Location

The apartment is in Tsivaras, a hilltop village about eighteen kilometres east of Hania, the regional capital, in the Apokoronas region of Western Crete.

Crete

Kalives

Hania

Tsivaras

The nearest good beach, normally used only by local people, is a drive of five minutes. It has no facilities but is usually pretty quiet and, like most nearby beaches, the water is shallow and safe for children. If you’re staying in the apartment we’ll give directions.

About fifteen minutes away from the apartment are a couple of excellent places for snorkeling and diving that are known to very few tourists. One has a very small pebble beach whilst at the other you get into the water from rocks. Again, we’ll give directions.

There are views of the sea and mountains that remain snow-capped into early summer when temperatures at sea level are in the high 70s.

Local beaches

Kalyves Central beach

To the north and north-east there are views over Souda Bay and the Mediterranean. The White Mountains can be seen to the south, snow-capped into early summer when sea level temperatures are in the mid to high 70s.

The village is a small, rural community with a population of about one hundred and twenty, mostly involved in agriculture. The area is rich with olives, citrus trees and vines and, therefore, very green. Spring and early summer are especially beautiful when wildflowers, oleander and bougainvillea abound.

Because of its size and nature the village is not overburdened by tourists but extensive tourist facilities are available within 5km. There are only about five fully resident foreigners so the village remains a typical Cretan community; resourceful, generous and hospitable.

Maistrali beach, Kalyves, looking towards the harbour.

Location

Local beaches

Rethimno

Iraklio

On a ‘town’ beach don’t go topless.

Many visitors don’t seem to be aware that going topless is still illegal in Greece except on a very few designated beaches.

Although most local people disapprove they are pretty tolerant but if anyone does complain the police must act.

If you want to go topless be discreet and don’t on beaches near village centres or where local people (especially grand-parents) take young children.

Tip

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The busy coastal resorts of Kalives and Almirida with their excellent (Blue Flag) beaches and wide range of facilities are both only four or five kilometres away (five or six minutes drive). Both have many tavernas, cafés, bars and, especially in Kalyves, a good selection of shops (see ‘Facilities’).

Kalyves has several sandy beaches. At the east end of the village is the Maistrali beach that stretches from the harbour to the main hotel. At one end it slopes very gently into warm, shallow water protected by the harbour and is excellent for young children. There are several places to hire sunbeds and umbrellas and there are many cafés and tavernas along the road behind the beach.

At the hotel end of Maistrali beach the water deepens a little more quickly (but is still quite shallow).

The central beach is a smaller and slightly less accessible being behind the main hotel and apartments along the main street. There are no facilities on the beach but there are several access points to the street with its shops and cafés. It is usually quieter and less crowded.

Just on the edge of the village to the west is the longest and widest beach. As it’s about a fifteen minute walk from the centre of the village most of the people using this beach are from the apartments behind it. It tends to be relatively uncrowded, even in August. There’s an access road that runs behind the beach where it’s normally possible to park. There’s a large taverna with a beach café at one end, a large, hotel-operated snack bar and a beach Kantina at the other.

Most sunbeds belong to apartments but they can be hired from the Kantina. Don’t be misled by appearances; the food’s good with fresh salads and a pretty good menu that includes souvlakis, local sausages and various other items. It’s a good spot for lunch.

The water is a couple of degrees cooler due to a river from the mountains that flows into the sea about half way along this very long beach.

There’s another large taverna and snack bar at the far end; it’s quite a walk from the centre of Kalyves but is accessible by road and has parking facilities.

Almirida has a long, curving beach backed by cafés, tavernas andshops. There’s also a (French operated) water-sports centre with wind surfing and canoeing.