
Iligas beach
Iligas is a spectacular beach located at the exit of the Kavi gorge, in the southern part of Crete, about 2 kilometers west of Chora Sfakion. It is a beautiful beach with gravel, pebbles and crystal turquoise waters.
Apart from the main beach there are two more. The main beach is accessed via a short and easy-to-walk path that starts from the road that connects Chora Sfakion with Anapolis. The other two beaches are smaller and more isolated, offering more privacy. They lie about 80 meters to the east of the former and can only be reached by swimming or by boat. Although it is not very organized you can find some amenities and also a small tavern. If want to avoid this extra cost you can head east where there are a couple of caves by the beach, large enough to protect you from the blazing sun. All three beaches are excellent for diving and snorkeling. One of its main advantage is that it is not affected by seasonal winds, the well-known "meltemia" making swimming safe even when strong winds blow in the area.
Hiking lovers can reach the beach from Hora Sfakion on foot after about 30-40 minutes. Like most secluded beaches in Crete, Iligas beach has a small reserved corner for naturists. It is rarely crowded and a visit to Iligas can be combined with a visit to the beautiful Anopolis, the historic castle of Frangokastello or the abandoned village of Aradena.
GPS Coordinates 35.20241, 24.12442