<The palm beach of Preveli in Crete
Preveli Beach or Palm Beach is one of the most spectacular beaches in Crete. You can reach it in two ways. As you drive south you will see an old bridge on the left side of the road. On the left side of the river you will find the unpaved (but not impossible) road that will lead you directly to the beach. Once at your destination you will be at Preveli beach, but you will still have to climb a hill to get to the other side to "Palm Beach". At the beginning of this road they will tell you that the beach is 3 km away. Don't be fooled: the road is much longer that that! Only if you are a well trained walker you might want to try, but be reminded that you have to climb over mountains up and down, plus you have to walk back again.
The other possibility is to take the paved road on the right side. You will pass the abandoned Lower Preveli Monastery and a little bit further down the road there is a sign pointing you to Palm Beach. At the end of this road there is PAID PARKING (1 euro 50). Don't think you are there yet, because after you have parked your car you still have a long way to go! There are many, many steps down on the old stairs (and up again!!!) if you want to reach the beach.
So it is a bit of a climb up and down to Preveli Beach, but the views are very rewarding though. And because of this don't think you are going to be alone on Palm Beach, because it's a busy beach. Palm Beach is a sandy cove with a river running through it, at the end of Kourtaliotiko Gorge. The area resembles a tropical lagoon with its palms, oleanders, waterfalls and stream which flows into the sea. At the end of the beach (on the other side of te hill, away from the river) there is room for naturists to enjoy sunning and swimming without bathing suits, and it is sort of an unofficial naturist beach.
In 2010 the area of Preveli was hit by a severe forest fire that began near Plakias. The fire started at different places and it is suspected that it was arson. A very strong wind made putting out the fire almost impossible and the monastery of Preveli was barely spared from destruction when the wind suddenly turned. A thousand acres of landscape and a large part of the palms (including those along the river that flows on the beach) here were burned to ashes.
Preveli Rooms and Taverna is located just 20 metres from the Libyan Sea and a 5-minute walk from the palm-tree forest of Preveli (over a small hill via a foot path). It features a tavern, an on-site mini market and a playground. Rooms at Preveli come with a mini fridge and a private bathroom with shower. Some units have a balcony overlooking the Libyan Sea. The Historical and Folk Art Museum and the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno are 24 km away. Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport is 66 km away. Free private, on-site parking is available. As you can see on the map the accommodation can be reached by road. The beach of Preveli is divided into two parts by a small hill you can walk over via a path. There's the part with the river and the palm trees and there's another long sandy beach on the other side of that.
Check availabilities and prices & book Preveli Rooms - click here.