You wouldn’t know Spilies Crete was there unless someone tipped you off about it. It’s less than a mile (0.8 km) from another spectacular hidden Crete beach, Geropotamos, on the Heraklion to Rethymno and Chania highway.

Spilies or “Tou Maliou to Riaki” (i.e. Maliou stream) is located 15km east of Rethymnon city, in a quiet area, just a few kilometers east of Skaleta and west of Geropotamos. It is quite unknown to most visitors, though it is very close to the highway that connects Heraklion and Rethymno. It is formed in a small rocky bay with a pebbly beach and crystal clear deep waters, protected by vertical cliffs. Characteristic of the cove are the beautiful cavernous rocks that protect the small beach on the west. Beyond the west and the east end of the beach, there are several sea caves and rocks with amazing formations. A part of the east caves collapsed in winter 2011-12. These caves are very important for species such as the endangered Mediterranean monk seal. A great idea is to explore the rocky shores east of the beach and walk to the amazing natural rocky arch of Geropotamos.