Welcome to Makrigialos Crete
The region of Makry Gialos (Makrigialos) lies on the south east coast of island of Crete, Greece and is the southern most tourist area in Europe. The area faces the Libyan Sea, which separates Crete from North Africa and is approx. 290 km (180 miles) away. The backdrop of the area is mountainous and made up primarily of granite and there are many small valleys and gor
ges leading down to the coast. On the higher slopes there is an abundance of Walnut, Apple, Pear and Olive trees, whilst on the lower slopes the main industry is farming and is predominantly olives trees. Below along the main coastal road, farming can be found primarily in the form of greenhouses which produce tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant and bananas, which grow all year round. The sun and the rich soil give more taste to the fruit and vegetables, and the region has won awards for its produce, including the Gold Medal for the extra virgin olive oil. Going Out,
Friendly and compact, with waterfront restaurants, cafés and bars along a promenade around a small harbour with stunning panorama views across Makrigialos Bay. Go out to any restaurant in the evening and you will find yourself having a great time along with the villagers. If you enjoy good food, you’ll have a great time sampling locally produced fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, and wine. Makrigialos Weather,
The Weather it's influenced by its proximity to north Africa, and sheltered by a mountainous hinterland. Makrigialos claims to be blessed with the best weather in all of Crete and there is no doubt the micro-climate gives it a great advantage over other areas as it also has some of the best unspoiled beaches, deserted coves and bays. If you want to avoid manicured resorts, like company but dislike crowds on holiday, then Makrigialos is the place for you. How To Get Here,
From April until the end of October there are a number of charter airlines flying from most major cities in Europe direct to Heraklion, Crete. Visitors to Crete will be pleased to know that Olympic Airways have now started regular Monday, Wednesday and Saturday flights from Athens to the newly extended airport at Sitia. If you try to reach Makrigialos from Heraklion airport you follow the signs to Agios Nikolaos. As you reaching Agios Nikolaos you follow the sign to Ierapetra. Turn left and drive straight
ahead for about 20 Km. The towns of Ierapetra (25 minutes by car) and Sitia (45 minutes by car) have everything you might need that you have not been able to find in Makrigialos. Taxis can also be booked for the airports at Heraklion (120 km) or Sitia (55 km) for pick-up and returns. Buses Timetable,
Ierapetra - Ferma - Koutsouras - Makrygialos
Monday - Friday
06:15 08:15 09:30 12:30 13:45
14:30 18:30
Saturday
06:15 09:30 12:30 14:30
Sunday
09:30 14:30 18:15
Makrygialos - Koutsouras - Ferma - Ierapetra
Monday - Friday
07:00 10:10 13:15 15:15 18:55
20:00
Saturday
07:00 08:45 13:15 15:10
Sunday
13:15 15:10
Price = 3,00 € | Travel time = about 30 minutes
Ierapetra - Ferma - Makrygialos - Lithines - Sitia
Monday - Friday
06:15 08:15 12:30 14:30
Saturday
09:30 12:30 14:30
Sunday
09:30
Sitia - Makrygialos - Ferma - Ierapetra
Monday - Friday
06:15 12:45 14:30 19:15
Saturday
09:00 12:30 14:30
Sunday
12:30
Price = 6,30 €
Makrigialos Populatios
The population of the area is approximately 4,00o people. Before the introduction of tourism and greenhouses, the life revolved mainly up in the villages, which you can find nestled in the mountains. A lot of them are not visible from the sea, which kept them safe from pirates. Back in the early days the main work for the villagers was farming or tending their flocks on the higher peaks. Makrigialos Life
Today, life revolves around the coast. People have come down from the villages to the coast to live as they can find more work in the towns and resorts. The older generations still live up in the villages along with their history and old stories and latterly foreigners who have bought old houses, using them as holiday homes. Makrigialos Main Industries
The main industries around Makrigialos are tourism, the greenhouses and the harvesting of olive trees. In general you will find the locals friendly, smiling and hospitable. The Cretan dialect spoken in this region is near to ancient Greek. Makrigialos Nature
The ever-changing nature of the land presents beautiful landscapes. Places with pine forest and wild oak trees, granite nuggets and sharp rocks. Places with smooth hillsides and low bush land and orchards, and olive trees. We also must not forget the fragile nature of the area, characterized by the fire of 1993 which destroyed thousands of acres of woodland, olive and pine trees. Makrigialos Beaches
The coastline that runs from Galini to Kalo Nero, is etched with rocky inlets, small coves and long sweeping beaches of sand and pebble. The Bay of Makrigialos boasts the longest shallow sandy beach of East Crete. Other beaches include Diaskari, Langada, Amoudi, Mavros-Kolibos, Galini, Koutsouras; some of them are commercial beaches whilst others are deserted. Between the mountains you can find dried up riverbeds which have streams flowing down to the sea in the winter months. Where to GO and Places to See
The modern villages of Achlia, Mavros Kolibos, Koutsohuras, Makry Gialos, Analispi, Lagada and Kalo Nero are built along the coastal road between Ierapetra and Sitia. With modern apartments, studios and hotels for rent. In the region there are three beautiful gorges for the hiker. Dasaki Gorge better known as Butterfly gorge in Koutsouras, Pefki gorge above the White River Hamlet, and Pervolakia gorge which starts from the monastery of Kapsa and is one of the most impressive gorges of this area. The highest peak is Afendis Stavromenos 1500 metres (4.500 feet) The only possible way to reach the top is to walk or with a 4 X 4 jeep. From the top you can enjoy unforgettable and stunning views of Eastern Crete, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Ierapetra and the surrounding islands of Chrissi and Koufonisi and much more depending on the visibility. On this peak is a small windswept chapel of the Holy Cross. Also there is a large room built for the celebration of the church’s feast day which is on 14th September. During the winter months the peak is often covered with snow. Other places worth exploring are the peaceful, timeless, traditional villages that are tucked away in the mountains away from the coast. Shinokapsala, Orino, Stavrochori, Chrysopigi, Lapithos, Agios Stephanos, Pefki, Lithines, Upper and Lower Pervolakia, with their stone built houses and narrow paved streets, along with ancient stone wash houses. Every village has its own village square with a big plane tree in the middle, as well as decorated churches, although each village is unique. There are many small churches scattered around the hillside on top of peaks, built in caves, by the side of springs and in the most charming of settings. These churches represent the strong Orthodox religion of Greece. Along the coast about 6 km from Makrigialos, is the Monastery Kapsas built on a shear rock face close to the spectacular Perivolakia Gorge. Believed to have been founded in the 15th century it was destroyed by pirates in 1471 and abandoned. In 1841 it was renovated by Yerontoyannis a reformed robber who lived there as a hermit. He built the church and dedicated it to John the Baptist. Inside the chapel Yerontoyannis’s skull can be found. The monastery celebrates its feast day on the 29th August. Around the area there are many archaeological sites, which are not of great importance to the Archaeological Society, although some of the artifacts which have been excavated can be found in the Archaeological Museum in Agios Nikolaos. Makrigialos Climate
The area often experiences strong winds, like most of the Greek Islands. These winds are called the Meltemi. They are strong northern winds, blowing mostly between January, February and July, August. During the summer these winds help to keep the temperatures down and during the winter months they give bright clear sunny days. The area experience’s a long summer period, which lasts seven to eight months. The winter is short and mild. The rainy days are few and far between and the temperature rarely drops below +6 six degrees Celcius. The climate of the area with its sunny days and dryness is ideal for people who suffer with health problems such as asthma, arthritis, and heart problems. The area is a popular destination for people who are looking for quiet holidays and ideal for young families.
