Kapsali Beach Peristerionas

The beach of Kapsali (or Peristerionas, meaning the Pigeon or Dove) is located on Cape Peristerionas, between Keratokampos and Arvi. A secluded and isolated spot, without any infrastructure, it is sandy, with a few rocks and blue waters that open out towards the Libyan Sea. Its location on the southern coast of Crete island has allowed this beach to remain undiscovered by the crowds and as such, it is almost always quiet.

You will find no rooms to rent or hotel complexes nearby. Keratokampos is the nearest seaside settlement that can supply all your needs. On the west side of Keratokampos, we find the excellent beaches of Listis and Larinaki. Impressive, however, is also the beach of Dermatos, even further west, with plenty of trees to provide shade. The only issue, however, as is the case with all the beaches in the region, is that it is open to the winds.

While in the area of Viannos, visitors will be impressed by the wild and unassuming beauty. Drive through beautiful plateaus, charming villages and swim in secluded coves. During World War II, this area harbored a lot of Cretan rebels and was punished hard, as a result, a lot of villages in the area were burned and looted. There are many churches and monasteries in the region worth exploring like the Holy Monastery, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Monastery of Agios Antonios of Arvi, the Monastery of Agios Dimitrios in Kastri Chondros, the Monastery of Prokopi in Kalami, the Monastery of Agia Ypakoi in Sykologos and Panagia Keralimeniotissa in Faflago.

To get to this beach from Heraklion, you must go through the village of Kapsali, which is located a few kilometres east of Keratokampos. The distance is just over 60 km and will take most visitors over an hour. From Kapsali you follow a dirt road which leads to Cape Peristerionas. There you will leave your vehicle and continue on foot to the beach. For nature lovers, the gorge of Arvi offers one of the most spectacular routes and can be visited almost all year round. The entrance to Arvi Gorge is only 8 km away from the coast.