Koufonisi... The island of Porphyra
Koufonisi Sitia Lasithi
Koufonisi (Lefki) or otherwise the island of Porphyra, is located 3 nautical miles from Cape Goudoura of the Municipality of Sitia. It was an economic and cultural center during the Minoan and Greco-Roman eras and was an ideal area for purple and sponge fishing. On the island there is an impressive ancient theater and many archaeological finds. Koufonisi with its white sand covering most of the island, the 36 enchanting beaches with cool emerald waters that invite you to swim, the various caves and the pristine landscape, will fascinate you!
You can contact us and plan a day cruise to Koufonisi Lasithiou with Madalena Cruises, to discover the wild beauty and incredible beaches of the most south-eastern tip of Crete! An experience you will never forget!
Koufonisi - Natura 2000 area
The entire island has been designated a Natura 2000 protected area and access is not allowed to all beaches. For all the inaccessible beaches, it is only possible to observe them on board.
Accessible Beaches in Koufonisi
The accessible beaches that you can enjoy on the Koufonisi private day cruise are: Pigadi, Chiliaderfia, Greos, Prosfora and Korakia.
Pigadia Beach
Not far from the sea, on the north coast of Koufonisi, we find the Church of Agios Nikolaos, the patron saint of sailors. A few pebble and sand beaches form here. The path to Agios Nikolaos starts from a small beach used for mooring boats. Next to this beach there is a small well for pumping water and a small stone-built watchtower.
Chiliaderfia Beach
At the Southwest end of the island of Lefki, at the base of Cape Trachili, the magical sandy bay of Chiliaderfia is formed with the characteristic white color of the rocks of the area that gave the island the name Lefki in ancient times. Chiliaderfia has a spring of fresh water on its western side, while ending in a steep, sharp cliff of 100m. above sea level. Chiliaderfia is the name of the steep cliff where various birds of prey frequent or nest.
Greos Beach
At the tip of the easternmost cape of Koufonisi, an imposing rock with a maximum height of 64m is formed with characteristic layers of rocks. On either side of this rock there are some beautiful beaches with sand and in some places rocks. The most beautiful is the beach located in the northern part of the Greos peninsula. The area of the cape is called Greos, which means North-East Wind in the language of the Mariners.
Prosfora Beach
One of the largest beaches in Koufonissi Lasithiou is located on the south-eastern side of the island, in an area facing only ... Africa! Wonderful waters, rocky bottom for a mask and fluffy sand for rackets! The only problem, as in the whole island, the lack of shade. High up on the steep slopes you can see the carcass of the old lighthouse of Koufonisi, which was built on the site of an ancient temple. The beach goes by the strange name Prosfora, which it gets from a small island that is opposite it. Locals say it is round and looks like the offering shared in church.
The Ancient Theater at Koufonissi
During the excavations carried out after 1975 by the archaeologist N. Papadakis, a Greco-Roman theater with a capacity of 1000 people was discovered.
It is located on the NW coast of the island, 90m. approximately from the current coastline and is oriented towards the north. The theater today is buried under the sand.
