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Sitting on the
banks of the second largest natural harbour in Crete, Elounda and Plaka
are picturesque fishing villages along the coastal road to the north of
Agios Nikolaos. The actual harbour
is naturally well protected
by a long peninsula and the island of
Spinalonga, a former leper colony.
Travelling north for about 4.5 km from
the large village of Elounda with its vast central square, promenade and
delightful marina, past various little landing places with moored fishing
boats, you reach the quiet little village of Plaka. Plaka has two shingle
beaches, a selection of pretty little fish tavernas on the sea front with
mouth watering fresh fish. Some 2,5 km further on there is a mini market.
A regular bus service links Plaka with Elounda and
 with Agios Nikolaos.
This delightful region is ideal for extensive walks. The little
traditional mountain
villages of
this area are unspoilt and give one a
good sense of the original Cretan way of life.
For
sightseeing you may
choose to visit the
old Salt Pans, which are close to the ‘sunken city’ of
Olous. And highly recommended of course, is a
boat trip to the island of
Spinalonga, the former Leper Colony with its
old Venetian buildings.
Thanks to the protection of the long peninsula, waters are very calm here
and lend themselves particularly well to all forms of watersports. The
beautiful sea with its crystal clear, clean water, the magnificent
countryside, as well as the tangible peace of this area will delight all
visitors. From Heraklion, it is about an 80minute drive by car to the
village of Plaka. There is an even wider choice of nightlife in Agios
Nikolaos, just a short taxi ride away.
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