Souda Beach, Plakias, Crete: The Last Beach on the Plakias Coastline, 3km West of the Resort, Where the Year-Round Finikas River Meets the Libyan Sea Through a Cretan Palm Colony

Greece | Plakias | Rethymno Prefecture, South Crete

Watch out not to mix up Soudas! There are two of them, one at the Prefecture of Chania and one just 3 km at the eastern side of Plakias. The crystal clear cool water and coarse sand beach lead to a small river flowing into the sea. It is worth exploring the area since there, you will find Theofrastos‘ Cretan palms, an endemic variety met in very few places in Crete (Vai, Preveli, Agios Nikitas). Souda is a beautiful place… as long as it is not windy; the coarse sand will then give you a painful exfoliation.

The wind caveat at Souda is worth giving the same prominence as the beautiful landscape. Souda beach is affected by the southern winds which raise the sand, making it difficult for the visitors to stay on a windy day. The coarse sand, which maintains the water’s clarity and gives the beach its distinctive texture, is exactly the same property that makes it painful when the wind picks up. This affection can quickly turn to annoyance when the northern winds whip up the sand, blasting unsuspecting swimmers. Plan accordingly — check the forecast and consider the alternative that calm conditions produce, which is one of the genuinely beautiful beach settings on the south Cretan coast.

The landscape today bears no resemblance to the secluded paradise of the 90s, where a narrow dirt path led to a rocky shoreline and a sparsely populated nudist beach.

Getting There: 41km From Rethymno Through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, 3km West of Plakias, Tourist Train Runs From Plakias in Season

Souda beach is located 40km south west of Rethymno town, and just 3km west of the cosmopolitan resort of Plakias. If you choose to drive from Rethymno town, follow the provincial road Melambon–Agias Galinis to the south. Turn right towards Moni Preveli (Preveli Monastery). When you reach Plakias, drive for about 3km western till you reach Souda beach. You may also use the public bus from Rethymno to Plakias and then walk 3km to Souda beach or take a taxi. There is also a tourist train running from Plakias to Souda beach.

The Kourtaliotiko Gorge on the route south from Rethymno is the specific driving experience that makes the approach to the south Cretan coast memorable — the gorge road descends through limestone cliff walls to the sea level at Plakias. Large unpaved parking is available directly behind the beach.

The Finikas River and the Theophrastus Palms: The Rarest Native Cretan Species

Souda is located at the exit of a small green valley that is run by the small river Finikas, which has water all year round. Along the river and in several places of the area, there are colonies of the native Cretan palm trees of Theophrastus, making Souda one of the most important reserves for the species.

Cretan palm trees of Theophrastus, native to the area, flourish along the river and numerous other locations, establishing Souda as a significant refuge for the species.

Phoenix theophrasti — the Cretan date palm — is one of only two wild date palm species native to Europe, found naturally in very few locations: Vai (the famous east Crete palm forest), Preveli (40 kilometres north of Souda by road), Agios Nikitas, and here at Souda where the Finikas river colony is one of the significant wild populations. The river name Finikas means palm in Greek — the palms were there before the maps were made.

The Beach: Coarse Sand, Deep Clear Water, Rocky Snorkelling Ends, Rarely Overcrowded Due to Its Size

The Souda beach has deep crystal-clear waters and thick sand, but it can be windy sometimes.

The rocky ends of the beach are ideal for snorkelling while the waters are safe for families with small children. Due to its large size, Souda beach rarely feels overcrowded.

The beach has sunbeds and umbrellas in the organised central section, showers, lifeguard, cafes, snack bars, tavernas, fish tavernas, accommodation, beach volleyball, water sports, sea bikes and canoes. The scale of the bay means free zones exist even when the organised sections are full.

Preveli Palm Beach: 40km North, the Larger Version of the Same Story

The Preveli palm beach — where the Megalopotamos river meets the Libyan Sea under a larger colony of the same Phoenix theophrasti palms — is 40 kilometres northwest of Souda by road (or a dramatic gorge hike from Preveli Monastery). For visitors based in the Plakias area, a day trip to both Souda and Preveli covers the full south Cretan palm beach experience.

Souda Beach near Plakias, south Crete, is the last beach on the Plakias coastline 41 kilometres from Rethymno — the year-round Finikas river meeting the Libyan Sea through one of the most important Theophrastus palm colonies on the island, coarse sand keeping the water clear but producing painful sandblasting on windy days (check the forecast), deep crystal-clear water, tourist train from Plakias in season, the Kourtaliotiko Gorge on the approach from Rethymno, and Preveli palm beach 40 kilometres north for the larger version of the palm-and-river experience.

Drive from Plakias. Check the wind. The palms are along the river at the western end.