Private Trip: A Roaring Good Time from Rethymno to Dinosauria Park & the Wonderful Cretaquarium

If you’re around Rethymno and thinking, “Hmm, how can I spend a day that’s both wild and educational?” a private jaunt to Dinosauria Park and the Cretaquarium could just be what you need. Actually, very few things compare to getting up close with prehistoric giants and some fairly stunning marine life all in the same breath, really. We took the trip recently and I wanted to share the ups, downs, and the ‘did you see that?!’ moments. So, settle in; this is what our day looked like.

Why Go Private, Anyway? Is It Really Worth It?

Listen, tours can be, umm, tricky. Waiting for others, the crowded bus, that feeling of being herded… yeah, you know the vibe. This private gig, though, felt like a breath of incredibly fresh air. We picked a private tour, so to speak, basically because we wanted total control. Is that selfish? Perhaps. But let me tell you, it paid off.

You see, with our own vehicle and driver, the day became ours and ours alone. No rushing, no waiting, just pure vacation bliss, alright. Turns out that meant more time gazing at dinosaurs (which my little one adored, I might add) and lingering a little longer by that awesome shark tank at the aquarium. The real kicker? Totally customizing our schedule. We could even squeeze in a quick stop for a yummy gelato; try doing that on a big bus tour!

It also gave us a bit more flexibility. You see, my youngest is not what I would call an experienced traveller and can need to be persuaded to visit tourist locations, so a private trip meant they had the option to do something else if they weren’t having fun. The freedom was excellent.

First Stop: Dinosauria Park – Stomp, Chomp, and Rawr!

Dinosauria Park is like stepping into a totally bonkers time machine. What’s there is a collection of pretty lifelike (and sometimes quite scary) animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar and generally create quite a scene. Yeah, and while some might find it a bit kitschy, it’s just perfect for younger kids (and, frankly, the young at heart). They have got dinosaur models and fossils too, which is really cool.

The park isn’t huge, admittedly, so it probably won’t fill a whole day, that is unless your kid is truly obsessed. In fact, a few hours will probably be enough to explore all the models and exhibits. Yet, you will find that they also had a playground area, which my kids liked just a little too much, plus a small museum-like section with dinosaur skeletons. Actually, seeing a T-Rex skeleton looming over you? Still, quite impressive. Even as an adult.

Here’s a tip, if I may: Arrive kinda early! As a matter of fact, getting there before the crowds descend is always a smart plan, alright. That’s exactly how you beat the heat and the lines, and get a better look at those dino giants.

Dinosauria Park might not be the greatest dinosaur attraction going, as such, if it isn’t the closest place to where you are it may be better to give it a miss. Having said that, though, it does provide pretty good entertainment if you do choose to go.

Next Up: Cretaquarium – Under the Cretan Sea

After all that prehistoric fun, it was time to trade dinosaurs for something more… fishy, sort of. So we headed to Cretaquarium, one of the bigger aquariums in Greece. Now, this place is seriously impressive. You will find that it’s not just about looking at fish; what they’re doing is showcasing the whole amazing marine ecosystem of the Mediterranean.

The tanks were, as you might expect, enormous, and the variety of sea creatures was kind of mind-blowing. Actually, the kids were mesmerized by the sharks, the rays, and the crazy number of colorful fish. And you can observe a bunch of helpful information plaques (in several languages) by each tank, to help people properly understand what they’re looking at.

Honestly, this is just the place to visit for those who love sea life or maybe those just trying to get out of the heat for a while (the aquarium is beautifully air-conditioned, thank goodness!). Actually, we spent a good three hours here, wandering around and soaking it all in. Seriously great place, if you have the time.

Food, Glorious Food: Lunchtime Adventures

Lunch can sometimes be the forgotten thing on holiday, but let me say, we made it an adventure. This trip meant we weren’t confined to the usual tourist traps around the attractions. That is because our driver knew some excellent local spots. That gave us the ability to discover some genuinely delicious, reasonably priced grub. Pretty lucky for us, right.

We ended up at a place he suggested, it was a little family-run taverna not too far from the aquarium, you know? The food was authentic Cretan, the service was really nice, and it really did make such a change from those bog-standard tourist eateries. And all in all, it was the best gyros I had during our whole trip, very good indeed!

The Little Things That Made A Big Difference

Actually, the success of any family trip tends to reside in the details, isn’t it so? So, here’s a few things we particularly appreciated about opting for the private tour setup:

Stress-Free Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle, comfortable seats, and someone else battling the Cretan roads? Sign me up again, please.
Personalized Experience: Doing what we wanted, when we wanted, turned out to be a serious game-changer.
Local Insights: The tips from our driver (on everything from the best gelato to avoid the tourist traps) was pretty brilliant, honestly.

Is It Worth the Extra Dough? (Money Talk)

Yes, obviously a private trip isn’t going to be the cheapest option. Is that a problem for you? Potentially, of course. Actually, when you start to tot up the benefits – the ease, the customization, the simple joy of avoiding the crowds – you might well find it offers respectable value, generally. It certainly added to our holiday, right. Now, if you’re on a tight budget, this might well be a luxury you have to skip.

Tips For Booking Your Own Trip

So you’re considering your own adventure to Dinosauria Park and Cretaquarium? Allow me to offer a couple of thoughts.

Book in Advance: Seriously, especially during the summer. The better tour companies tend to get booked up, and the more prepared you are the more excited you can be!
Read the Small Print: Actually, make sure you know what’s included in the price. And make sure what your cancellation policy looks like.
Ask Questions: What you need to do is quiz the tour operator before you commit. Ask about the vehicle, the driver’s experience, and how flexible they can be on the day.

Those little things can really make or break the enjoyment levels, you will find.

Our journey from Rethymno to Dinosauria Park and the Cretaquarium as a private tour turned out to be absolutely excellent, quite honestly. More than that, it showed the appeal of personalized travel; actually being able to set our itinerary to do the things we wanted to do really took our enjoyment to new heights. Dinosauria Park is excellent for the little ones and the Cretaquarium offers something for everyone to get hooked on, even the older folks like us parents! If you think that you could benefit from this service, do it!

Safe travels!