Located in the southeastern part of Crete, Goudouras is a small coastal village that offers visitors a peaceful and undisturbed holiday destination. The village is composed of two settlements, Asprolithos and Goudouras, and takes its name from Cape Goudouras, the ancient Cape Erythrae, near which it is situated. Goudouras is located 37km east of Ierapetra and 73km southeast of Agios Nikolaos, and is surrounded by rugged mountain ranges and impassable canyons. The warm climate of the area is perfect for growing olives and vegetables in greenhouses, which unfortunately, has slightly altered the area’s natural beauty.
The seaside village road extends to a large pebbly beach with clean, cool water that is not very well organized. Though there are some places with umbrellas and taverns nearby, Goudouras is a very quiet destination, even in August. The adjacent Votsalaki beach, to the west, is a beautiful spot to visit. Goudouras can be reached from Ierapetra by taking the road to Makrigialos and then turning towards Goudouras. There are also bus services available from Ierapetra to Goudouras.
The stone church of the Ascension can be found in Goudouras, and from here you can go on a trip to the picturesque village of Agia Triada, 8km north, and explore the wild Cretan countryside and ancient olive groves. Then you can head to Ziros and then to Xerokambos, where you can experience the endless golden beaches.