Afrata beach
Afrata is a small village, located 3.5km north of Kolymbari and 28km west of Chania, at Cape Rodopos. The small lovely beach of Afrata is shaped 1km east of the village, inside a well protected calm bay.
The beach is pebbly and has nice water colors. It is primarily preferred by local residents, as it is not affected by the winds blowing in the area. The wild beauty of Rodopos Cape, combined with the scenic calmness of the sea and the picturesque village, makes Afrata an ideal choice for quiet holidays. On the beach there is a small canteen from where you can buy water and food. There are some umbrellas and tamarisk trees, offering shade.
The road from Kolimbari is asphalt, but be careful because it is narrow. After the village, follow the road that heads to the beach through a beautiful gorge. On the road, below Odigitria Gonia monastery you will also meet the small coves of Odigitria which are mainly rocky and very quiet.
The road to Afrata from Kolymvari passes from the historic monastery of Panagia Odigitria Gonia and the Orthodox Academy. The Monastery is very important for the island's history. The Turks started the occupation of Crete from here in 1645. In 1897, the Greek army landed at this point on the island and this was the reason for the declaration of the Greek-Turkish war of 1987. The monastery is built close to Kolymbari port and consists of the main temple, the inner courtyard, it’s cells and the walls that protected the monastery from pirates, Turks and other enemies. On the northeast side, inside the walls, you can still see holes caused by the guns with which the Turks had fired against Gonia Monastery.
Moreover, Ellinospilios cave is a beautiful cave, in which significant archaeological findings have been found. The path to the cave is quite rough due to the rocky terrain of the region and is mainly suggested to experienced walkers. In order to enter the cave it is necessary to have appropriate expertise and equipment. The path to the cave is located north of Afrata and continues northeast. The entrance to the cave is just above sea level.
