Aperlai was an ancient coastal town at today's Sıcak İskelesi, between Kaş and Üçağız in the Bay of Kekova. Little is known about the history of the city. The oldest coins of the city date from the 5th century BC.
Literary references exist only from the Roman imperial period, in which Aperlai belonged to the province of Lycia et Pamphylia and was united with the neighbouring towns of Apollonia, Isinda and Simena to form a sympolitia (union of two or more originally separate towns to form a common polis).

In 141/142 A.D. the city suffered damage from a severe earthquake and received support in the reconstruction by Opramoas of Rhodiapolis. Around 240, Aperlai struck its own coins once again.

In late antiquity, the city became the seat of a bishop; today's Roman Catholic Titular Bishopric of Aperlae dates back to the bishopric.

The imperial city wall, two early Byzantine churches and a necropolis east of the city are preserved. Several parts of the city are now under water, as the coastline here has been lowered by about 4 - 5 meters in the last 2000 years.

Today Aperlai can only be reached via the Lycian Trail or from the sea.