Spot sea turtles on a Crete villa holiday

Loggerhead turtles, or Caretta Caretta, as they are known in the Greek islands, nest in Crete and return to the beach where they were born to lay their eggs.

According to Discover Crete, there are three main nesting places for the creatures on the island - Chania, Rethymno and Messara Bay.

Caretta Caretta have been threatened by developments on and around the beach areas, which is why efforts are underway to preserve their natural habitats.

These include tagging exercises, surveys and nest protection and monitoring to ensure that the species thrives in the waters around Crete.

Holiday makers can rent a villa in the small harbour of Rethymno, which is home to an array of restaurants serving fresh Greek cuisine.

From here, they may be lucky enough to spot turtles swimming in the sea if they book a boat trip.

Parts of the beach may also be sectioned off during the summer nesting season to allow the creatures to lay their eggs in peace.

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