20 secret beaches and 3 canyons in Crete. While returning back, Virgin Mary knocked him down from the scaffolding, as a punishment for his greed. When he realized how big it was and how much beehive honey and wax it could yield, he thought that if he would sell all the honey and wax he would become very wealthy. He then cut huge cypress trees and managed to construct an enormous scaffold and climbed to the top of the rock. So, he promised Panagia (Virgin Mary) to devote all the wax to Her, if she helped him to reach the honey. These years, the wax was more expensive than the honey. A very poor villager thought that if he could reach it he would become rich. The beehive was visible from the village and everyone wanted to get its honey, but could not reach it. According to tradition, the rock shelter once hosted a huge wild beehive. Matala were abandoned for a long time and the Archaeology sealed the area with the caves.Īt its exit at Meskla we meet a huge rock about 40 meters high, atop which there is a rock shelter. Then the “children of the flowers” moved to other regions of Crete (Preveli, Plakias, Lendas, Vai), but most of them moved in Ios island, in Cyclades, and continued their happy life. However, all that stopped abruptly during the Greek dictatorship (‘70s), when the local Church expelled the "shameful" hippies. Matala became so popular with hippies that attracted several celebrities such as Joni Mitchell (sang a song for Matala called “Carey”), Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Joan Baez. Around that time there was absolutely nothing in the area, but a small fishing village for the inhabitants of Pitsidia village, so the sense of freedom was unlimited. The hallmark of the hippies was the two fingers of victory, followed by the slogan «Peace Man». Hippies expressed themselves freely, enjoyed love and creation. 
The famous hippies of the '60s and '70s found their paradise in these caves, when they visited and stayed in Matala. Especially in June, the internationally renowned Matala Festival takes place.
#Secret shrine in ikana canyon full#
In the evenings, the bars on the beach are full with many people, both locals and foreigners. Also, a large part of the beach is covered by tamarisk trees, where you can find shade. Around Matala you will find many options for accommodation, entertainment and eating. The beach is very well organized with umbrellas, toilets, showers, lifeguard, first aids, beach volley courts, snack bars, water sports, excursion boats, etc. Furthermore, there is a huge cave on the north part of the beach, from the top of which some "crazy" people splash in the water. Moreover, the seabed is quite rocky in some places and the waves, due to frequent westerly winds, are very large and amazing. Matala is located at the exit of a small valley, which forms a large enclosed bay with nice view to the islands of Paximadia.The bay is a beautiful long sandy beach, 300m long, with fine gravel and crystal clear deep water.
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