Kouremenos Beach

Windsurfing
Windsurfing is a world renowned sport in Kouremenos Bay, within Sitia Natural Park. Every year, hundreds of visitors from around the world meet here to practise and compete at their favourite sport, since Kouremenos Bay combines strong favourable winds, with the absence of strong waves and offers ideal conditions for windsurfing. 
Kouremenos beach. Unspoilt by mass tourism, still offers deserted places, idyllic villages and cosy tavernas. What makes this area so attractive is its pristine, authentic atmosphere.

Come to Palekastro in summer and you will find everything your windsurfer’s heart could possibly desire – especially if you have been infected with the surfer virus for some time. East Crete area stands for strong winds.

The meltemi blasts in from the north between the hills, with forces of 7 – 8 no rare occasion in summer. Kouremenos has the position, where the meltemi is at its most reliable and strongest. Around Palekastro, the Meltemi wind increases its power through the local thermal and a funneling effect that gives the ground wind an additional 2 Beaufort. This makes Kouremenos Bay one of the most wind-certain spots in the whole of Europe. This is also why the largest wind farms in Greece are in the surrounding area of Palekastro.The Municipality of Itanos placed some showers along the beach.

The beach here is mostly sandy with a few small pebbles dotted around, there is no need for booties here. The water is super flat but a small wind shadow directly off the beach is good for non-windsurfing spectators! The secluded bay offers a huge space which is frequented exclusively by windsufers.

Kouremenos Bay offers perfect flat-water conditions near the shore, with great bump and jump conditions further out . This location is perfect for slalom and freestylers alike, and great for the progressive intermediates cracking their first gybes or chop hops.

The Area of Palekastro lies approximately 2,5 hours by car from Heraklion airport on the far North Easterly point of Crete. The drive takes you through some stunning scenery along the Northern coast line with the most dramatic views through the winding roads of Eastern Crete. The drive is rewarded by a part of Crete that is devoid of mass tourism, some would say this is the Greece of 20 year ago.

We feel that Crete is an ideal location for intermediate to advanced sailors that like to blast on the very flat water and strong wind conditions. Beginners are also catered for but this is a strong wind spot so learning time can be limited.


Of course, Palekastro has more to offer. If you feel likehaving a day off or there is not enough wind for windsurfing, you don’t need to be worried about being bored. Round-trips in rental cars can also be recommended.



 

Recently the cost of board transporting has been lowered sufficiently. Today it is very easy and cheap for you to have your own board at your holidays resort. This is what we recommend unreservedly. The car rental companies can provide to you a car with roof racks for the transportation of your board in incomparable prices at Iraklio airport.

 

Maridati beach is to the north of Kouremenos gulf and has been known for years for its unique multicolored rock formations. They are multicolored shale and other metamorphosed rocks of the Phyllite-Quartzite unit.