Nestled between Tsigounas and Platia Peramata lies Agios Onoufrios, a secluded beach with a shoreline of black pebbles, typical of the southern region of Crete. The beach takes its name from the church of Saint Onuphrius, which is located in a rock shelter, and is thought to have been a monastery in the Middle Ages. Evidence of its past can still be seen in the ruined buildings and traces of cultivation.
Access to the beach is limited, with the only way in being via a greenhouse at the western end. Here, a small stream with large rocks provides a descent to the beach. The beach is filled with large boulders and the bottom is suitable for fishing. Reeds also indicate the presence of fresh water.
Given its difficult accessibility and distance from towns and cities, Agios Onoufrios is the perfect spot for a peaceful, isolated retreat. To experience the full beauty of the beach, one should consider swimming behind the cliff at the eastern end, where a stunning cave with a small beach can be found. If that isn’t enough, a dirt road leads to the small, beautiful beach of Alatsoharakas to the east.
