The Prefecture of Rethymno lies between the White Mountains and Mt Psiloritis or Ida.The Prefecture has an area of 1,496 square kilometres and a population of approximately 63,000. The Prefecture has excellent beaches and famous resort centres, such as Petres, Stavromenos and Bali. Along the southern coast, at Plakias, Ayia Galini and elsewhere, are some of the best beaches in western Crete and comfortable resort centres are now coming into existence as new and modern tourist units spring up almost daily. Despite this, the Prefecture is in many ways one of the most traditional parts of the island and increasing tourism has not encroached upon the agricultural and stockbreeding occupations of the inhabitants. Communications between the Prefecture and the rest of Greece consist of a daily ferry sailing to Pireus.There are also buses to Suda, where large car ferries serve the Chania-Pireus line. From Chania airport at Akrotiri, Olympic Airways buses connect to Rethymno. In the summer, there are launch departures for Santorini. Inside the Prefecture, KTEL buses link the town with the villages and beaches. In the summer, there is a caique service from Ayia Galini to Matala in the Prefecture of Herakleio.