Cayo Exclusive Resort and Spa in Crete

Following the terrain

The new five-star Cayo Exclusive Resort & Spa Hotel, set on a 22-acre mountainside in Plaka Elounda, overlooks the island of Spinalonga. Designed with a modern approach that harmoniously blends local tradition and architecture, the resort’s main goal is to evoke the relaxing ambiance of a village.

Context Integration

The plot’s steep slope, along with an innovative architectural design, ensures that all rooms enjoy unobstructed views of the sea and Spinalonga. The hotel is developed in harmony with the land’s topography, consisting of six tiers: the main building divided into volumes across a series of levels, four groups of separate buildings, and a cluster of villas.

Each group comprises smaller building volumes, thoughtfully arranged to facilitate easy pedestrian access to the double overground inclined lift that connects all levels of the hotel. This lift, offering panoramic views, serves as the main access for pedestrian traffic, while club cars provide a complementary, non-intrusive mode of transportation.

Material Selection

The design prioritizes privacy, maximizes the stunning views, and respects the natural surroundings through extensive use of traditional materials. The unique local stone, with its geometrically fragmented rock forming the exterior walls, is balanced by softer interior elements: volcanic black pebbles in the spa, small white pebbles on the main staircase, and green-black pebbles on the lobby bar floor and in the shops. Pergolas crafted from distinctive wicker wood further enhance this harmony. The exterior color palette blends seamlessly with the environment, using gray tones for the pathways and corridors, and a range of olive greens throughout the main building and restaurants.

Hotel Amenities

The hotel has 64 rooms and suites, all including a private heated pool and a large outdoor area with uninterrupted sea views as well as 6 three-room villas with a gym and a pool and, finally, one large villa with a sauna, a pool, a gym, a separate kitchen and a large outdoor area. The hotel also features three restaurants, a spa, a gym and two modern meeting rooms for 160 and 30 people respectively as well as two large, public swimming pools.