Koutsounari is a small sea side village located 6km east of Ierapetra and 43km southeast of Agios Nikolaos, near the picturesque village of
St. John. It is situated in a lush green hill with many olive
groves and pine trees around, just 1km north of the coasts of the
Libyan Sea.
1km south of the village lies the Long
Beach of St. John that has a length of 5km, being one of the longest in
Crete. This wide quiet beach the characteristic wonderful coarse
grayish sand of southern Crete, which in the sea turns to fine
sand.
This is an interesting detail, because although you walk on
the fine sand in the sea, when you get out your feet is clean because
you step on the fine pebbles. In many places there are large
tamarisk trees and its great length makes it seem empty. The beach
is slightly organized in places (near hotels) and all around there are
many hotels, restaurants, mini markets and a well organized camping
site.
If you walk to the east, it is likely that you will find a very few swimmers. A bay, called,
is formed in the eastern part of the Long Beach. Psaropoula has soft
sand and calm waters. It’s located in front of a hotel, thus it is
well organized with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers and water
sports. The sea here is usually calm and appropriate for a mask,
due to the many rocks around.
Just
after Psaropoula, there is a second small cove with a very well
organized beach with umbrellas, showers and water sports. This is
located in front of the hotel Kakkos Bay and is called Villa Despoti.
The name means “Priest’s Villa” in greek and is taken after a building,
owned by a “humble” priest, which is situated between the two beaches.
On the sides of the beach, there are big rocks, from where you can jump
into the sea.
