Near this village north of Kato Zakros you can find a very beautiful beach (Karoumes).  The beach is worth the effort. It is a large sand and pebble beach with very few people, most of them nude.

Chochlakies

Chochlakies

5:34 am, Jul 20, 2025

24°C

clear sky

Humidity: 73 %

Pressure: 1007 mb

Wind: 13 mph

Wind Gust: 16 mph

Clouds: 0%

Visibility: 10 km

Sunrise: 6:15 am

Sunset: 8:27 pm

Weather from OpenWeatherMap

2018: walked down to Karoumes in the morning, expecting to have it to ourselves but found a large group of lads camping under the trees at the northern end. Instead we headed north, up the coast for about 250m and found the incredibly beautiful bay of Mafromouri. About 50m of deep soft sand with caves under the cliffs for shade. The only downside to this idyll is that there is a popular coastal trail, so expect groups of hikers to turn up in the middle of the day, looking to cool off and rest in the shade.

2018: After parking your car next to the small church of Chochlakies (yes, you first have to go through those very narrow streets… large cars not welcomed), you have to go down through a beautiful canyon to the beach. It is maybe a one hour walk, without danger (but sport shoes are necessary), before you get to this fantastic beach! On this sunny day, there were some textiles north of the beach, so we went South only to find another couple who apparently also forgot their swimming suits (this seems to happen a lot in October in Crete..). The beach is clean, with pebble and sand, and the southern cliff worth the climb to get a fantastic view of the beach. When you go back, don't forget to stop in the little blue Cafenion in the middle of the village, on your right. You certainly deserve a cool drink after all these emotions.