Fotinari Villas

Coastline Villas in Plakias, Crete

Popular Tourist Resort Plakias Beach

Located 36km south of Rethymnon City

The drive from Rethymnon is spectacular as you pass valleys surrounded by high mountains and thriving olive groves. It is so impressive driving through the majestic Kourtaliotiko gorge to reach Plakias you are virtually hanging halfway out the car window while you look in awe. The drive is about 30 minutes by car from the city of Rethymnon.

Despite being a small village, you can find many shops, super markets, car rental offices and travel agencies at Plakias. You will also find a diving center in Plakias.

Plakias’ beach starts from the village and extends eastward.
The main beach of Plakias is located between Paligremnos and Plakias village. It is an organized beach with sun beds and umbrellas provided for. The river Kotsifos empties into the western part thus accounts for the cooler water temperatures.

Famous Attractions

Nearby Plakias Beach

Preveli/Preveli Beach

Preveli is located about 35km south of Rethymno and 10km from Plakias. Located at the exit of the impressive Kourtaliotikos Gorge is Lake Preveli where the Great River flows.

Majestic lush Theophrastus Palm trees and rich vegetation flank the banks of the river and provide quite a tropical atmosphere to this breathtaking lagoon known as “limni”. You can wander the paths of the palm forest, enjoy the trees’ shade or take some dives in the river.

At the end of the river awaits an exquisite white sandy beach with pebbles and sand. Due to the fact that it is a protected area and wanting to preserve its natural state, you will not find umbrellas and sun beds and the usual beach amenities.

However being in such a beautiful and unique paradise makes it all worthwhile.
You have two options to access Preveli, either from west or east. The first is to drive from Plakias to Preveli Monastery and after the Monastery you will stop in a large parking lot, which leads you to a path that goes down to the beach. The parking lot is located above towering vertical cliffs, west of the beach.

Needless to say the view is spectacular. The walk down is about 15 minutes. To avoid the walking, you can also drive the dirt road leading to the nearby village Drymiskiano Amoudi. Then you can walk the short path leading to Preveli in just 5 minutes. Note that you can also reach Preveli by boat from Plakias and Agia Galini.

Preveli gets its name after the nearby historic monastery of Preveli founded in the 16th or 17th century. The view from the monastery is unique as it is at a very great height and overlooks the endless Libyan sea.

The monastery is famous in Crete as being a centre of resistance to all occupiers of the island. A tradition that continued as in World War 2 the monks helped many allied soldiers escape by sea following the German invasion. There is a memorial park near the entrance to the monastery dedicated to the WW2 resistance.

Kourtaliotiko Gorge

With a length of 3km, the Gorge of Kourtaliotis is located 22km south of Rethymno. It is one of the grandest natural attractions of Rethymnon. It is situated where the Kourtaliotiko River flows southwards between the mountains of Kouroupa and Xiron.

The canyon’s massive cliffs are full of openings and caves. The cliffs on the side of the gorge provide a roosting site for the Lammergeyer vulture. The gorge is crossed by the Kourtaliotis River which flows down to Lake Preveli.

The unique fauna and flora of the place are well worth seeing; it is an impressive gorge and a must for hikers and trekker lovers who will enjoy trekking along its riverbed and will no doubt take a dive into the cool ponds that are scattered along the river.

At the bottom of the gorge after following the steps at the side of the road Koxare – Asomatos, you will come across the church of St. Nicholas and a 40-metre-high waterfall. The springs of Kourtaliotis, near the church is another picturesque attraction the gorge has to offer.

The gorge is named after the natural phenomenon of the wind being funneled through the high caves of the gorge and breaking the sound barrier resulting in loud hand like claps being heard about 20 meters from the northern entrance. These sounds are known as “kourtala” and hence the naming of the gorge! It is also known as the Asomatos Gorge.

Skinaria Beach

Located 33km south of Rethymno is Skinaria beach, 3km south of the village Lefkogia, in the east part of the wider Plakias area.

Skinaria is a small beach with soft light colored sand and fine pebbles, with crystal clean deep blue water. On the way to the beach, you’ll see an amazing cylindrical cave, inside a rock. The beach consists of both a rocky and sandy seabed. Skinaria Beach is a heaven for divers, due to the thriving marine life to be found in these aquatic waters surrounded by tropical settings. In fact, the seabed of Skinaria is one of the richest on the island with large morays, octopus and blackfish and generally all types of local marine life can be found here in abundance.

Skinaria beach has been well developed during the last years and it offers a tavern next to the beach, and facilities for swimming, sunbathing and sea sports. You can get to the beach via a narrow road that starts from Lefkogia.

Damnoni Beach

Damnoni is located 35km south of Rethymno and 5km east of Plakias. It is at the exit of a large valley, protected by high mountains and is now becoming a flourishing popular destination for tourists. The beach of Damnoni is clean with its divine turquoise and deep blue waters contrasting with its white fine sand. The beach is well organized and offers sun beds, umbrellas, snack bars, showers and changing rooms as well as restaurants and local tavernas.

Many water activities can be found here such as scuba diving. For explorers and for those who enjoy the secluded and non-organized spots, a little further beyond towards the west end of the beach, there is an area full of deserted bays and coves with soft sand and incredibly clean and crystal clear waters. Lovers of solitude will be able to find their very own secluded paradise.

Triopetra Beach

Triopetra in Rethymnon is located 52 km south of Rethymnon city and 13 km from the village Akumia.The journey there, through the paved roads that start from Akoumia is absolutely breathtaking as you pass by dense vegetation and gorgeous green olive groves.

Separated by a small peninsula Triopetra consists mainly of two beaches: Megali Triopetra (Big Triopetra) west, and Mikri Triopetra (Small Triopetra) east. Triopetra meaning“Three Rocks” is named after three majestic rocks that rise from the seabed. Close to the rocks, there is a wonderful, big cave which is a “must” to visit.

The first beach (Small Triopetra) is also known as Koumado. At the eastern part of Mikri Triopetra, there is a small cove, called Stomio. On the beach there are tavernas, sun beds and umbrellas are available.

The main beach of Triopetra is formed west of the rocks and extends even further to the west for several kilometers. The beach, as with most beaches in this area has sand and deep blue waters. The eastern part of Megali Triopetra is also organized with a few umbrellas, sun beds and showers. The west part of Triopetra is not so well organized but makes it an ideal location for relaxation and isolation. It has also become a popular spot for lovers of yoga.

Souda Beach

Souda beach, a pebbly beach with cool waters, is located a few kilometers from Plakias.

If you drive through Plakias and out the other end, past the little harbor, you will find the small bay of Souda. Plakias is exposed to very strong south winds. However Souda beach in the west side is sheltered from the wind.

It is a quaint pretty little bay, providing both relaxation and fun where you can also find a few taverns that offer traditional and international dishes. It is a popular beach for the locals and is well organized providing sun beds and umbrellas.

The beach is pebbly with cool waters.

Paligremnos Beach

The eastern part of the long beach near Plakias (Crete) is called Paligremnos. The beach is sandy and very well organized, next to hotels and restaurants.

Vertical cliffs nearby rise to a great height that attract many climbers. This place is called Gonates (i.e. knees), because according to tradition, the epic hero Digenis kneeled there to drink water from a local spring.

In Paligremnos a strange phenomenon takes place on every full moon, from September to January. The moonlight is reflected in the mirror-like towering cliffs. Thus, many big squids approach the beach and locals gather them with big sticks.

Some meters to the south of Paligremnos there are some tunnels, carved for transfering coal to cargo ships in the past.

Visit Paligremnos to enjoy the sun and the sea, climb the cliffs and explore the old tunnels!

Ammoudi Beach

Ammoudi is located 4 km east of Plakias (Crete). To get there, you have to drive through paved road from the village Lefkogia. Ammoudi is a beach with a characteristic green slippery rock in the middle. The beach is organized, with umbrellas and some taverns and rooms nearby. Moreover, in Ammoudi you can find a scuba diving centre. Ammoudi has thick white sand and rocky seabed, ideal for diving and snorkeling, and the waters have a bright green color. Next to the beach there are many tamarisk trees, under which you can find shade and camp.

Skinos Beach

This beach is next to the main beach of Plakias, 1,6 km east of Fotinari (3 minutes by car).

Skinos is sandy and with enough rocks to make it an ideal location for those who are interested in diving, snorkeling and spearfishing.

Organized, with umbrellas, sun-beds and showers, the beach has tavernas and rooms to rent all about it.

West of Skinos, while heading to Souda beach, you’ll meet the fishing shelter (port) of Plakias and a small sandy beach next to it.

Korakas Beach (Rodakino, Crete)

Korakas (i.e. crow in Greek) is located 15 kilometers west of Plakias (25 minutes by car). It is a long beach with fine grayish pebbles and wonderfully clear waters, well organized with umbrellas, taverns and some rooms to rent. In its east end, there are cavernous rocks; locals say that before getting eroded by sea and salt they looked like a crow’s beak.

Korakas bay was used several times during the Cretan revolution of 1866, when Greek cruisers were unloading munitions that were later stored in the nearby cave Skotini. Moreover, Korakas was used by the legendary steamship “Arcadi”, on one of its last missions for transporting munitions, but it was forced to leave by the Ottomans.

Polyrizos Beach (Crete, Rodakino)

Polyrizos beach is located half a kilometer to the west of Rodakino main beach, 16 kilometers west of Plakias (30 minutes by car).

Polyrizos beach is surrounded by dense olive groves that run on down to the sea. This is a sandy beach with shallow crystal water: cliffs and some caves are to be seen.

The beach is slightly organized, with umbrellas and sun-beds. It is very suitable for children.

The seaside road stops here, because in the western part of the coast rises the rocky hill Kastelos, and continues to the innerland. On the other side of the hill Kastelos stretches the amazing long bay of Peristeres, accessed by turning left about 500m after Polyrizos.