Villa Myrthios has a balcony and is set in Plakias, within just 1.8 km of Plakias and 1.9 km of Skinos Beach. This property offers access to a terrace, free private parking and free WiFi.
The air-conditioned apartment consists of 2 bedrooms, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a coffee machine, and 2 bathrooms with a bath and a hair dryer. A flat-screen TV is offered.
Guests can relax in the garden at the property.
Archaeological Museum of Rethymno is 29 km from the apartment, while Fortress of Frangokastello is 28 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 82 km from Villa Myrthios.
74060 Myrthios
Find below list of things to do near Villa Myrthios:
The best way to learn diving is with a dive center you can trust completely!
Phoenix Dive Club was the first PADI dive center to be founded in Crete. For over 25 years we have been training divers to a high level and created enthusiasts in this sport. Our outstanding diver training follows PADI standards and we enjoy an excellent reputation all over the world. Our instructors love diving and each one of them started their career in our dive center.
Our dive courses are very personalized, easygoing, and professional. As a PADI 5 Star Gold Palm resort (one of the highest ranking for PADI dive centers) we can offer all PADI courses that are available. No matter, if you wish to broaden your knowledge about underwater plants or animals, or if you want to acquire new skills. We have the appropriate course for you.
Embark on a horseback riding adventure along the stunning landscapes of Damnoni, Ammoudaki, Klissidi, and Ammoudi. Traverse the scenic path and encounter the picturesque rural roads that lead you eastward along the coastline.
Begin your journey at the Horse Riding Center, where you will embark on a memorable experience through olive groves towards Damnoni beach. As you traverse the scenic path, encounter the picturesque rural roads that lead you eastward along the coastline.
Ride through the charming small beaches of Ammoudaki and Klissidi, providing a unique perspective of the coastal beauty. The views of the coast and the Libyan Sea are truly awe-inspiring, creating a sense of tranquility and connection with nature.
Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of the Mediterranean environment. Whether you are a seasoned rider or a beginner, this trip offers a perfect blend of exploration and relaxation along the enchanting East Coastline.
A day that will leave the best and warmest memories of Crete will start early in the morning. A transfer from the hotel will pick you up and take you to the team meeting point. If you have a driver’s license, you will be able to drive a jeep by yourself and experience extreme driving on off roads. However, if you do not have a driver’s license or you just want to relax, we will provide you with a driver.
You will spend the full day in an open-top jeep and take in views of valleys, mountains and more. You will pass through small traditional villages full of character and make a few stop for coffee at one of the remote mountain villages.
Our professional guide will guide you throughout the day, leading you to the best cretean places, that you have never seen before.
We will make a big stop near Plakias Beach. So you will be able to enjoy swimming in the crystal water of South Cretan Sea. After free time on the beach you will taste delicious BBQ.
On the road back you will visit incrediable place – Argioloupolis village.
Starting from the Horse Riding Center, the riders will head west through the olive groves, towards the 1.4 klm long, sandy beach of Plakias. As soon as they reach the coast, they will canter along the shoreline and while the Libyan sea breeze will be caressing their face.
Important Information
All our horses are well trained & behaved.
Οur horses are equipped with all the necessary gear to ensure the safety of the horse and the rider.
Highly experienced Guides or Escorts (depending on the riding level) accompany all trips.
We provide all the mandatory safety equipment for the riders as well.
Riding pace depends on the riders skills or/and preference.
Τhis trip is only available in the early morning hours.
Mandatory Equipment:
Safety Helmet
Optional Equipment:
Chaps
Safety Vest (for children)
Suggested Clothing:
Long, comfortable trousers
Closed-toe shoes
Riding Level: All
Discover one of the most famous beaches on the south coast of Crete. Travel through the wild Kourtaliotis Gorge where you will stop to see the magnificent landscapes and the springs of the river Preveli that flow inside the gorge and which result in the river at Preveli Beach.
Visit the south of Crete and stop at the viewpoint above where you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking view and take some fantastic pictures.
Enjoy a full-day excursion from Heraklion to Preveli Beach on a bus trip with a local guide. Discover South Crete’s Grand River, Kourtaliotikos Gorge, and a colony of Theophrastus palm trees. Sunbathe on the sandy beach, swim in the turquoise waters, watch for wildlife, or hike regional trails.
Begin your tour with a bus ride from the north coast to Preveli Beach, where you can swim in the turquoise Mediterranean water or stroll along the beach. Look for a rock shaped like a heart, known as The Stone of Lovers, and marvel at the steep cliffs and misty hilltops of nearby Kourtaliotikos Gorge.
Continue your tour by hiking along the banks of the Grand River to discover the Forest full of Theophrastus palm trees. Hike further up the river trail to a canyon and beach where you can further swim, hike, or sunbathe, before heading back down the path to the bus and returning to Heraklion.
10:45 Arrival at Preveli – free time
15:00 Departure from Preveli
16:50 Arrival in Heraklion
Route: 210 km
Duration: app. 7hours
See traditional villages, churches, mountains, gorges and beaches on this full-day tour from Rethymno.
Stop at Kournas, Crete’s only fresh-water lake. Enjoy a short drive through the countryside to the traditional village of Argyroupoli, where you can enjoy a cup of Greek coffee.
As the drive continues toward the island’s southern coast, notice the changes in the landscape. Just before the first glimpse at the Libyan Sea, stop at the Kotsifou Gorge and visit a beautiful old stone church.
Take a break at the Bay of Plakias and enjoy some time relaxing on the beach or exploring the village. On the way back to Rethymno, drive through the Kourtaliotis Gorge and admire the natural wild landscape.
Find below list of beaches near Villa Myrthios:
Situated 36km to the south of Rethymno city, Plakias is a charming tourist haven nestled at the mouth of a fertile valley just beyond the Kouroupa range, where the Kotsifos river meets the sea. It owes much of its popularity to the impressive Gialia beach, stretching for 1.3km from the edge of the town to the east, ending at Cape Mouri. This fully-equipped beach, characterized by its crystal-clear, cool waters, is an ideal location for leisurely walks or cycling along the adjacent road. It features numerous hotels and restaurants, as well as beach essentials such as umbrellas, water sports facilities, beach volley courts, snack bars, changing rooms, and showers.
Paligremnos, the eastern portion of the beach, boasts fine sandy shores and is well-appointed with various amenities close to local accommodation and eateries. Noteworthy are the tall, vertical cliffs nearby that prove to be a magnet for climbing enthusiasts. This spot, also known as “Gonates” (knees), is steeped in local lore; it’s said that the epic hero Digenis knelt here to drink from a local spring. An intriguing phenomenon takes place here every full moon from September to January, as the moon’s reflection on the sheer cliffs draws large squids to the beach, which locals catch with long sticks. A few meters south of Paligremnos, you can also discover tunnels once used for transporting coal to waiting cargo ships.
Situated 37km south of Rethymno, nestled between Plakias and Souda’s beach, Fotinari (also known as Foteinari) offers two serene beaches resting in a compact bay rich with vegetation. The rocky seabed provides a perfect spot for fishing and snorkelling activities.
These adjoining pebbly beaches lack organisation, however, you can easily find accommodation and dining options nearby. As you approach from Plakias, heading towards Souda beach, the first beach you’ll encounter is the Small Fotinari, also referred to as Fotinaraki, due to its smaller size compared to the following beach, the Big Fotinari.
Both beaches are conveniently located near the main road, which runs directly over them. Two brief stone paths cut through a pair of small woods, leading straight to the beach. Additionally, Big Fotinari offers shade beneath the towering rocks that surround it.
Kalypso Beach is a small, steep-cliffed cove on the southern coast of Crete, 34 kilometres (21 miles) south of Rethymno, between Plakias and Preveli Beach. The beach sits at the foot of narrow rock passages that drop into deep, calm, deep-blue water, which makes it better suited to confident swimmers, snorkellers and divers than to paddling toddlers. Access is free on foot through the Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa, a paved road reaches the site, and the Kalypso Dive Center runs guided tours and equipment rentals on the shore. Locals also call it Pirates’ Fjord Beach, because the sheltered inlet worked as a pirate hideout during the Byzantine era.
If you want the short version: come for the scenery, the diving and the cliff jumping, rent a sunbed for the day, and drive rather than rely on buses.
Kalypso Beach is a narrow fjord-like cove framed by towering cliffs on Crete’s Libyan Sea coast. Kalypso Beach reads more as a rocky swimming spot than a wide sandy resort beach, with rocks in places along the shoreline and sudden drop-offs a step or two from the water’s edge. The sea here is deep blue, the surface is usually calm, and crowds stay at normal levels rather than the crush you find at Crete’s headline beaches.
The setting is the draw. Steep cliffs, narrow passages and deep water give the cove a dramatic, enclosed feel and a genuinely distinctive geological shape, which is why it also carries the “Pirates’ Fjord” name. The same cliffs that make it photogenic are the reason it demands a little care in the water.
Reach Kalypso Beach most easily by car or taxi, because the cove sits off the main tourist routes near Plakias with no direct public transport to the shore. Drivers reach Kalypso Beach from Rethymno in about 45 minutes. The beach lies 97 kilometres (60 miles) from Chania International Airport and 115 kilometres (71 miles) from Heraklion Airport, and a paved road runs to the site.
Access to the beach itself is free of charge and on foot through the neighbouring hotel. The Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa provides direct beach access, a pool and spa facilities, and hotel guests receive free use of the beach sunbeds.
You have three practical ways to arrive:
Yes, renting a car is the most practical way to visit Kalypso Beach, since the cove lies near Plakias with no direct public transport. Renting a car also removes the reliance on rigid bus timetables and lets you fold gorges, villages and other beaches into the same day trip. Narrow roads and limited signage lead to the site, so a compact model that handles tight bends on mountainous terrain suits the drive better than a large vehicle. Standard requirements across major and local agencies include a valid driver’s licence and a minimum age of 21. Travellers arriving through Heraklion or Chania airports often pick up a vehicle on arrival to keep their schedule flexible, and renting a car in Crete simplifies exactly this kind of multi-stop coastal trip.
Kalypso Beach offers a modest but useful set of facilities for a small cove. The beach has sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, with a set of two beds plus an umbrella costing €10 ($11, £9), while hotel guests use the sunbeds for free. Food and water are available nearby, and the adjacent resort covers accommodation, an on-site restaurant, and spa and pool facilities.
The core facilities are:
Dogs are allowed at Kalypso Beach. Fishing is not, the beach falls within a natural park, so fishing is prohibited.
Snorkelling and scuba diving are the standout activities at Kalypso Beach, thanks to clear, deep water and a rich underwater world. The marine life here includes fish, sea turtles and other sea creatures, and there are underwater caves to explore along the rocky shore. The Kalypso Dive Center provides guided tours and equipment rentals for both snorkelling and diving.
The calm, clear water also makes plain swimming rewarding, provided you are comfortable out of your depth. The water is deep close in, so this is a swimmers’ beach rather than a toddler-friendly shallows.
Cliff jumping is the beach’s signature adventure, with jumps of up to 10 metres from the cliffs into the deep water below. Cliff jumping rewards confident, careful visitors, and it calls for the same caution near the rocks that the deep water demands. The surrounding cliffs and coastline also open up several hiking trails with views over the cove and the sea, and a 25-minute hike leads from Kalypso Beach to neighbouring Damnoni Beach. Biking is possible in the wider area too, which rounds out a spot that mixes adventure, relaxation and exploration.
Visit Kalypso Beach between June and September for the warmest, most reliable swimming conditions. During these months the sea temperature runs a pleasant 23°C (73.4°F) to 25.5°C (77.9°F), ideal for swimming, snorkelling and diving. May and October stay comfortable for slightly cooler swims, with sea temperatures between 19°C (66.2°F) and 22.5°C (72.5°F). Across the wider May-to-October window the climate is warm with minimal rainfall.
Kalypso Beach suits confident swimmers, snorkellers, divers and adventure-minded travellers more than families with young children. The beach welcomes families, but it fits older children who swim strongly, because the shoreline is rocky and the drop-offs are sudden. Parents of younger children usually have an easier day at shallower beaches such as Damnoni and Plakias, which offer gentler, safer water. Anyone who supervises children closely and keeps clear of the cliffs can enjoy the cove safely.
Kalypso Beach sits within easy reach of several notable beaches, gorges and villages. Kalypso Beach works well as one stop on a longer south-coast day, and the following places are the closest highlights:
The nearest dining sits in Plakias village and near Damnoni Beach, a short drive from the cove. These tavernas lean on Greek and Cretan cooking and same-day seafood:
The closest places to stay cluster around Kalypso Beach, Damnoni and Plakias, from the beachfront resort next door to family hotels a few kilometres away. Rates below reflect the nightly ranges published by each property:
Plan Kalypso Beach around its deep water, rocky shore and off-route location. Keep these points in mind:
Yes, Kalypso Beach is worth visiting for its scenery and water activities. The narrow cove sits below towering cliffs above crystal-clear water, and it offers snorkelling, scuba diving, cliff jumping and sunbathing, along with rocky shores and underwater caves to explore.
Yes, Kalypso Beach is a safe, well-maintained beach. Lifeguards are present during peak season to watch swimmers, and visitors stay safe by taking care near the rocky cliffs and during cliff jumping.
Yes, both children and pets are allowed at Kalypso Beach. The beach has a rocky shoreline and sudden drop-offs, so parents supervise children closely, and the cove best fits families with older children who swim strongly. Families with younger children often prefer the shallower water at Plakias and Damnoni beaches.
Yes, Kalypso Beach is suitable for swimming in its calm, clear, deep water. Swimmers stay aware of the rocks and drop-offs and keep an eye on conditions before heading out.
No, fishing is prohibited at Kalypso Beach because the beach lies within a natural park.
The water at Kalypso Beach is deep blue, calm and deep close to shore. The seabed is rocky in places, and the clear conditions make the cove a strong choice for snorkelling and diving.
Access Kalypso Beach on foot via a paved road through the Kalypso Cretan Village Resort & Spa, free of charge. Drivers and taxis reach the resort directly, while bus travellers connect through Rethymno and Plakias.
Situated 35km south of Rethymnon and 5km east of Plakias on Crete island, Damnoni beach is a well-known tourist destination. The resort is fully developed and well-structured, featuring a wide bay with turquoise waters and coarse, whitish sand. Visitors can enjoy numerous facilities including umbrellas, snack bars, showers, changing rooms, and water sports. Additionally, there’s a scuba diving centre, top-notch hotels, restaurants, and a horse-riding centre.
The westernmost part of the beach, which is highly organized, is home to a small river that maintains water nearly all year round. The eastern end of the beach is more serene and connects to the neighbouring Ammoudakii beaches via a short unpaved road. Beyond the western end of the beach, you’ll find several secluded small coves with sand and rocks, located right next to the area’s small harbour.
Find below list of gorges near Villa Myrthios:
The gorge of Kotsifos starts at Kannevos village and ends at Plakias. The starting point is very narrow with a width of about 10m, which gradually increases and reaches 600m. The total length is 1800m, and the almost vertical sides that reach a height of 600m. Inside the gorge, there is a small temple built inside a rocky cavity dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
Hiking in the upper part of the gorge (Kanevos – Bridge of Sellia).
Starting from the village Kanevos you can start hiking on the riverbed and reach the bridge that connects villages Selia and Myrthios (after about one hour of course). Along the way, there are large boulders that block the passage, but with a little attention, you can overcome them. At one point the side-gorge of Boutsinas meets Kotsyfos with an impressive waterfall of 20 meters. In summer the riverbed is dry.
Course in the upper part of the gorge (Bridge of Sellia – Plakias)
At the location of the bridge that heads to Selia, the canyon gradually turns into a wide valley. You can continue our course at the bottom of the gorge, along the riverbed. After meeting a modern temple, after 3-4 minutes you meet a dirt road that heads backwards (opposite the flow of the river). If you follow this road in a few minutes you will meet the springs of Kotsifos where a pond is formed (surrounding villages get water from here). From here onwards, the river has a water flow throughout the year emptying on the beach of Plakias.
Kourtaliotiko Gorge is a hiking gorge 22km south of Rethymno, Crete, Greece, known for its waterfall, its year-round springs, and the chapel of Agios Nikolaos at the base of the cliffs. Kourtaliotiko Gorge runs for 3km between the Kouroupa and Koules mountains, and a paved road cuts through the canyon so you can reach the main viewpoints and the trailhead without a long approach. This guide covers what the gorge is, the waterfall and chapel, how to get there and park, the difficulty, what to see, and the tips worth knowing before you go.
Kakoperatos Canyon, situated near the village of Agios Vasilios in the province of the same name, is a tributary of the Megalos River (Kourtaliotis). Its name, which translates to “bad passage” in Greek, indicates the necessity of technical equipment for human access. This stunningly scenic and rugged canyon is perfect for canyoning. It is endowed with water for most of the year and features 7-8 remarkable waterfalls. These create deep ponds filled with clear turquoise waters, making them ideal for jumping.
It’s likely that no other canyon in Crete boasts such vibrant turquoise waters. The canyon’s exit is located adjacent to the last residences of Agios Vasilios, with its stream flowing through the village courtyards!
The stunning Sykia gorge, which is actually the easternmost gorge in the province of Sfakia, is located north of Rodakino village. It’s a technical canyon, meaning that traversing it requires specialized equipment due to its over 10 steep descents or waterfalls, which are safeguarded by the speleological groups of Crete. The tallest rappel stands at around 12 meters high.
The Sykia stream combines with the untamed canyons of Rodakino (also known as Maglinara) and the longest gorge in the area, Karavos. The stream then flows under both the new and old bridges of Rodakino, finally reaching the picturesque Korakas beach. Canyon explorers typically leave the gorge just after the old bridge, while those up for a full-length trek will encounter another rappel. The narrowest part of Sykia, after it merges with the Rodakino Gorge, is truly breathtaking.
Speleological clubs have named the gorge Sykia, meaning sycamore-fig tree, due to the abundance of fig trees found along the route. However, its official name is Xepitira. Except for times following heavy rainfall, the gorge is typically dry.
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