Crete has over 1,000 kilometers (650 miles) of coastline and hundreds of epic beaches. Situated halfway between the southern Aegean Sea and the Libyan Sea, Greece’s biggest island is a treasure box of nature, history, a legendary traditional lifestyle.
Here you’ll find epic beaches famous the world over such as Balos Lagoon, Elafonissi in the far west of the island, Vai Beach with its unequaled palm forest, and Falasarna with its perfect sand and views. There are also a plethora of secret Crete Beaches few outsiders have ever seen. Whether it’s an organized sunbathing beach you seek, or seclusion like Adam and Eve had, there’s an unlimited supply of each and every kind in between on Crete.
The video below from Rafael Marques shows stunning footage of Balos, Kapsodasos, the village of Loutro, exotic Marathi Beach, Chrissi Island, and the stunningly clear waters off the south coast of the island. In the short film, you can get an idea of the pristine ruggedness of this amazing island.
In the south of Rethymno Prefecture, there’s Preveli Beach is an exotic natural masterpiece replete with an oasis of palm trees. This is where the amazing Kourtaliotis River ends in a kind of miniature Nile Delta. The beach is accessible by a short footpath or by boat from Plakias or Agia Galini.
There is this beach right down the street from our house in Heraklion. Amoudara used to be the big resort spot on the north side of the island, but since Malia, Hersonissos, Platanias, and Georgioupolis have been developed into beach tourism hot-spots, the beach on the outskirts of the city is not as popular. The locals are convinced it is not as cool or clean as some others, but in reality, the waters off the shore are brilliant. This is especially true for kitesurfers in search of big winds driven to the open expanse in the Fall of the year. The short by Arsproduction film below shows you want I mean.
I’m not even going to tell you where this secret Crete beach is. There are hundreds of places like this on the island, but Grupper captured the seclusion and magic of this place.
My Crete TV reveals some of the island’s most extraordinary treasures. The one featured in the short below, Xerokampos Beach is situated in the extreme southeast corner of Crete. Located near the quiet farming community of Xerokambos, the beach of the same name is a magnificent combination of topography and unbelievably clear water.
I leave you with this short from Snami Travel – a teaser of the uniqueness of the island we call home. Come and find your own secret Crete beach and go beach-hopping. You’ll take home memories that do not blur over time.