Kalo Nero beach

Kalo Nero is a small village located near Kapsa Monastery, situated 68km south of Agios Nikolaos and 33km east of Ierapetra, in one of the most rugged areas of eastern Crete. The village is home to the church of Panagia, which was built on the remains of an older chapel owned by Kapsa Monastery in 1461. The area is known for its plentiful fresh water springs, earning it the name Kalo Nero (Good Water), which is strange for such an arid region. There are three remote beaches in the area that provide the perfect place for a peaceful swim away from the crowds. Koutsounari is the first beach on the west side and is reached by a short trail. It has pebbles and crystal clear waters, while the bottom has large rocks in some places. The main beach of the village, Staousa, is located east of Koutsounari and is separated by a few rocks. It boasts fine pebbles and turquoise waters, while its most striking feature is the large cave on the east, which is unfortunately close to collapse. To the east of Staousa is Anaskelou, which is mainly used as a harbor for the locals’ boats and is well-protected from southwesterly winds. The area is also home to the small settlement of Lygidi at the cape of the homonymous name, along with a few small olive groves. There is also a small rocky beach called Mikro Limanaki (Little Harbour) located 150m west of Kalo Nero. To reach the area, visitors can take the road leading from Makrigialos to Goudouras, or the bus running to Goudouras from Ierapetra, but it is important to check the hours first.