Koutsouras: Beaches, Stays, Things to do

Koutsouras is a coastal village on the south-east coast of Crete, 20 km east of Ierapetra and 55 km south-east of Agios Nikolaos, in the Lasithi region. The village lies on the main road between Ierapetra and Makrigialos, in a valley of pine trees, greenhouses and olive groves on the southern slopes of Mount Thripti. Its beaches are coarse black sand with calm water, and the main one sits west of the village beside the old settlement, kept tidy and shaded by tamarisk trees.

Sitia (JSH) is the nearest airport; our Makry Gialos page, for the resort 2.3 km east, puts Sitia town 33 km away. Koutsouras is a working village as much as a holiday one, with a police station, a pharmacy, a clinic, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, and it stays quiet despite all of that.

Things to do in and around Koutsouras

Koutsouras has 6 outings within 6 km, listed below from nearest to furthest.

1. Swim off the village beach. The main stretch lies just west of the houses, beside the old settlement, and our page on Koutsouras beaches covers each section of the shore.
2. Walk into the Apiganias pine wood. The Apiganias woods at Koutsouras are thick with pine, and two trails hidden inside them are the only land route down to the easternmost of the Maheridia beaches.
3. Look at the Minoan villa at Plakakia. The Makrigialos Minoan villa stands 1.8 km from Koutsouras, on the way towards Makry Gialos.
4. Spend an afternoon at Makry Gialos. The fishing village and resort 2.3 km east has a small harbour and a sandy beach running about 1 km from it, and Makry Gialos shelves gently enough for young children.
5. Walk the Pefki gorge. The path follows a riverbed 4.5 km from Pefki village down to Aspros Potamos, and the Pefki gorge is the gentlest of the three canyons near Koutsouras.
6. See the waterfalls at Peristerionas. The three falls sit at the lower end of the Orino gorge, which starts 4.1 km from the village.

Beaches near Koutsouras

Koutsouras has 5 beaches within 4 km along this stretch of the Libyan Sea coast. Coarse dark sand and grey pebble are the pattern here, with golden sand only at the Makrigialos end.

• Koutsouras starts 200 m away, coarse black sand and calm water. The main beach lies west of the village next to the old settlement, well kept and shaded by tamarisk trees.
• Kalamokanias lies 2 km away, on the western flank of Katovigli hill above the harbour, at the western edge of Makrigialos. The coarse black sand does not cling to the skin, tamarisk trees give shade, a few taverns and rooms stand behind it, and mostly local people swim here. Its name comes from the migratory stilt bird, a red-legged creature like a miniature stork that frequents the streams here.
• Maheridia sits 2.2 km away, three beaches under high cliffs with clear water. Only the easternmost can be reached from land, by two trails hidden in dense pine wood just east of the Apiganias woods; a short dirt road off the main road ends at a parking area among tall pines with a view over the eastern bay.
• Mavros Kolimbos runs 3.3 km away, also called Agios Panteleimon, 16 km east of Ierapetra. Dark grey pebbles, usually calm water and a rocky seabed in places that suits snorkelling. The beach is unorganised, though tamarisk trees give shade and the small settlement behind it has rooms and eateries.
• Lagoufa opens 3.6 km away, two coves just past the eastern end of Makrigialos main beach. The first has fine golden sand, shallow azure water, and umbrellas, bars, showers and water sports run by the hotel behind it. No beach in Greece is private, so it is open to anyone who walks round the rocky eastern edge of Makrigialos beach.

Gorges behind Koutsouras

Koutsouras has 3 gorges reaching this coast within 6 km, and they demand very different levels of skill.

• Orino begins 4.1 km away, one of the steepest rivers on Crete, rising on the Abelia plateau between the Thripti and Papouri mountains and crossing the square of Orino village before it enters the canyon. Canyoneering gear is needed to follow the riverbed.
• Pefki lies 5 km away, also called the Anegyrous gorge, about 4.5 km long with a 300 m height difference. It starts south of Pefki village and ends at Aspros Potamos, 2 km north of Makrigialos, and its stream carries water from below the 937 m Romanati peak to Analipsi beach.
• Ahlia sits 5.4 km away, the third canyon within easy reach.

Where to eat in Koutsouras

Eating in Koutsouras happens within a few hundred metres of the centre, and a second cluster sits at Makry Gialos a couple of kilometres east.

• M.G. Coffee & Snack stands 100 m from the centre.
• Big Blue Beach Bar sits 200 m away, down on the beach.
• Kaliotzina lies 400 m from the centre.
• Stravodoxari is 500 m away, in the village.
• Tavern Agyrovoli stands 2.3 km away, at Makry Gialos.

Getting to Koutsouras

Koutsouras stands on the main road between Ierapetra and Makrigialos, which runs along the southern shoreline of Crete, so the drive in from Ierapetra is 20 km east along the coast. Public bus services run along this road too.

Sitia (JSH) is the nearest airport. Our Makry Gialos page gives 25 km from that resort to Ierapetra and about 60 km to Agios Nikolaos.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Koutsouras in Crete?

Koutsouras lies on the south-east coast of Crete, 20 km east of Ierapetra and 55 km south-east of Agios Nikolaos, in the Lasithi region on the road to Makrigialos.

Does Koutsouras have a beach?

Koutsouras is bordered by beaches of coarse black sand with calm water. The main one lies west of the village beside the old settlement, and 4 more beaches sit within 4 km.

How far is Koutsouras from Makry Gialos?

Makry Gialos is 2.3 km east of Koutsouras. The resort has a fishing harbour, about 1 km of sandy beach and roughly 1,000 year-round residents, many with roots in the mountain villages inland.

Which airport is nearest to Koutsouras?

Sitia (JSH) is the nearest airport to Koutsouras. Our Makry Gialos page gives 33 km from that resort, 2.3 km east of the village, to Sitia town.

Can you walk a gorge from Koutsouras?

Koutsouras has 3 gorges within 6 km. Pefki is the walkable one, 4.5 km on a clear path with a 300 m descent, while Orino needs canyoneering gear to follow its riverbed past the waterfalls at Peristerionas.