Gerakas Beach Milos — The Complete Guide (2026)
Most beaches in Milos get their colour from white limestone or black volcanic rock. Gerakas is different. The pebbles here are amber, orange and deep red — the result of iron-rich volcanic mineral deposits that exist nowhere else on the island in quite this concentration. When the morning sun hits the beach directly, the colours are almost unreal.
Gerakas sits on the southern coast of Milos, tucked into a small sheltered cove between Firiplaka to the west and Kleftiko to the southwest. There is no road to it. There is no path down the cliffs. The only way in is from the sea — and that is precisely why it still looks the way it does.
What Makes Gerakas Special
The colour. No other beach on the south coast of Milos has this combination of amber, orange and red pebble. It is immediately distinctive and unlike anything else in the Cyclades. The colour comes from the volcanic minerals — particularly iron oxides — in the rock that has been broken down by centuries of wave action.
The shelter. The cove at Gerakas is almost completely enclosed. The cliffs on either side wrap around the beach and block wind from every direction except directly south. Even on days with a strong meltemi blowing across the island, Gerakas is often perfectly calm.
The water. The combination of a sheltered cove, no run-off from roads or development, and a clean sandy bottom gives Gerakas some of the clearest water on the south coast. Visibility is excellent — the amber pebbles are visible at 3–4 metres depth, which creates an extraordinary underwater colour effect.
The quiet. Because Gerakas has no road access, it receives almost no visitors compared to nearby beaches like Firiplaka. On most days in summer, you will share it with at most a handful of other boats. In early morning or late afternoon it is often completely empty.
How to Get to Gerakas
There is no road to Gerakas. No path. No steps cut into the cliff. The only access is by sea.
Option 1 — Milos boat rental Our full-day milos boat rental from Agia Kyriaki Beach puts Gerakas around 20–25 minutes away heading east. It fits naturally into the full south coast route — Tsigrado and Firiplaka first heading east, then Gerakas as a lunch stop, then continuing west to Kleftiko and Sykia. A perfect full-day circuit with no doubling back.
No licence required for our 50hp Poseidon Blue Water 170. Up to 6 people.
Option 2 — Milos cruises All our south coast milos cruises pass Gerakas. We include a swimming stop here on full-day routes — it is typically where we anchor for lunch, as the shelter and beauty make it the perfect midday anchorage. Ask about our 8-hour cruises covering the full south coast.
Option 3 — Milos boat tours Our guided milos boat tours along the south coast include Gerakas as a standard stop. An experienced skipper handles the navigation and will anchor you in the best spot in the cove.
What to Do at Gerakas
Swimming. The cove is calm and well-sheltered, making it ideal for swimmers of all levels. The water is clear and the bottom transitions smoothly from shallow pebble to deeper sandy areas. Children are comfortable here even in the middle of summer when other south coast beaches have chop.
Snorkelling. The base of the cliffs on both sides of the cove has interesting rock formations, patches of posidonia seagrass and small fish. The amber pebble bottom underwater creates a striking visual effect. Bring your own gear — there is nothing to hire at Gerakas.
Lunch at anchor. Gerakas is the best lunch anchorage on the south coast. The combination of shelter, beauty and quiet makes it ideal for a long slow lunch on the boat deck. We recommend arriving by 12:00–12:30pm, anchoring, swimming for 30 minutes, then eating on board before continuing west to Kleftiko.
Photography. The morning light on the amber pebbles is extraordinary. The combination of the coloured rock, the turquoise water and the pale cliff walls creates a composition that photographs unlike any other beach in the Cyclades. Best light is before 11am when the sun is still low and hits the beach directly.
Best Time to Visit Gerakas
Morning (before 11am) is the ideal time to visit for photography and swimming. The light is perfect, the beach is empty and the water is at its calmest.
Midday is the best time for lunch at anchor — the shelter means the cove remains calm while other parts of the south coast may be choppy in the afternoon meltemi.
Afternoon is quieter than most south coast beaches at the same time of day, since Gerakas has no overland visitors. You may well have the cove to yourself after 3pm.
Avoid rough south swell — Gerakas is sheltered from the north and west but open to the south. On days with large south swell (rare in summer but possible), the cove loses its shelter and the anchorage becomes uncomfortable.
Gerakas as Part of a Larger Route
Gerakas works best as part of the full south coast route rather than a standalone destination:
Full south coast (full day — 7 to 8 hours): Agia Kyriaki → Tsigrado → Firiplaka → Gerakas (lunch stop) → Kleftiko → Sykia → return
This is the route we recommend for our full-day milos boat rental guests and our 8-hour south coast milos cruises. Gerakas sits naturally in the middle of the route as the midday anchorage — you arrive relaxed, swim, eat, and continue to Kleftiko refreshed.
Shorter east coast route (half day — 4 to 5 hours): Agia Kyriaki → Tsigrado → Firiplaka → Gerakas → return
A calmer, less dramatic alternative to the Kleftiko route. Better suited to families with very young children or those who want a quieter day without the distance to the western tip of the island.
What to Bring
No facilities exist at Gerakas — bring everything you need:
- Food for lunch — this is the ideal lunch anchorage on the south coast
- Extra water beyond what we provide in the cooler
- Snorkelling gear — the rock formations at the base of the cliffs reward a look
- Sunscreen — reef-safe preferred
- Waterproof camera or case — the amber pebble colour underwater is worth photographing
- A windproof layer for the return journey in the afternoon
If you rent a boat with us, we provide a cooler with ice, drinking water, soft drinks and a sunshade. Bring food and anything else on top.
Book Your Trip to Gerakas
Call or WhatsApp us on +30 698 79 30 867 or email poseidonmilosboats@hotmail.com.
We depart daily from Agia Kyriaki Beach and Adamas. Gerakas is included on all our full south coast routes. Book in advance in July and August.