Kaputaş Beach is a natural beach located on Turkey’s southern coast, along the D400 highway between the town of Kaş and the resort town of Kalkan, in Antalya Province. Characterized by its formation at the mouth of a canyon, the beach stands out among the natural geographical features of the Mediterranean coastline.
Kaputaş Beach (Photograph: Sümeyye Akkanat Terzioğlu.)
Geographical Location
Kaputaş Beach is located approximately 20 kilometers from the center of Kaş and about 7 kilometers from the town of Kalkan. Situated at the base of a narrow valley where steep cliffs meet the sea, access to the beach is provided via a staircase consisting of 187 steps descending from the roadside along the D400 highway.
Stairs Leading Down to Kaputaş Beach (Photograph: Sümeyye Akkanat Terzioğlu.)
Geological Structure and Ecological Characteristics
Kaputaş Beach is located where the Kaputaş Canyon meets the Mediterranean Sea. This canyon was formed by water erosion of the limestone structure typical of the Taurus Mountains. The beach itself emerged from the accumulation of fine gravel and sand carried through the valley and deposited where the canyon opens into the sea. The sea at Kaputaş remains refreshingly cool even in the summer months due to underground spring waters mixing with the coastal waters.
On the western side of the beach, beneath the coastal cliffs, lies the Blue Cave (Mavi Mağara), which historically served as a habitat for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). Today, loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are occasionally observed in the area. Owing to its unique ecological features, the beach and its surroundings are considered environmentally sensitive and are subject to conservation measures.
Development and Interventions
As a naturally formed beach, Kaputaş has not undergone any artificial infill or major shoreline construction. However, in response to growing visitor demand beginning in the early 2000s, certain structural improvements were made. Between 2003 and 2004, a stairway was built in cooperation with the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and Kaş Municipality to ensure safer access from the road to the beach.
To preserve the beach’s natural character, the stairs were constructed to fit within the narrow terrain and were built using a blend of stone and metal rather than solid concrete. In the 2010s, limited municipal facilities such as toilets, showers, changing cabins, and a small café were introduced. These structures were designed to be temporary and removable.
During enhancement efforts in 2017, sunbathing and shade areas were reorganized, with sunbeds and umbrellas placed at least five meters from the shoreline to minimize harm to the marine ecosystem. All development activities were carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, adhering to conservation principles. The area’s status as a “natural protected site” has prevented any form of permanent construction.
Workplace Accidents and Worker Fatalities
During the construction of the Kaş-Kalkan highway in the early 1960s, four workers lost their lives in accidents that occurred in the Kaputaş area. On November 17, 1962, Hasan Şahin (born 1945), Mahmut Erdoğan (1933), and Mehmet Teker (1931) were killed in an incident. On March 21, 1963, another worker, Mehmet Karagül (1928), also lost his life.
Workers Who Lost Their Lives in the Construction Accident (Photograph: Sümeyye Akkanat Terzioğlu.)
On March 21, 1963, in a similar accident, Mehmet Karagül—born in 1928—lost his life. In the years that followed, two more workers reportedly died during subsequent phases of road construction in the same area and were buried in the same cemetery.
Commemoration and Remembrance
Today, two memorial signs bearing the names of the deceased workers stand along the roadside just above Kaputaş Beach. These plaques were installed to honor the memory of those who perished during the construction of the Kaş-Kalkan road. In 2020, Professor Dr. Havva İşkan Işık, head of the Patara excavations, proposed the construction of a commemorative monument at Kaputaş Beach. The proposed monument was envisioned as a work of art intended to serve as a reminder of the past and to pay tribute to the workers’ legacy.
