bettyo70

Hey there, Fellow Travellers,

So excited because we'll be in Puglia in less than a month. We've decided to stay in the southeastern part.

If anyone has thoughts on the following, please weigh in:

--boat trips you've done in Salento (Castro, Marina di Leuca, etc); I actually read about nighttime boat tours to grottoes/castles... anyone been?

--anyone acutally gone to the mineral pools/spas of SANTA CESAREA TERME?

--nightlife around LECCE or nearby--anyplace to go dancing in October?

--your favorite scenic hikes?

Thanks!

yorkshire

I had trouble finding hiking trails despite there being some parks in the area. Parco Naturale Regionale Costa Otranto HQ is in Andrano. In hindsight, we should have stopped in there.
A scenic walk we really enjoyed was along the coast south of Santa Cesarea Terme (which we only passed through, it was a ghost town in May). We parked near the Ciolo bridge (closest town, Gagliano del Capo) and walked north along the coast to a cave, Grotte Cipolliane. If you zoom in on google maps, you'll see you can also approach form the north.

You have to book a tour, but check out The Cesine Nature Reserve quite near Lecce.

North of Gallipoli, Parco naturale regionale Porto Selvaggio was a highlight, highly recommend!

bettyo70

yorkshire: Many thanks!