Red Beach

This is one of the most beautiful beaches of Heraklion Prefecture. It is located a few minutes south of Matala, the famous summer resort and former hippie refuge.

You can get to the beach by following a trail that starts from Matala and extends for about 800 meters towards the south. There are some rocks on your way, as long as a steep cliff at the end, but it is a fairly easy passage. And, most importantly, it is worth it. As soon as you reach the beach you will be stunned by its beauty. The sand is red (thus the name of the beach) and the waters are blue-green and crystal clear. This is a unique landscape protected under the Natura 2000 international program. If you do not want to put yourself into this trouble you can always catch a boat from Matala. The beach is not organized, except for a few umbrellas. To stay on the safe side, take an umbrella with you, along with food and drinks. You won’t be leaving this place before the sunset. Take note that the beach is nudism-friendly, since the hippie era (it has actually been voted as one of the top nudism-friendly beaches in the world). It is also known for the sculptures of ancient Minoan and Egyptian sea figures, created by an old Matala fan, called Gerard. Indeed, this is a place full of history.