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The Apokoronas region spreads to the east of Chania with its seaside villages enjoying excellent views to the entrance of Souda bay and the Akrotiri peninsula across. It is a very fertile area (olive trees, vines, avocado trees, orange lemon and mandarin trees) with several sandy beaches at Almirida, Kalives and Georgioupolis. Apokoronas is one of the most picturesque areas of the province of Chania with many attractive and authentic villages like Armeni, Nio Chorio, Samonas, Ramni etc.
Kalives is a seaside village, retaining the original character and the local lifestyle. There are several small traditional shops, like butcher, grocer and of course bakeries famous for their excellent cheese and spinach pies (tyropita and spanakopita).
There are several tavernas,by the sea or in the village square, offering fresh cooked traditional food and fresh seafood. There is also a large supermarket, ceramic and jewelry shops and the traditional barrel maker and wine producer that has a well stocked wine shop.
In the central square, the dominating Aghia Paraskevi church is open to locals and visitors, whereas opposite, under the shade of the old plane tree, there are two “kafeneion” (coffee shops) and a couple of restaurants: the perfect spot to enjoy a coffee or a raki and watch the world go by!
Kalives has two excellent sandy beaches, one at each end of the village. The one near our Artemis apartments, is very long and sandy with a beach taverna, that rarely gets crowded: the other one, 1 km away, is at the end of the central village and is hosting the small harbour. Here, another great selection of tavernas by the seafront, offer excellent meals. The White Mountains beyond the village provide a dramatic backdrop that contrasts the sandy beaches and the orange and olive tree filled valleys.
Kalives, without being spoiled by tourism, provides all the necessary amenities for couples and families. Lovely colorful churches, several shops and supermarkets blend-in perfectly with the tourist accommodation that includes from small cottages, to apartment complexes, hotels and luxury villas.
There are wonderful walks in this lush area, including the Diktamos Gorge and several others along countryside paths through orange and lemon groves, by the sides of rivers Xidas and Koiliaris. Extending several kilometers inland it is rich in olive and citrus groves, pasture lands and tiny hamlets rarely visited by tourists. In the spring-time, the fields, groves and tracks are filled in endless varieties of flora including many species which are endemic to Crete. Birdwatchers will find a large number of local as well as migratory birds to see, ranging from tiny warblers to large buzzards, eagles and hawks.
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