Kalamaki

Kalamaki, Crete

The resort of Kalamaki was founded in the 1970's along a long stretch of beachfront that is centrally located in the southern part of Crete, sixty seven kilometers from Keraklion. It has plenty of places to stay and take advantage of the Messara Bay beach, which is the largest of Crete's southern beaches, nearly two kilometers in length. The waters off of the beach are clear and calm, which gives a great place for children to enjoy the water and their parents to enjoy the gorgeous sunsets. There are many different places to buy food and drink and enjoy some of the traditional dishes with just caught seafood.

Because of the central position of Kalamaki, it is often used by tourists as a place to stay when exploring other attractions and archeological places within a short driving distance. Matala and Agia Galina are nearby but one of the great draws of this section of southern Crete is the protected areas of beach that help the Kareta Kareta turtles by giving them a safe place of lay their eggs and hatch without being endangered by humans or other predators.
The Hotel Alexandros is located just off of the beach and it is a good place to stay if you want to be near the water to listen to the ocean waves. There are twenty five different rooms, ranging from single to four, which is ideal for a large group of people. Balconies and all other amenities are placed so visitors can take advantage of the wonderful views of the ocean and beach as well as the star filled sky at night.

The nearby attractions include the famous archeological sites of the Gortina, which is the labyrinth of Thesus time when the Minotaur raged inside. The Byzantium era churches nearby have murals painted by El Greco and the Moni Preveli are also within a short distance away. Natural wonders include the lake of Zaros, the Faneromeni Dam and the Canyon of the Rouvas. There are also flea markets held each Friday in neighboring towns of Timbaki and Kamilari, with local people bringing different wares and goods for others to sample and purchase. Other small beaches are nearby, with the Kommos Beach being one of the select nudist beaches in the area.

There are many different services such as taxi, bus and car rental which enable you to explore the area at your own pace. Kalamaki is one of those places where tourists make the most of the expanse of sand and ocean as well as the opportunities to enjoy fresh food and drinks. The buildings and rooms for rent are well maintained having only been in existence since the mid 1900's, but Kalamaki is a great place to bring your family and spend some time enjoying the largest beach in Southern Crete and if you are there during turtle hatching season, even watch the miracle of baby turtles making their way to a new life in the warm waters of the ocean.