JP Cruises offers brand-new 2025 model boats, fully equipped for a safe, comfortable, and unforgettable experience on the sea.
A small hidden beach with clear blue water and coarse sand. It’s a favorite swimming spot for locals but not well known because you can’t see it from the road. It’s in the village of Koutsouras. The sea here is almost always calm. Around the beach, there are rocks with natural clay that you can use on your skin.
A small holiday village near Makry Gialos in south Crete. It has a pretty beach with coarse sand and clean blue water. The beach, also called Galini, has umbrellas and trees that give shade. The sea is calm most of the time because the bay is protected from the wind. It’s great for families and people who want a quiet place to relax.
This village is named after a small church nearby. The beach has many trees and beautiful rocks shaped by the sea and wind. It has small gray pebbles and very clear, calm water. It’s well organized with tavernas, hotels, and a beach bar. In summer, there are beach volleyball games. At one end of the beach, there is a spring with fresh water. Behind the other end, there is a small quiet beach.
Ammoudi is near the Kapsa Monastery, 29 km east of Ierapetra. The beach has fine golden sand and shallow, calm water. There is no natural shade. It’s also called Dragon’s Cave, after a nearby taverna. There’s a beach bar and sunbeds. West of here, there are two more small bays. One is called “Sphoungaras’ Grave” and has high rocks for shade and white clay rocks. The second bay is at the cape of Psallidia and is reached by a dirt road. These bays have small pebbles and some rocks, but no sand.
Atherina is 34 km east of Ierapetra, near the village of Goudouras. It’s a small beach hidden between rocks that look like a little canyon. There’s a flat rocky area around the beach. The beach has pebbles and very blue, clean water. You can find shade next to the rocks. Nearby, there are salt flats, and you can collect sea salt from the rocks if you bring a spoon. There are also some other small beaches around.
Kalo Nero is a small village near the Kapsa Monastery, 33 km east of Ierapetra. It’s in a wild and quiet area. There are three small beaches here that are great for swimming away from the crowds.
The first beach to the west is called Koutsounari (not the same as the beach near Agios Ioannis). It’s a quiet beach with pebbles and very clean water. In some places, there are big stones in the sea. The name “Koutsounari” means “water flow” in the Cretan dialect, because a stream ends here. The stream comes from a small gorge nearby.
This is the third beach, to the east of Staousa. It’s used as a small port for local fishing boats because it’s protected from the wind. It has fine pebbles and some small rocks in the sea. It’s not busy, and the wild mountains with caves around it make the place look special. The colorful sea and the little boats make it very peaceful.
The next beach is the main one in the area. It’s called Staousa and is separated from Koutsounari by a few rocks. It’s a beautiful beach with fine pebbles and blue-green water. There’s a big cave with fresh water dripping from one of its walls.
Koufonisi (also called Lefki) is a small island in the South Cretan Sea, located 3.5 miles south of Cape Goudouras and 10 miles southeast of MakryGialos. The island is about 6 km long, 5.5 km wide, and has an area of 5.25 km². It is the largest of a group of five islands: Koufonisi, Makroulo, Strongylo, Trachilas, and Marmara.
In Xerokambos, the wild, rocky landscape contrasts beautifully with the calm sea and the stunning blue beaches. In just a small area, you can find all kinds of beaches: rocky shores, flat stones, coarse pebbles, fine pebbles, golden sand, white sand, and crystal-clear waters. There is even soft natural clay in some places — perfect for a natural spa experience!
In the small village of Xerokambos, you will find most of the area’s rooms to rent and tavernas. The beach in front of the village, called Vourlia, is quite organized, with some visitor facilities.
Right next to it is a beach called Karavopetra, and nearby there is a large fenced area with sand lilies growing naturally. From there, the coastline becomes rockier and stretches northeast all the way to the salt flat (Alatsolimni).
This text focuses on the beaches of Ampelos, which are located in front of the old village of Xerokambos. In the wider area, you’ll also find other beautiful beaches like the Main Beach of Xerokambos, and the beaches of Alona, Alatsolimni, and Amatos.
Just next to the village, on the hill of Pharmakokephalo, are the ruins of the Hellenistic city of Ampelos and the small, picturesque church of Saint Nicholas. Near the church, at the base of Cape Trachilos, begin the beaches of Ampelos — a series of small coves one after another.
The first beach is called Gerontolakkos (or AgiosNikolaos). The name “Gerontolakkos” means “Sacred Hollow” (not “Old Man’s Pit”) and probably comes from a temple that once stood in the ancient city. Next to Gerontolakkos is the unique Argilos Beach, named after its clay soil, which is perfect for a natural spa treatment. A little further to the east lies the beautiful Ampelos (or Chiona) Beach.
The name “Lefki” (meaning “white”) comes from the bright color of the limestone and soft rocks. The name “Koufonisi” is said to come from the many caves and holes (called "koufes" in Greek) that were shaped by the sea and rain. Today, no one lives on the island, but it is full of ruins that show people lived and worked there from the early Minoan times up to the later Byzantine years. Locals often call it the “Delos of Crete” because of the important ancient sites found there.
The island has many beautiful sandy beaches. Most of it is covered in fine sand and looks like a desert. Visitors can enjoy the white rocks, the clear blue sea, and the peace of nature. The views change often — from steep rocky shores to caves in the soft white-yellow rocks, and to rolling sand dunes.
On the north side of the island, there is a small, charming church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the protector of sailors.
TheAncientHistoryofLefki
Koufonisi was an important economic and cultural center from Minoan to Greco-Roman times. It supported the big cities of the region and was known for sponge fishing and the production of purple dye made from the sea snail Murex brandaris.
On the northwest side of the island, near Anemertia beach (across from the small islet Marmaro), archaeologists discovered a very well-preserved stone theater. During the early Byzantine period, the island became a quiet place for monks. These monks carved images of saints and Latin writings in caves on the west coast. One inscription even shows the year 1638.
In recent years, the natural beauty and rich history of the island have been studied and appreciated more. Koufonisi is now seen as a special treasure that should be respected and protected by everyone who visits.
