Why Stay?
On the northeastern coast of Crete, with the island of Spinalonga shimmering just offshore, Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa is Elounda's most elegant design hotel.
Its terraced architecture steps down the mountainside in harmony with the landscape, and all 116 rooms and suites come with private pools and sea views, many looking directly across to Spinalonga – a UNESCO World Heritage nominee with a fascinating history stretching from Minoan times through to Venetian and Ottoman rule. The charming village of Plaka is just 250 metres away, where traditional kaiki boats depart daily for the island.
There's no shortage of ways to fill your days. On land, over 100 hiking, cycling and climbing routes fan out across the surrounding landscape. Watersports range from wakeboarding and jet skiing to scuba diving in some of the eastern Mediterranean's clearest seas. The resort's own spot on Plaka's pebble beach – a short shuttle ride away – offers a more relaxed alternative, while three infinity pools and a children's play area ensure there's something for everyone. Dining across five venues – guided by Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou – ranges from gourmet Greek cuisine at Kelari to authentic Cretan meze at the seafront Stone Beach by Cayo taverna. And the Armonia Spa – with its indoor pool, sauna and hammam – and an open-air amphitheatre for captivating performances beneath the starlit Cretan sky round things off beautifully.
