An hour from the backwaters, two hours south of Cochin, and four hours out of the hills, Marari is easily Kerala’s most convenient beach destination. Access is not the only draw here though: Marari is a wide stretch of fine white sandy beach, populated by just a handful of comfortable, upscale resorts. Tourist accommodation only started here in the late 90s, and after locals voiced concerns of over-development the district government stepped in with some very sensible, and very stringent, planning laws. As such, development at Marari remains extremely low key: the few resorts are spread over a wide area, and there is nothing to be seen in the way of beach bars, water-sports, or tourist tat shops. What this ensures is rest and recuperation of the most peaceful kind; although you may arrive relaxed fresh from the idyllic backwaters, you are guaranteed to leave even more so!