Triopetra Beach (Crete) - Tips + photos of stunning rocks

Triopetra beach in Crete is one of the most fascinating places on the island for rock formations and colored stones.
No fine sand, but fascinating geological structures, as if giants played with sheets of rocks.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit to Triopetra with tips, map and photos.

Table of Contents

Why visit Triopetra Beach in Crete?

Planning Tips & Map - Triopetra Beach, Crete

A long beach with small pebbles - colored stones?

The 3 rocks of Triopetra - Geology

Triopetra Cave

Stunning roads around

This article contains affiliate links (Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I get a commission at no extra cost to you.

Why visit Triopetra Beach in Crete?

About the name Triopetra

Triopetra is a cape with 3 rocks. Hence the name "Trio + Petra".
It is a fascinating geological structure where it looks like sheets of rocks have been piled up.
This is absolutely fascinating to explore. It is one of my favorite beaches in Crete.

There are beaches on both sides of the cape.

Triopetra beach

You will not find fine sand or perfect swimming conditions on this beach.
But it sure deserves a stop. It is a great place to explore both for adults and kids.

Which one is Triopetra beach?

As you read about Triopetra, you might get confused with very different descriptions of beaches.
This is because both sides of the cape are called Triopetra and their beaches offer very different features:

On the South-East side, you can first find the small Triopetra beach (or Koumado) with sand and rocks, small and protected bay with tavern and sunbeds
East of the small one is a Triopetra beach with sand and rocks, tavern and sunbeds as well
West of the 3 rocks is a 1km long beach with small pebbles: also called Triopetra (or Chatzi) - This is the one where you easily access the rock formations and this is the one I am focusing on in this article.

More photos after the planning tips.

Planning Tips & Map - Triopetra Beach, Crete

Where is Triopetra Beach - Map & Location

Located on the South Coast of Crete, off the beaten path
Between Plakias and Matala
The nearest largest village is Akoumia
Plakias to Triopetra = 1h drive
Matala to Triopetra = 1h10 drive
Rethymno to Triopetra = 1h drive
Below is a map to help you locate the beach in Crete:

Map - Triopetra beach in Crete - location

This highlight is included (with GPS coordinates and practical tips) in my Travel Guide eBook that helps you easily plan your road trip around Crete:

Be overwhelmed by the beauty, not the planning!

5 easy-to-plan Maps
60+ scenic locations - pre-selected
16+ extra photo stops and places
Planning info to make the most of your time
GPS coordinates for peace of mind
150+ original photos to help you choose

LEARN MORE

How to get to Triopetra Beach Location - Map

This beach is "hidden" and difficult to access without a car.
There is no bus going there, only to Akoumia.
A little out of the way, you drive down the mountain from the main road.
See my tips for driving in Crete

Need to rent a car in Crete?
My tips:

Option 1 - Check out the local company Rental Center Crete - excellent ratings and a zero-excess insurance policy included (which I really like)
Option 2 - Compare offers on Discovercars.com - one of the best customer-rated comparison sites! And consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind!
Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

Visit Tips

The West Triopetra beach is 1km long with only a few sunbeds and 1 tavern by the beach - Most of the beach remains wild
The rocks are at one end of the beach, you have to walk a couple of minutes on the small pebbles to reach them
Limited facilities
Tavern on the beach
Limited accommodations - Check out the options

Where to stay in Crete?
My tips:

For a charming town with lots of activities - See best rated accommodations in Chania
For a sandy beach and some nightlife - See best rated options in Malia or in Bali
For a mix of history, beach and central location - See best rated options in Rethymno
For the main city - See best rated options in Heraklion
For stunning scenery, away from the large crowds - See best rated options in Palaiochora
For a very quiet area - see best rated options in Mochlos

More tips on my article about where to stay in Crete

A long beach with small pebbles - colored stones?

Before I share more pictures of the stunning geological rock formations, below are a few shots of the beach itself.
As you can see, it is long and wide so it never feels crowded!

It is surrounded by beautiful mountains. So the drive to get there is very scenic. I am sharing pictures from the roads at the end of the article.

You can only find a few sunbeds and a tavern at the West end of the beach. It is a rather quiet environment.
The space is great if you have kids, but be aware that the beach is facing partially West, so there are big waves, often.

Triopetra Beach with small pebbles sunbeds

The floor is coarse, a mix of sand and small rocks, as you can see in the picture below.
You can find colored stones in the mix but rarely like some pictures of only colored stones.
In any case, don't take any of the rocks. They are essential to the beach. Remember: "Take only memories, leave only footprints" - Chief Seattle.

At the other end, opposite to the rock formations, the River Akoumianos flows and separates Triopetra from Agios Pavlos.

The 3 rocks of Triopetra - Geology

So what makes the area so special?
I really love the geological formations at the end of the beach. They are quite fascinating.
They look as if a giant played with sheets of rocks and made some stacks with them.

In this area, the plane (parallel) beds of sedimentation have been exposed by weathering. You can see the evolution and different types of rocks. Fascinating!

Sadly, I have not been able to find information about the geology of this particular area.
But I will keep searching!

Climbing on the rocks

If you arrive from the long Triopetra beach, you can easily climb around the rocks to have a look closer.
You will discover that there are actually more than the 3 rocks. The entire cape is similar.
It feels like exploring a mini-canyon with the sound of the waves in the background.

You can see pieces that have fallen showing different aspects of the rocks. Have a look at those pictures! I love such geological formations 🙂

And from the level of the rocks, you get a nice view of the long beach and the mountains:

Triopetra Cave

Right next to the 3 rocks is an area where the sedimentary bedding has been revealed but has not collapsed. So everything is well aligned and you have a wall of rock sheets.
See on the picture below the size of the people sitting next to the structure.