Greece, Chrissi Island – Just Like in the Caribbean

The island of Chrissi is located in the south of Crete. It is small, completely insignificant on the world map. Yet it is so beautiful. If you step on your feet from the boat to the mainland, you will not believe that you are only a few kilometers from Crete, Greece. You will feel like you are in the beautiful Caribbean. It is a place created for romance or for shooting movies in the style of Pirates of the Caribbean.

This small island is located 15 kilometers from the Greek city of Ierapetra in the Libyan Sea. As for its area, it's just a dot on the map. The island is 5 kilometers from west to east and only a kilometer from north to south. To get to higher numbers, the highest point of the island lies at an altitude of 27 meters above sea level and is called Kefala.

Transport to the island is easy, the human foot can not get here other than by boat. I personally drove from the port of Ierapetra and the journey takes less than 50 minutes. On the boat you can buy snacks, from various baguettes, ice cream, beer, juice to lunch.

But now the most important thing. The whole island is uninhabited and covered with cedar forest. The beaches and coastline are naturally made of light sand, in the north they are dotted with shells. The sea is cleaner than the water in the bath up to a distance of 10 kilometers from the coast. Nevertheless, I recommend water shoes, sometimes there are sharp stones at the bottom. This seashore beach, known as Golden Beach, is less than a mile from the southern port. The path consists of signs and sometimes wooden walkways. At the port you will find a small bar and snacks, so you don't have to worry about starving all day.

Don't be fooled when you hear from a Cretan resident that you are going to "Donkey Island" or "Golden Island", the island of Chrissi is called differently. And last but not least, a plane ride from Chrissi Island to Athens would take about 45 minutes and to Africa less than 30 minutes. So you will be closer to Africa than to the mainland south of Europe.

A trip to this island is an unforgettable experience that is really worth it.

GPS: 34°52'33.8"N 25°43'16.3"E

Text and photos: Hana Doubková