The Cave of Pelekita is one of the largest caves in Eastern Crete, with a maximum length of 310 meters. Its large size, rich stalactite and stalagmite decorations, and spectacular boulders make this cave unique on the island. It is located at an elevation of 100 meters, at the foot of Traostalos, well hidden within the bare rocks of Zakros' rugged landscape. The entrance to the cave is located 5 kilometers northeast of Kato Zakros, in the Pelekita or Sykia area. To reach the cave, one needs either an hour's walk from Kato Zakros or a quarter of an hour if approached from the sea, along the E4 Zakros-Karoumes trail. The cave is also called "the Cave of Sykia" because there is an old fig tree at its entrance. However, its most well-known name, Cave of Pelekita, comes from the hewn stones that the nearby quarry, close to the cave towards the sea, produced. The stones from the quarry were used to construct the Minoan palace of Zakros.
The Cave of Pelekita has enormous halls, with towering columns, slippery boulders, stalagmites, stalactites, and steep slopes that give the impression of an amphitheater. Its entrance is impressive, and access is through a chamber with a steep downward slope. At the end of it, there is a small lake with water. The total length of the cave is 310 meters in a straight line, and its area is 4.5 acres. Today's inhabitants are bats and a few cave-dwelling insects. Traces of habitation from the Neolithic era have been found here.
Terrestrial Archaeological Site.
Type of protection by the Ministry of Culture: Automatically protected. Responsible Service: Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology and Speleology.
Protection Status Government Gazette: 498/AAP/2009-10-02
The geosite description is a result of the research project Joint Innovative Activities for Outdoor Tourism-JoinOut. The project entitled "Partnership of Innovative Rural Tourism Actions" and distinctive title: "JoInOuT", is implemented within the framework of the Action "Cooperative Innovation Formations/SCC" - 2nd Call: Businesses" and is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by National Resources in the context of the Operational Program "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EPANEK)" of the NSRF 2014-2020" (Project code: ΓΓ2CL-0359457).
