Pelekita Cave
The Cave of Pelekita is one of the largest caves in Crete, having a length of about 310m. Its large size, the rich stalactite and stalagmite decor and the spectacular boulders make this unknown cave unique on the island. The cave of Pelekita is located at an altitude of 100m, at the foot of Traostalos Mount, well hidden within the bare rocks of the wild landscape of Zakros. The entrance of the cave is located 5 km northeast of Kato Zakros, in the position Pelekita or Sikia. To reach the cave, the visitor has either to walk one hour from Kato Zakros or one quarter by coming by boat, just on the E4 trail from Karoumes to Zakros.
The cave is also called Cave Sikia (fig tree), named after the old fig tree near its entrance. The name Pelekita (meaning “carved”), comes from the ancient quarry next to the cave that was used in for extracting boulders for the construction of the Minoan Palace of Zakros. It is impressive to see some female silhouettes carved in the stones by some modern artists.
Pelekita Cave has huge rooms, with towering columns, slippery boulders, stalagmites and stalactites and steep slopes that give a feeling of being in an amphitheater. The entrance is very impressive. At the end of the cave, there is a small pond with water. The total length of the cave is 310m in a straight line and has an area of aruind 0.45 hectares. Traces of habitation from the Neolithic era have been found here.
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