Balos Lagoon

The famous lagoon of Balos is located in the northwest coast of Crete and is formed between the Cape Gramvousa and the small Cape Tigani.  Balos is surely the mostly photographed beach in Crete, a very favorite subject of all tourist guides for Greece.

The lagoon of Balos  has white sand and exotic white, vivid blue and turquoise waters. The sea is very shallow and warm, ideal for young children. In many places the sand has a lovely pinkish color, because of millions of crushed shells. The lagoon  is protected under the Natura 2000 program because of its rare species of flora and fauna. Eleonora’s falcons, shags and cormorants nest in the caves of the area. Moreover, the area is a shelter for the protected loggerhead sea turtle Caretta – Caretta.

Balos can be accessed in three ways. The first and easiest way is to take the morning ferry from Kissamos (If you’re lucky, you might be accompanied by dolphins). If you have a car or a motorbike, you can drive in the dirt road, starting from Kaliviani and then  walk down the longpath leading to the beach, or better, in heaven! However, the most exciting way to access Balos is by trekking for three hours from Kaliviani.

Balos turquoise waters, the wild natural beauty and the beautiful exotic scenery will remain etched in your memory forever.