Koufonissi is an islet, uninhabited today, of the Libyan Sea located on the southeast side of Crete, specifically 3 nautical miles south of the Cape of Goudouras. The surface of the island is about 4.26 sq.km. The name “Koufonissi (Cave-island) came to be due to the many hollows and caves shaped by the sea and the rain. Meanwhile it is also called “White” due to the variety of the white colored rocks one can encounter there. It served as an economic and cultural center from the Minoan to the Greco-Roman times as its seabed was rich in sponges and seashells. On the island lies an impressive ancient theater and many archaeological finds. 

Today it is a refuge for the fishermen during the strong winds of the southern Cretan seas! There are 36 golden beaches covered in deep blue waters around the island! Near one of them lies a functional well and a little further stands the “beauty” of the island, the gorgeous church of Agios Nikolaos, patron of the sailors in the area! 

The island in its entirety has been designated as a Natura 2000 protected area, therefore, access is limited to certain of its beaches. As for all the inaccessible beaches, there is the possibility of observing them by boat. The island is reminiscent of an African desert filled with tamarisk trees and rare bushes, every traveler that is visiting it has the opportunity to swim in its deep blue waters and enjoy the view of its white rocks.