Beaches
Category: Sights
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While Palekastro is developing as a resort it still remains a genuine working agricultural town. Palekastro holidays appeal to those looking for holiday amenities mixed with plenty of normal unaffected Crete town life and a good centre for exploring exceptional beaches and the wilder areas of eastern Crete.
- Itanos Beaches 8 km (far from Ostria Hotel)
- Palm Beach Vai 6 km
- Psilli ammos Beach 6 km
- Maridati Beach 4 km
- Kouremenos Beach 2 km
- Hiona Beach 2 km
- Skinias Beach 6 km (6km by hiking)
- Karoumes Beach 12 km (3km by hiking)
- Kato zakros Beach 26 km
- Xerokambos Beach 28 km
Palm Beach Vai: For the exotic Caribbean vibe – this is where Mars’s “taste of paradise” Bounty bar advert was filmed in the early 1970s. Also known as Finikodassos (Palm Beach), this gently curving golden sand beach is backed by Europe’s largest natural palm grove – some 5000 towering trees in an oasis fed by a stream – which have stood here for over 2000 years. According to legend, the palms grew from date stones discarded by Saracen pirates and washed up by the sea.
In Palekastro you find very nice and clean beaches… Palekastro has two of the best beaches in Crete (I recommend Itanos or Bodalaki), with wonderful swimming possibilities. Lots to see, too: the archaeological site in Rousso Lakkos, which was just starting to be excavated when we were there 20-odd years ago, is now huge, and looks extremely interesting. And it has saved that beautiful corner of Crete from development.
At Palm beach Vai you can hire a sunbed and straw umbrella then take to the water with a snorkel. Jet skis and windsurfing equipment are available for rent, while Vai Scuba Diving Club offers scuba trips.
After the beach, visit Toplou Monastery, a 15th-century fortified retreat, housing a fine collection of Byzantine icons. The largest landowner in the region, Toplou counts Vai Beach among its properties.