Preveli is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the southern Crete as it is very beautiful and exotic. Preveli is in the Rethimno prefecture, 40 kilometers from Rethimno and 10 kilometers in the east of Plakias. The amazing beach is in the exit of the Kourtaliotiko gorge with the Kourtaliotikos River and the magnificent palm trees in the last 2 kilometers of the gorge.
The Kourtaliotikos River has water during the whole year and creates a small sea lake a few meters before it discharges into the Libyan Sea. The beach is sandy and the water is cool due to the river. There are some cafeterias in the area.
Walking along the river, under the shade of the palm trees or the “Phoenix theophrastii” (its official name) is worth. The path is easy and sandy. The palm forest in the gorge had been burnt completely in 2010 but it managed to be recreated.
The area is under the NATURA 2000, the Special Protection Zone and has been declared as a shelter of wild life due to its natural beauty and biodiversity.
In order to visit it, you should go by boat or on foot. The easier way is by car or by bus to Plakias and, then, taking one of the boats to Preveli that set off every morning. They usually set off at 10 o’clock in the morning and return at 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
You can also leave your car in the parking of the Preveli Monastery and then walk to the beach. The difficulty of that path is the number of the steep stairs.