There’s a sense of calm on the rocky hillside that overlooks Crete’s Mononaftis Bay. A lone eagle soars over an electric-blue ocean and there’s not a guest in sight at the main pool of Acro Suites (acrosuites.com). It’s an unexpectedly common occurrence at the adults-only boutique hotel, a 30-minute drive north of the capital Heraklion.

“Guests tend to stay in their rooms all day,” says Danae Orfanaki, the property’s marketing director. Built into the cliff – Acro originates from the ancient Greek word akros, which means “on the edge” – the luxury retreat offers a level of privacy and tranquility not often associated with the Greek Islands and even more rarely found there. Each of the 49 suites and villas has its own saltwater pool and uninterrupted views of the Cretan Sea.

“The hotel is almost hidden,” says managing director Konstantina Orfanaki. Some suites were carved into existing caves, while all include custom furniture made by Greek designers and craftsmen, using locally sourced marble, natural stone and unfinished wood. “The choice of materials helps the hotel blend in with its surroundings and makes you feel connected to nature,” says Orfanaki.

There’s plenty to entice you from your suite, like the in-house spa modelled on a Turkish hammam and the purpose-built yoga-and-fitness bamboo room – where guests can gather to watch vibrant orange-pink sunsets. Soon you’ll also be able to learn pottery from the locals and sample tastings of Cretan wine and olive oil made from the property’s own grove. Fresh produce is used across every corner of the hotel, including restaurant Cremnos, where organic produce is sourced from small local farms. “Our chef is very creative and likes to take old recipes and put a special twist on them,” says Orfanaki. Don’t leave without trying the rolled pasteli, a Cretan favourite made with tubular pasta and feta, or the chef’s reimagined take on pastitsio, using pork cheek and black truffle. Then beat a lazy retreat back to your hideout in the hillside.