If you are looking for a desert island that is also a tropical paradise, you cannot miss the island of Chrissi.
The island of Chrissi is located 15 km south of Ierapetra and can be reached with an hour of navigation among the clearest and clearest Libyan waters, gulls and joyful dolphins, happy to swim in your company.
It is a small island of 4.7 square kilometers completely devoid of hotels and residences (the famous desert island that everyone dreams of). You can enjoy this little paradise on a sunny day. sea and relaxation.
At this point you may be wondering: how many tourists there will be? Needless to hide it: many, but even if the island is small, it is still wide, with many beaches and lots of space: you will not be alone (apart from if you decide to stop for a whole night to pass under the stars) but you will have plenty of space for you and for your relaxation.
The island of Chrissi, also called Chrisi or Gaidouronisi, takes its name from the color of its golden sand, in fact gold in Greek translates as "chrysos", hence the name of the island.
Its sand ranges from white to gold to shades of pink due to the pulverization of the shells (as for the beach of Elafonissi). Behind you will find real forests of very ancient Cedars (over 200 years old). Thanks to the well-maintained ecosystem, this beach is part of the Natura 2000 program.
The cedar forest covers 350 hectares (1/4 of the island of Chrissi). Specifically we speak of a rare species of Cedars of Lebanon with trunks with a diameter of about 1 meter and 10 meters in height.
Walking here and there you will be amazed by the colors of the rocks present, which are what remains from the eruption of an underwater volcano of millions of years ago and from the 49 species of fossils that come out, a sign that Chrissi was an island submerged by the sea around 350,000 years ago.
The sea? A show! Tropical and Caribbean waters with the intense aroma of the Mediterranean scrub all around. A real haven of peace!
Are you wondering if anyone has ever had the idea of building resorts?
The answer is yes! The island of Chrissi is a protected area and thanks to the intervention of the inhabitants of Ierapetra it has always been saved from a possible destruction of the uncontaminated nature that characterizes it. Among the many investors there was also Mr. Agnelli who wanted to build you a luxury resort. From an economic point of view it would certainly have been advantageous, but to ensure that a natural masterpiece like that of Chrissi was not marred by hotels and large resorts, no authorization was given.
How to reach the island of Chrissi?
To reach the island of Chrissi there are two options: bus + ferry or car + ferry.
The first is to buy an organized excursion from any tourist location by bus, arriving in Ierapetra and boarding the ferry.
The second option is for those who have a car and want to manage this day independently. In this case it is necessary to arrive at Ierapetra which is 1.5 hours from Heraklion, 1 hour from Malia / Hersonissos and 45 minutes from Elounda, and after purchasing the ticket, embark. In one hour of navigation you will be in a fabulous tropical paradise.
The departure is scheduled for 11.00 am.
The return is scheduled for 17.00 (some times may be subject to changes based on the summer months).
To purchase the ferry-only ticket there are 3 solutions:
- book it through the website: click here
- book by telephone +30/28420 20008 or +30/28420 89988
- book directly in one of the ticket offices in Ierapetra in the following streets: Kyrva 25, Kyrva 14, Piazza Plastira 1, Michael Kothri 56 and Mich. Kothri 46
How much is the ticket to reach the island of Chrissi?
For children under 2 years the ticket is FREE
For children from 3 to 12 years the ticket costs € 12
Over the age of 13, the ticket costs € 25
Payment can be made either in cash or by credit card.
In addition you will be asked to pay in cash, € 1 per person (only for paying passengers) which corresponds to a "tax" that goes to the city of Ierapetra.
The cost of the ticket does not include food and drinks, which can be purchased separately both during the crossing and at the berth on the island.
What beaches to visit on the island of Chrissi?
The boat docks at the only port on the island of Chrissi, on the south coast at Vougiou Mati Beach right next to it you will find a beach equipped with sun beds and umbrellas, in addition to the only "bar" on the island.
Walking through a small stretch through a forest of Cedars, you can reach the most famous of Chrissi beaches: Belegrina Beach also called Golden Beach with its crystal clear waters, its white sand, the junipers that embrace the beach and its numerous shells they produce pink shades due to their erosion in contact with water. Belegrina Beach, as you may have guessed, is the most crowded.
The sea slopes gently and the beach is equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas.
Continuing west you reach Chatzivolakas Beach, the longest beach on the island of Chrissi, its seabed is mostly rocky and has two large lava rocks, hundreds of junipers seem to protect the beach and is much less frequented by tourists.
Just west of Chatzivolakas Beach is a small church dedicated to Agios Nikolaos, the island's lighthouse and a salt pan. An important detail is the finding of a Minoan settlement dedicated to the trade of purple coming from the shells and used to dye the clothes.
Another beautiful beach at the eastern end of Chrissi is Kataprosopo Beach and is located right in front of the small and unspoiled island of Mikronisi. A paradise and refuge for many species of birds. The waters of Katapròsopo are very shallow and the uneven waters are great for snorkeling!
The island of Chrissi is one of the must-see destinations during your holiday in Crete! Go there and you will be thrilled!