- 130,000 people visited Kourtaliotis Gorge (or Kourtaliotiko Gorge) in 2025 — a record.
- The new €5 entrance fee failed to deter anyone.
- Visitors even praised the move as long overdue.
- Helmets, safety measures, and better management were introduced.
- Plans include uniting Kourtaliotis and Preveli Gorges into one grand natural route.
- Related: Kourtaliotis Gorge Sets New Visitor Record.
Apparently, charging for beauty does not kill it.
The Kourtaliotis Gorge in Rethymno just smashed its visitor record — 130,000 people — in the very first year since the local authorities decided that, yes, waterfalls and divine cliffs should cost a small price of admission: €5.
The move was part of a new visitor management model introduced by OΦΥΠΕΚΑ (the Organization for Natural Environment and Climate Change) together with the Municipality of Agios Vasileios. The fee came with shiny new safety helmets — 1,000 of them, to be exact — distributed to visitors so they could look heroic without bumping their heads on rocks.
Tourists Pay, Smile, and Ask for More
Contrary to the collective gasp that usually follows the word “ticket,” visitors did not complain. They queued.
Lars from Germany told Argophilia with endearing honesty:
“I did not expect the ticket, but, to be honest, I was wondering why Samaria gets to monetize and other Cretan gorges don’t, when they are also stunning and less crowded.”
Marta from Poland, dripping wet from the mist of the falls, added:
“Five euros? I paid more for parking in Zakynthos. Here I get cliffs, waterfalls, and cardio.”
And Dimitris from Athens, helmet slightly crooked, confessed:
“At least now I feel I am contributing. Before, it felt like I was trespassing on a god’s backyard.”
A Gorge with a Plan
According to local authorities, this is just the beginning.
The Mayor of Agios Vasileios, Giannis Tatakis, and OΦΥΠΕΚΑ officials met recently to discuss upcoming improvements, including:
- Smoothing and reinforcing the existing trail for accessibility.
- Enhancing visitor safety with more infrastructure and signage.
- Defining the riverbed boundaries from Agios Nikolaos springs down to Preveli palm beach.
- A pre-study to unite the Kourtaliotis and Preveli gorges into one mega-experience — because Crete does not do modest.
These interventions, the agency notes, are part of a wider plan for sustainable protection and smarter promotion of natural sites.
When Nature Gets Its Due
The numbers speak louder than any press release: Kourtaliotis is thriving.
A modest entrance fee does not deter visitors. If anything, it gives them confidence that the place is being looked after. After all, this gorge is no random crack in the earth. With its roaring falls, emerald pools, and limestone walls, Kourtaliotis ranks among Crete’s most impressive natural destinations — and it is finally being treated as such.
In a country where “free” often means “neglected,” Kourtaliotis shows that paying a little can mean caring a lot.