 km until you see the sign for Çakrazova, then turn down to the village. The drive takes around 20 minutes.

The sea is on your right the whole way and the road is winding — that is why the driving distance is longer than the straight-line distance. Don’t rush it; the road itself is the view.

By minibus. In summer there are regular services from central Amasra, and the journey takes 20-25 minutes. Outside the season they run far less often.

The beach

Çakraz’s beach is roughly one kilometre long. The western Black Sea coast is mostly narrow and rocky, so an open stretch of sand this long is not a common thing in the region.

The water is clear and the sand is wide. Outside the peak fortnight in August you will find room.

The standard Black Sea warning applies here as everywhere on this coast: take waves and undertow seriously. Follow lifeguard warnings and the flag.

For more on the beach itself: Çakraz Beach

Where to stay

Çakraz is not hotel country; it is guesthouse and self-catering apartment country. That suits families and longer stays, and prices are generally lower than in central Amasra.

What you give up is variety — the restaurants, the bazaar and the sights are concentrated in Amasra itself. Many visitors stay in Çakraz and drive into Amasra during the day.

• Guesthouses — guesthouses and apartments in Çakraz and the wider area
• Hotels — central Amasra and around

Camping

Çakraz is the camping centre of the region. Around Çakrazova and Çakrazşeyhler there are campsites close to the sea with showers, toilets, mains electricity, and in most cases tent hire and space for caravans.

What else is nearby

Çakraz is not a day on its own; it is one stop on a stretch of coast:

• Bozköy Beach — between Amasra and Çakraz, smaller and quieter
• Mugada — at the eastern end of the coastal run
• Göldere Waterfall — inland, turning off the coast road
• Gideros Cove — continue towards Kurucaşile for one of the best-sheltered natural harbours on the Black Sea

When to go

June and September are the two best months: the sea has warmed up and the crowds are either not there yet or already gone.

July and August are the busiest; book accommodation ahead. By mid-August even Çakraz gets crowded.

Out of season the beach is empty and good for walking, but most businesses are closed. Confirm that your accommodation is open before you travel.