July 16, 2024

Many of the places we've been to are off the beaten path with no gate or entrance fee and not a lot of tourists, if any.  And that is the way we prefer it.  It adds an element of excitment and in some cases, danger - see my Travel Story about Krionerida's Cave.  Balas Bay is NOT like that.  It is on every Crete travel website's top 10 list of places to visit as a "Must See".  So we figured we had to see it.  And it did not disappoint. 

If you are looking to stay away from the crowds then this may not be the place for you, but honestly, we got there fairly early - around 10am - and did not find the crowds to be that off putting.  First of all, the place is huge so you can choose a spot to put down your towel that is not in the spot where the crowds go.  Also, they definitely don't make it easy to get to which probably has a tendancy to limit the crowds to a degree.  

First of all you have a 30 minute drive on a bumpy, rock filled dirt road on the side of a steep cliff - it's probably made for a 4x4, but your Honda Civic will be fine as long as you proceed slowly. Second, there is a 30 minute hike from the parking lot down to the beach that can exhaust you especially in the blazing heat of summer. 

But for those who make it, you are rewarded with some of the most spectacular blue water and sandy beaches you've ever seen - and that is coming from a guy who's seen a lot of beaches in his day.