Last summer, my wife and I escaped to Mykonos, hoping for a week of sun, quiet, and the kind of freedom that only the Greek islands seem to offer. The moment we stepped off the ferry, the warm wind carrying the scent of salt and rosemary made us feel as if we had crossed into another world.

We spent our days wandering through the narrow whitewashed alleys of Mykonos Town, stopping for chilled coffee frappés, laughing at how easily we got lost, and discovering small terraces overlooking the sea.

One afternoon, after hearing a local mention a hidden beach on the southern side of the island, we decided to go explore. The path down the cliffs was steep and almost deserted, and the sound of the waves echoed before we could even see the shore.