Elounda/Elounda Mare
Region of Crete

At a Glance — Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece

About Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece

The Blue Flag programme is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is one of the world's most recognised voluntary eco-labels. Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece holds current Blue Flag certification, meeting the programme's 33 annual criteria for water quality, safety, and environmental management. The beach is managed by AG. NIKOLAOS.

On-site facilities include a beach kiosk and accessible facilities for visitors with disabilities. Entry to Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece is free of charge.

We have received the Blue Flag for the past 10 years running. The sandy beach is about 50m. wide and 30m. deep, and is enclosed in a tiny cove that protects it from the waves. The entrance to the cove is closed off by red buoys, and so is a swimmers-only zone extending about 100m. from the coastline. The beach can be accessed only through the hotel, using tiled pavements and masonry staircases and ramps. The water sports facilities are located on one of the rocky promontories and are secluded from the beach. All manner of water sports are available, including water ski, scuba diving, sailing, wind surfing, and canoes. There are also jet skis, that are carefully regulated by the local port authorities as follows:1. No jet skis are allowing in the afternoon, during the 'siesta hours' (2-5pm.)2.Jet skis are not permitted to plane near the coastline by more than 200m. and are required to maintain idle speed within this zone only for entering and exiting.3. All jet skis have to be equipped by a remote-controlled automatic cut-off system, in case the user violates any of the rules. The hotel is environmentally aware and promotes environmentally friendly practices, despite adverse market conditions.A scheme for recycling office paper failed dismally when we discovered that the recycling contractor did nothing of the kind and actually dumped the paper in a landfill, only to collect the subsidies. The hotel invested 160.000euro in order to build a new wastewater treatment plant of the highest standards. Besides biological treatment (continuous aeration and sludge recycling), we also do multimedia filtration, chlorination, membrane filtration and UV disinfection.Our wastewater treatment plant is visited every year by local schools and the children receive a comprehensive lecture about its operation and the importance of treating wastewater as far as the impact to groundwater and the coast are concerned. In addition, we schedule annual cleaning expeditions with a team of hotel technicians to the local roads, secluded beaches, the Elounda salt marsh, and the chapel of St.Fokas. We inform our staff and guests about our activities and make sure we participate in all the important environmental holidays (Earth Day, World Environment Day, Blue Flag Day, and Clean Up the World Day).

Verify Blue Flag certificate for Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece → · Official beach website →

What Visitors Say About Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece

Best Time to Visit Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece

Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece sees its best conditions in April, May, June. The beach season officially runs from 1 Jul to 31 Oct.

How to Get to Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece

On Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece

The water sports facilities are located on one of the rocky promontories and are secluded from the beach. All manner of water sports are available, including water ski, scuba diving, sailing, wind surfing, and canoes. There are also jet skis, that are carefully regulated by the local port authorities as follows:1. No jet skis are allowing in the afternoon, during the 'siesta hours' (2-5pm.)2.Jet skis are not permitted to plane near the coastline by more than 200m. and are required to maintain idle speed within this zone only for entering and exiting.3. All jet skis have to be equipped by a remote-controlled automatic cut-off system, in case the user violates any of the rules. The hotel is environmentally aware and promotes environmentally friendly practices, despite adverse market conditions.A scheme for recycling office paper failed dismally when we discovered that the recycling contractor did nothing of the kind and actually dumped the paper in a landfill, only to collect the subsidies. The hotel invested 160.000euro in order to build a new wastewater treatment plant of the highest standards. Besides biological treatment (continuous aeration and sludge recycling), we also do multimedia filtration, chlorination, membrane filtration and UV disinfection.Our wastewater treatment plant is visited every year by local schools and the children receive a comprehensive lecture about its operation and the importance of treating wastewater as far as the impact to groundwater and the coast are concerned. In addition, we schedule annual cleaning expeditions with a team of hotel technicians to the local roads, secluded beaches, the Elounda salt marsh, and the chapel of St.Fokas. We inform our staff and guests about our activities and make sure we participate in all the important environmental holidays (Earth Day, World Environment Day, Blue Flag Day, and Clean Up the World Day).

As a Blue Flag certified beach, Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece undergoes regular bathing water quality testing throughout the season. The FEE Blue Flag programme requires that test results are displayed at the beach and that all certified beaches meet the EU Bathing Water Directive (or equivalent national standard).

Practical Information — Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece

Frequently Asked Questions — Elounda/Elounda Mare, Region of Crete, Greece