Field Notes are firsthand travel recommendations for and by our ECT Clubhouse members. Get the lowdown on destinations across the globe from travelers and locals alike. This week, El Camino Travel founder and CEO, Katalina Mayorga, shares her intel from Puglia.

Hi all! Getting this out there ASAP since a few of you have told me you're traveling to Puglia in the next weeks and actively planning. I just spent the last week exploring parts of Puglia with my close friend and her husband, who is from the town of Oria. Puglia is huge, and there's so much to do, so this is just a snapshot of our experience.

Stay

If I go back, I’d stay for ten days. Spend a few days in a masseria in the north, then head south to Lecce for four nights. Choose a unique hotel as a base and return there after exploring beaches and towns. Moving around too often is tiring and doesn’t let you fully enjoy the slow Italian lifestyle. Masseria Potenti is at the top of our list, and Masseria Partemio, which recently opened, also looks stunning.

Eat

In Bari, try Nicolaus for amazing seafood. You can order a variety of dishes from inside and create your own raw crudo seafood platter. It’s a favorite among locals and very popular, so get there early.

Do

I absolutely loved  Spiaggia Termitosa. It's perfect for kids with its shallow and calm water. However, it's labeled as a nudist beach. The nudist section is far down from the main part, which is why many people avoid it. When we went, there were lots of locals and kids in the non-nudist area. The nudist section starts when you turn left upon entering and walk about 700 feet. You’ll see two large sticks marking the entrance to the nude part. Also, there are no restaurants or beach clubs, so you must bring everything you need (chairs, umbrellas, towels, and food).

Also included in her notes:

• Unique embroidered shirts and vintage finds in Bari

• A wildlife refuge with calm natural pools

• The “place to go for ceramics”

• “Mouthwatering octopus panini which was one of my favorite bites the whole trip”

  …Plus general travel tips

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