Sparklingly clear waters and pure soft sand make Elafonissi a beach outside Greece, an exotic coast more likely to find in the Caribbean and not in Crete. The beach is actually a long coast with a tiny islet in front. It has been listed as a special environmental region, and "Life" has initiated two programs in the area. One of them is an observatory for the rare Bearded Vulture, which has a single specimen among only 2 existing pairs that inhabit the region. No hotels or villas spoiling the natural beauty of the place, but I was told that with every passing year, the summer crowd seems to be swelling. Camping is allowed in the area, but thankfully the area is under some government decree on restricted development, and it is protected by an environmental program under the EU.
