Seitan Limania

About

Seitan Limania

Seitan Limania, which translates roughly from Greek as the harbour of demons, is a narrow cove cut into the white limestone cliffs of the Akrotiri peninsula just 20 kilometres from Chania town. The name comes from the treacherous rocks that made it dangerous for old wooden fishing boats, but for swimmers today it is a revelation. The water in the enclosed channel reaches an almost electric shade of cobalt and turquoise that photographs struggle to capture accurately.

Getting there requires a 15 minute descent on a rocky, steep path from the roadside parking area. The path is manageable for most people in good footwear but it is not suitable for small children without being carried, and it requires care especially on the way back up. The cove itself is very narrow with no sandy beach, just smooth flat rocks and a rope to help swimmers enter the water.

The cove is at its most beautiful and least crowded in May, June, and September. In July and August the small path can become congested and the parking area fills completely by 9 am. The water is calm inside the cove, protected by the steep walls on both sides, but the entrance to the open sea can have swell. Swimming in strong winds is not recommended as the chop intensifies inside the channel.

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