Triopetra

Triopetra takes its name from three tall rocks rising from the water at the eastern end of the shore, and the beaches run either side of them: Big Triopetra, a long stretch of coarse sand and pebble, and Small Triopetra beyond the headland, more sheltered and shallower. The area is barely developed, a scattering of tavernas and rooms along a dirt and asphalt approach, which keeps it quiet even in August compared with the north coast. The sea is open to the Libyan Sea, so the water is clear and cool and the afternoons can be breezy. Sunsets here face west along the coast, and the hills behind are terraced with olives. Agios Pavlos, with its sand dunes, lies a short drive east.

What you actually see

• The three rocks - the sea stacks that name the beach.
• The long shore - kilometres of coarse sand and pebble, largely empty.
• The olive terraces - the farmed hills rising directly behind.
• The sunsets - open western views along the Libyan coast.

When to go

May, June, September and October for warm water and space; even August stays manageable here. Afternoon wind is common, and the sea can get rough on exposed days.

Honest expectations

Facilities are minimal and spread out, with no organised beach services on much of the shore. The approach roads are narrow and partly unsurfaced. There is little shade, so bring an umbrella.

Nearby

Agios Pavlos and its dunes lie east; Plakias and the Kourtaliotiko gorge are further along the coast.