Preveli Beach

Preveli Beach is an unusual and picturesque sand and pebble beach on the island of Crete, famous in Greece and even beyond for the unique palm forest that grows along the banks of the Megalopotamos River, which feeds into the Libyan Sea here.

In honor of this forest, the beach even has another unofficial name, Palm Beach. The main name, Preveli, is derived from the Orthodox monastery of the same name, 2.5 kilometers away.

Preveli Beach is located 10km from the village of Plakias and 35km south of Rethymno, at the exit of the imposing Kourtaliotiko Gorge, where a picturesque mountain stream flows.

In the 1960s and 1970s, it was a hippie destination (along with Vai beach and Matala beach). Now it is one of the most famous and popular beaches of southern Crete, visited by thousands of people every season, drawn here not only by the amazing palm grove, but also by the stunning views and the clear clear sea water.

However, there is not much in the way of tourism infrastructure, as the area where Preveli Beach is located, which is included in the European Natura 2000 programme of natural beauty and ecology, offers only cafés and catamaran and boat rentals.

The palm forest of Preveli

The famous palm forest of Preveli Beach is the Theophrastus palm grove, the second largest in Crete after the Vai palm grove. However, being inferior in size, the Preveli palm grove, according to many tourists, is far superior in beauty and scenic beauty to the Vai palm grove.

The palm trees grow literally by the water's edge, along the mouth of the Great River Megalopotamos, which flows through the Kourtaliot Gorge and is full throughout the year. This gives the landscape a North African flavor. Hidden in the shade of the palm trees and admiring their beauty from within the forest, you can walk along the riverbank deep into the gorge, swim in the seclusion or climb higher into the mountains where there is an opportunity to see mountain goats galloping on the rocks.

Sadly, in August 2010 there was a major fire that almost completely destroyed the famous Preveli palm forest. According to experts' estimates, it should have taken around 30 years to fully restore the grove. However, to everyone's surprise, the palm trees were able to recover much faster and the forest recovered almost completely in a few years. Only in some corners of the grove can be found some scorched trunks, the remnants of the fire.

Beach description

The Preveli beach is covered in fine pebbles with patches of coarse dark sand, and the descent into the sea varies along the beach - some are quite convenient and comfortable, while others may consist of large stones that are quite hard to walk on, so you're better off swimming straight after entering into the water.

The sea water temperature is usually a few degrees lower than the other beaches of Crete, especially in the north. This is mainly due to the fact that the water in the inflowing mountain river is much colder than that of the sea.

The beach is in a very picturesque location, surprisingly diverse in terms of vegetation, even beyond the famous date palms.

Preveli Beach is often described as "wild", as it lacks all the amenities of modern European beaches, such as changing cabins, umbrellas and sunbeds, so you'll need to bring your own.

A small tavern is a good place for hungry tourists to grab a bite to eat or a refreshing drink. A notable feature of the place is that wild geese wander between tables, begging for bread.

As for entertainment, the only service available at Preveli Beach is the possibility of renting a boat or catamaran for a boat ride.

What else attracts the place

Tourists like to combine a visit to Preveli Beach and its palm forest with a tour of other attractions, either here or nearby.

An integral part of the beach is the mountain stream, which has several names, Megalopotamos or Kourtaliotis. In summer, the mouth of the river forms a small lagoon (Limni Preveli) before flowing into the Libyan Sea, giving the beach a picturesque and quaint appearance. This unique bay can be easily waded and navigated. The presence of the river also gives holidaymakers the choice of bathing in the salty sea water or the fresh, but cooler, river water.

Another symbol of Preveli Beach is the rock, which from a certain angle is very heart-shaped. It lies in the sea, close to the shore, and attracts photo-shooters, lovers and honeymooners alike with its unusual appearance.

Apart from the beach itself, many tourists recommend a visit to the Preveli Monastery, founded during the Venetian period in the 16th century. The monastery is not only of religious but also historical interest, with numerous ancient icons, iconostasis, sacred vessels and the main relic being the miraculous Ephraim's Cross, which is believed to have healing powers. Not far from the monastery there is a picturesque old Venetian bridge across the river.

How to get to Preveli beach in Crete

By land, there are two main ways to get to the beach. First is by hiring a car. To get there by car drive to Preveli Monastery, then after 1.5 km, following the signs, to the large parking area at the top of the cliff, which costs €2.

From the car park, a stone staircase with a wooden handrail leads up to the beach; the descent takes 15 to 20 minutes, depending on speed and fitness. There are also some rest areas along the way. By the way, the view from the top is spectacular, worthy of a couple of dozen photos.

The second way, bypassing the tiresome descent and ascent for many tourists, is to take the dirt road from the east side to Drimiskos or Drimisquiano Amoudi on the shore. You can reach the dirt road by turning left across the river from the ancient bridge that you will pass. From here on the shore to the beach leads a path, follow it for about 5 minutes. You can't expect spectacular views here, though.

Another way to get to the beach is by water: during the summer there are boats departing from the neighboring town of Plakias every day. The departure time from Plakias to Preveli is usually at 10:30 and the return time at 15:30, but it can change depending on the season, so it's better to find out before you go. By the way, there is also a shuttle bus service from Rethymnon to Plakias.