Mirto
Crete has always been one of our favourite destinations and whenever we start planning our summer vacations we always think of this beautiful island. This summer we explored the area of Kalo Chorio and the nearby villages following the advice of some friends of ours who had previously visited this fabulous part of Crete. We could not have made a better choice! It is a small seaside village just 10 kilometres from Agios Nikolaos in a truly exceptional location in the bay of Mirabello, with very good hotel infrastructure and the best beaches in the area.
On the very first day we went to the breathtaking Voulisma beach and swam in its turquoise waters. Voulisma beach is a wide strip of sand and most of it is organized. It is a place of exceptional beauty but somewhat crowded. However, given that we arrived at the peak of the tourist season the presence of so many people on the beach seemed quite natural. The following day we opted for the nearby beach of Agios Panteleimonas and much to our surprise it was just as beautiful but definitely less crowded. The same happened on the third and fourth day when we chose Karavostasi beach (with a large olive grove that reaches the shore) and the beach of Chartalamis Kolymbos. These beaches are very cool, relatively quiet alternatives, ideal for those who do not like overcrowded locations. We did some surfing and sup in prefect weather conditions. Moreover, we were taken aback by for the large variety of activities the area has to offer.
We hiked through a beautiful pine forest and a gorge towards the village of Prina and the village of Kroustas. I also think that going on a bike ride would be a nice idea; the area has several routes. Perhaps next time.
In Prina we tasted honey for which the village is best known, and we learned about the honey festival of Prina which takes place in August. We also visited the church of the Transfiguration of Jesus which is of particular architecture. In the village of Kroustas, we walked through its pretty alleys and had a taste of traditional Cretan cuisine in its taverns. We also visited the nearby forest of Kroustas and spent some time in this pristine environment enjoying stunning views of the area. The most unusual activity we did was visiting the climbing field of Peza where we tried rock climbing. We are not experienced climbers but we met experienced instructors who were really helpful and gave us a lot of useful advice. It was a truly unique experience. We were fascinated by the area; so many different things in such a small area are rarely found elsewhere.
