Preveli Beach and Palm Forest: How to Get There from Rethymno

Name: Rethymno Tours
Address: Eratous 6, Rethymno, Crete, 74100, GR
Telephone: +306972531808
Price range: €€

Preveli Beach, also called Palm Beach, lies on the south coast of Crete about 50 minutes from Rethymno, at the point where the Megalopotamos river reaches the Libyan Sea. Behind the sand the river runs inland through a grove of Cretan date palms, Phoenix theophrasti, one of very few places the species grows wild, and the freshwater lagoon between the palms is warm enough to swim in when the sea is not. Access is free, but the beach has no road: it is reached either by a steep stepped path down the cliff from the upper car park, roughly 15 to 20 minutes each way, or by boat from Plakias or Agia Galini.

In sintesi

Entrance fee: Free; parking at the clifftop car park is charged
Drive from Rethymno: About 50 minutes to the upper car park
Access: A steep stepped path, 15 to 20 minutes down, or a boat from Plakias or Agia Galini
Palm species: Phoenix theophrasti, the native Cretan date palm
River: The Megalopotamos, which forms a freshwater lagoon behind the beach
Open season: Year-round, though the canteen and sunbeds operate in summer only

The beach and the palm forest

Two things sit side by side here and people usually come for both. On the seaward side there is coarse grey-gold sand, deep blue water and a headland; on the landward side the Megalopotamos comes out of its gorge and runs between hundreds of Cretan date palms, forming a shallow lagoon where the water is fresh and calm. Walking upstream through the grove, in and out of the water, is the part people remember.

The palms are not planted. Phoenix theophrasti is native to Crete and a handful of Aegean sites, and the Preveli grove is one of its largest stands. A wildfire in 2010 burned much of it; the palms regenerated from their bases and the grove has largely recovered.

Getting down

There is no road to the beach. From the upper car park on the cliff a stone and dirt path descends in switchbacks, 15 to 20 minutes down and rather longer back up in the heat, with no shade on the way. Proper shoes matter more here than at any other beach in the region. The alternative is a boat from Plakias or Agia Galini, which lands directly on the sand and removes the climb entirely.

Preveli Monastery

The monastery of Agios Ioannis Theologos stands on the cliffs above, separate from the beach and reached by its own road. It has its own admission charge. Its history is the reason it is on most itineraries: it supported the Cretan resistance during the Ottoman period, and in 1941 the monks sheltered Allied soldiers stranded after the Battle of Crete and helped evacuate them by submarine from the shore below.

Practicalities

Access to the beach is free; parking at the top is charged. There is a small canteen in season, some sunbeds and no other facilities, so bring water. The wind on this coast can be strong in the afternoon and the sea gets rough; the lagoon stays calm regardless, which is why families tend to migrate to it.

Buono a sapersi

How do you get to Preveli Beach?+

Either on foot from the clifftop car park, a steep stepped descent of 15 to 20 minutes with no shade, or by boat from Plakias or Agia Galini, which lands on the sand. There is no road to the beach itself.

Is there an entrance fee for Preveli Beach?+

No. The beach and the palm forest are free. Parking is charged, and Preveli Monastery on the cliff above has its own separate admission.

Can you swim in the river at Preveli?+

Yes. The Megalopotamos forms a shallow freshwater lagoon behind the beach, calm and noticeably warmer than the sea, and you can walk and swim upstream between the palms.

How difficult is the walk down?+

Moderate rather than hard, but it is a genuine climb on the way back, on uneven stone with no shade. Trainers or walking sandals, water and a hat are the difference between an easy return and a miserable one.

Is Preveli suitable for children?+

The lagoon is ideal for children; the descent is the limiting factor. Families with small children usually take the boat in and out.