Loutra Beach

Loutra (i.e. Baths) is located 3km east of the seaside village Lendas, 77km south of Heraklion. It is known to locals because it hosts the port of Lendas, which is protected by the Cape Trafoulas on the east. Next to the harbor, some coves are formed that have sand and rocky seabed, ideal for snorkeling and fishing. It is quite unorganized and not very busy. However, there are few restaurants and rooms to rent nearby. Before the port of Lendas was built here, Loutra was very popular to naturists. Nowadays, nudists feel less comfortable here.The small beach that is non adjacent to the harbor, west of the main beach, is called “Pasiphae's Baths” or Hammam. This is called so, because according to the legend, this beach was used by the female, headed by the queen Pasiphae, i.e. the wife of Minos, the legendary King of Knossos. On the other hand, Minos and his men were used to go to Trafoulas beach.