Even though I’ve been making a great effort recently to avoid crowded and noisy places, I decided to check out what Israel’s southernmost city has to offer.
By MEITAL SHARABIEilat, Israel(photo credit: MEITAL SHARABI/LOIR ABULAFIA)
Since vacationing overseas is not an option in the foreseeable future, a huge number of Israelis will probably be taking trips here at home. Eilat, which in recent years has suffered from negative PR due to exorbitant hotel prices and hordes of noisy teens, is experiencing a renewal as Israelis search for places to vacation this summer.Even though I’ve been making a great effort recently to avoid crowded and noisy places, I decided to check out what Israel’s southernmost city has to offer. The most obvious benefit of vacationing in Eilat is, of course, the sea. The city is brimming with hotels that include lovely swimming pools and spas, but I think most people will agree that the best part about vacationing in Eilat is spending time at the beach.1. PAGO PAGOFrom the moment you step off the airplane or climb out of your car, you can feel your body relax as the world around you downshifts. The first stop, even before you’ve donned your bathing suit, should be breakfast at Pago Pago, located at 99 Eilat Marina. The restaurant, located right on the promenade, has been in operation since the 1980s, and is currently known as one of the best places to get sushi in all of Eilat. Pago Pago offers fish and meat dishes and has also recently extended its hours so it can offer a full breakfast menu, including shakshuka, toasted brioche with smoked salmon, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and black tobiko caviar.2. EILAT CORAL BEACH NATURE RESERVEOur next stop is the Eilat Coral Beach Nature Reserve, which is Israel’s southernmost nature reserve. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the country and includes extraordinary wonders both above and below the surface of the sea. Its distinctive juxtaposition of desert and sea attracts three million visitors every year and the reserve is home to an abundance of unique reefs, corals and colorful fish. Some of you may recall that a severe storm hit the reef at the end of the winter and the reef suffered extensive damage. Almost 60% of the reef top was damaged, and apparently it could take decades for the reef to repair itself.Over the past few months, an exceptionally few number of people have visited the reserve due to COVID-19 epidemic, and as a result the reef was able to get a head start on restoring itself. The reserve is divided into two sections. The first one, which has an entrance fee, offers visitors showers, bathrooms, sun shade, beach chairs, chaises longues and lifeguards. The second section, which is farther south, is free of charge, and often you’ll find families camping there. Both areas are amazing places for snorkeling and observing the incredible fish and other sea creatures that live underwater. Afterwards, you can lay back in the shade and enjoy the beautiful and calm surroundings.Entrance fee: Adults NIS 35, Children NIS 18. At present, due to COVID-19 restrictions, entry tickets must be reserved ahead of time since the site is limited to 400 people.3. HAMAOSHEVOT BEACHIf you prefer discovering new nature areas that are a little off the beaten path, I recommend going to Hamoshevot Beach. This is one of the beaches that used to be managed by the Electric Company and the Europe Asia Pipeline Company. It’s part of a 500-meter strip of beach that is now open to the public. It has not been officially declared open yet, and so there still aren’t any lifeguards on duty, so consider yourselves forewarned. The city has plans to construct a promenade here that would connect it with the other Eilat beaches. You can still see two large pipes that were used by the Electric company, but it’s a nice, quiet and clean beach that is not inundated with crowds so far.4. EILAT ISLANDThere’s a new attraction just a few minutes’ walk from Hamoshevot Beach called Eilat Island. It’s a floating bar that can be accessed from Hadekel Beach. The “floating island,” as it’s known by locals, is a really cool floating pier with lots of canopy beds, rafts, SAP boards, snorkeling equipment and, of course, a bar. All-day tickets cost NIS 150 per person, which includes use of the SAP boards, snorkeling equipment and soft drinks.5. KISUSKI WATER SPORTSIf you’re looking for an activity that’s a little more physically challenging, you might want to make your way to Kisuski Water Sports, located at 1 Derech Paamei Hashalom, near the Mul Hayam Mall. You can catch a bite to eat and have a drink on the beach and then go out on the water on one of their floating inner tubes, banana boats, crazy sharks (a huge couch for five people that attaches to a speed boat and bounces like crazy!), yachts that you can take out on your own (no license necessary) and can hold up to 12 people, guided jet ski rides and parasailing. Kisuski is one of the most veteran and well-known water sport businesses in Eilat. Prices range from NIS 50 per person for banana boat rides up to NIS 400 per person for yacht rentals.Details: 072-392-2437.6. EILAT YOGAA great way to enjoy the sea while also connecting with your inner self is by taking a yoga class. Therefore, our last stop of the day will be Lider Zaytoon’s Eilat Yoga studio. Zaytoon offers both beginner and advanced classes. And if you’re really adventurous, she also gives SAP yoga classes in which you actually do yoga on a SAP board while floating on the water (requires advanced balance abilities). Classes are NIS 50. Zaytoon also offers free yoga classes in cooperation with the Eilat Tourism office on the beach on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 11:30.Eilat Tourism officeThroughout the summer, the Eilat Tourism office will be holding a number of free events, including yoga classes, pilates classes on Nine Beach and SAP tours on the Extreme Beach (pre-registration required: 054-488-2277).In addition to all the amazing sea activities, Eilat also boasts a wide range of cultural events and attractions, great restaurants and wine bars, art galleries and exciting theatrical productions. Next week’s column will be dedicated to cultural events taking place in Eilat this summer, none of which require you to put on a bathing suit.Translated by Hannah Hochner.
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