About Falassarna & beaches
details about Elafonisi beach and Balos lagoon
Falassarna beach and area
Falassarna is an area situated on the west coast of Crete.It is 54 km away from Chania and 17km away from Kissamos. Nowadays, it is well-known for its awarded blue flag beach. Whose the turquoise waters and the whitish sand enchant everyone at first sight. The large number of green-houses spreading in the area bears witness to its very developed agricultural sector. However,the last decades Falassarna has been established as a tourist destination. And this is not without a reason. With a three kilometers shoreline you can feel anything but boredom once there.
View of Falassarna gulf
The picture of the Falassarna beach comes into sight once you have left behind the Platanos village. It traps the minds of visitors from the very first moment. This is why you can see a lot of cars stopped at the side of the road leading to the beaches taking photos of this marvellous scenery. Its visitors from around the world are many and they visit it again and again. They know that a dip in their crystal water is enough for refreshing their mind and body. The underground currents come from natural sources refresh all the time the sea waters guaranteeing their high quality. This is why Falassarna beach has been awarded as one of the ten best in Europe.
Big Beach and other beaches at Falassarna
Falassarna beach is well-organized with umbrellas and sun-loungers. However, there are many free spots for those who prefer placing their own beach umbrella and towel. Furthermore, along the beach there are many beach bars providing snacks, water and coffee.
The Falassarna beach consists of several beaches. The wider and longer and thus most popular is this of Pachia Ammos, the so-called “Big Beach”. The visitors can reach there by three different roads, each one of these leads to a different point of the 1 km beach.
For those who love the most remote beaches a smaller beach of a length of 800 meters found northern of Pachia Ammos. It is known as the “Small beach and it is constitute an excellent choice.
The lovers of the rocky seabed can visit the Livadi beach. It is another long beach with a sandy shore but pebbly seabed southern of Pachia Ammos. It is the ideal option for all those who love snorkeling and free camping.
Crystal waters of Falassarna
Those who are keen on swimming can easily approach all the above mentioned beaches by sea. If someone goes a bit further away from the coast will be able to traverse all this sea area covering around three kilometres. However, it is very important to take into consideration that Falassarna is an open sea exposed to strong underground currents. This renders it very dangerous for those who do not know it very well. For this reason, in order to swim with safety a such big distance it is necessary to advice the locals. One drawback of the Falassarna beach is that is exposed to the western winds. The western wind can make it very wavy and dangerous. In this case, it is preferable to enjoy the sun and the stunning scenery and let the windsurfers to take pleasure in the waves.
Falassarna & Natura 2000 network
Even southern from the Livadi beach you can see a small harbor under the name Limaniskos. There, you can taste fresh fish in the only tavern there. You can also visit a small pebbly beach near to the harbor.
Falassarna is not only a beach but an area of high ecological interest due to its great variety of flora and fiona and as a such constitutes a part of the Natura 2000 network. Especially, Livadi is surrounded by a very important wetland with ponds and constitutes. Which is an excellent home for many species of birds in winter. If you are lucky enough you can see turtles to visit the Falassarna shore to lay their eggs and dolphins to play with the water.
And of course, anyone who visits Falassarna cannot omit seeing one of the most impressive sunsets in the world. The sunset in Falassarna is considered the best in Crete. Only when you see the sun to dip in the sea you can have a full experience of what the vacation in Falassarna looks like to be.
However,Falassarna is an area of archaeological interest too. Take some time to visit the archaeological site of ancient Falassarna. It is found about 2 km from Pachia Ammos and wander the remnants of a city-state that used to be a prosperous maritime power in ancient times.
more famous Cretan beaches
Once in Falassarna, do not miss to visit the two other well-known beaches of the prefecture of Chania. Balos and Elafonisi. Visiting Falassarna, Balos and Elafonisi belongs to the “must-do” in Crete. Those who choose to spend their vacation in Falassarna can easily go from there to Balos beach. They can go by their car or by boat which departs daily from the port of Kissamos, Kavonissi.
Balos lagoon
Balos is an exotic beach-lagoon located on the northwestern corner of Crete. It is formed between the peninsula of Gramvousa and Cape Tigani. It is included in Natura 2000 environmentally-protected areas. Take the chance and go there to admire this natural artwork of incomparable beauty. Its crystal clear blue water and the sandy shore, sometimes pink because of the countless shells, will win your heart at first sight.
Elafonisi beach
Elafonisi is another beach of exceptional natural beauty located in the southwest end of the prefecture of Chania. Tourists can go there either directly from Falassarna or driving towards Kastelli and following the signs to Elafonisi. Included in the Natura 2000 protection program too, Elafonisi belongs in the top of the top things to do. What makes it unique is the sand dunes, the cedar trees, the blue sea and the white and pink sand.
Taking everything into account, what renders Falassarna an ideal holiday destination is not only its magical beach. It is also a great range of activities and excursions promising you to offer unforgettable moments in Crete. The only sure is that either you belong to these who visit again and again Falassarna and its beach or you are just passer-by, you will love them and its image will stay always carved to your mind to remind you this outstanding area of Greece.
