Hidden Paradise: Loutro, Crete

Loutro, a secluded and tiny town on the southern coast of Crete that's only accessible by boat is the perfect getaway and probably the most picturesque spot you'll visit. The turquoise waters are absolutely gorgeous and perfect for boating on or swimming in.

What to do?

1. Sea kayaking or canoeing

One of the best activities we did. Rent a canoe for four euros per hour or eight euros for the entire day. You can also take a guided kayak tour but we didn't do this. You can canoe along the coast on either side, and are allowed to go wherever but I would not recommend going too far out, especially if it's your first time. However, the water is super calm and easy to paddle through; you can canoe into sea caves and coves, and take incredible pictures. Leave your stuff on your beach chairs while you go out!

2. Paddle boating

Similar to canoeing, you can paddle boat along the coast as far as you want. It's 10 euros per hour. On our adventure, we saw kri kri (Cretan goats) at the edge of the water, climbing over the rocks, as well as sea urchins and fish. In an open spot (away from sea urchins) I jumped into the clear, turquoise waters which was super fun (who doesn't like to jump off a boat?). We also paddled over to the Greek flag in the middle of the water to take a few pictures. Paddle-boating is a wonderful activity that allows you to see a small part of the southern coast of the island.

3. Beach

There are three public beaches in Loutro but they are small (and fill up quickly) so it's best if you get there early to put your stuff down. It's seven euros for two chairs, a table, and an umbrella at the one we stayed at in the center of the town. The beach is rocky which makes it a bit challenging to get in and out of the water, but once you're in it's worth it! The water is cold and refreshing, and a stunning blue but still incredibly clear. You can easily see to the bottom of the ocean. There are not many fish except in the more shallow areas, but we usually went further out (it was probably about 20 feet deep).

Where to eat?

There are many tavernas along the water's edge that all serve similar traditional Cretan cuisine. On the side of the town close to the pier, there are places more suitable to just get drinks. Past the pier, up a short trail, there is a small restaurant that overlooks the water and town. The food is simple (Greek salad, sandwiches, etc.) and probably not the best you'll have, but the views are unparalleled (view pictured below).

How to get there?

We drove from Chania to Hora Sfakion and then took a 20 minute boat ride to Loutro. You can get tickets for the boat right at the pier. We got home the same way! On the boat ride, you can see sea caves and pristine beaches that are only accessible by boat. Once you are in the town, you won't need a car because there are no cars in Loutro!

Where to stay?

Loutro does not have any luxurious hotels. Most of the places to stay are more relaxed and minimalistic. We stayed at Villa Nicki (around 70 euros/night) which was nice and served the purpose but it was nothing special (I definitely felt like I was in Mamma Mia though because of the location of the hotel). However, Molos Apartments looks like one of the nicer hotels in Loutro (no rooms were available for us as we booked our trip to Loutro about two days in advance). Most places you stay will have a stunning sea view, like our room did at Villa Nicki.