Ligres beach

Ligres is a long, wild beach on the south coast of Rethymno, about 51 km south of Rethymno town and 7 km below the village of Kerames, at the foot of Mount Siderotas. It forms the northern section of the great Akoumiani Gialia beachfront that runs south from Cape Melissa towards Triopetra. The shore is coarse sand and fine pebbles, the sea is deep, clear and often wavy, and a large reddish rock stands in the middle of the beach. At the western end a small waterfall runs year-round straight into the sea, and a couple of tavernas with rooms sit on the west side; otherwise the beach is unorganised. Nude bathing is possible at many points along the wide, uncrowded beach, and Cretan Beaches and Explore Crete both include Ligres in their naturist lists. The most secluded nude spot is Katsouni, a long sandy cove ringed by rocks, reached by walking west from the waterfall towards Agia Fotini; it is often almost empty, especially early and late in the season. Rock overhangs give the only natural shade, and walking south along the shore past striking rock formations leads to the Xiromilia area and Triopetra.