The municipality of Agios Ioannis covers the area east of the municipality of Ierapetra, from the southern slope of the mountain "Thripti" or "Aori" as the locals call it, to the coast and it is the easternmost part of the county of Ierapetra.
Most of the 1,069 permanent residents, live at the coastal villages and occupy with farming and tourism.
The municipality conisits of the villages:

• Koutsounari, a coastal village of 437 inhabitants, 10.5 km east of Ierapetra, is the seat of the municipality. At Koutsounari there is one of the longest and prettiest beaches of Ierapetra, with all the tourist facilities.
  
• Agios Ioannis, a small traditional village located at the slope of the hill "Katalimata" 500m a.s.l. 17.7km away from Ierapetra, with 38 inhabitants.
  
• Ferma, a village close to Koutsounari with 579 inhabitants, also a popular tourist resort.
  
• Agia Fotia a small settlement, located in a picturesque cove, within a few distance from Ferma to the east. It has 15 permanent residents and quite a few hotels and taverns.
  

Sights:

• The gorge of "Milonas" with small water falls, not easily accessible.
  
• Many chapels of architectural and historical interrest.
  

Tourist facilities :

• There are a lot of hotels of all classes, bars, and taverns especially at the beach of Koutsounari and Ferma. The place attracts a lot of visitors every year due to the clear sea, awarded with the blue flag by the EEC.

The municipality of
Kato Horio

The municipality has 1364 permanent residents and consists of the villages:

• Kato Horio (The seat of the municipality)
  
• Epano Horio
  
• Episkopi
  
• Papadiana
  
• Thripti (53)
  

Sights :

• The Byzantine chapel of Agios Georgios and Agios Haralambos, a monument built at 961 A.C. at the village of Episkopi, with great historical and cultural significance.
  
• The chapel of Agia Anna, on the road from Epano Horio to Thripti, built in a pine tree forest.
  
• The springs at "Kefalovrissi" a place of exceptional natural beauty, covered with platans.
  
• The walking path (4km) from Epano Horio to Thripti passing from the Monastery of Agia Anna .
  
• The 37 chapels of the area including the metropolitan churches.
  
• The 17 old stone built bridges.
  
• The fort of "Kazarma", built on a hill since 1868, near the village of Episkopi
  
• The old water mill at Epano Horio
  The gorge of Ha located north of Episkopi near the village of Monastiraki.

Cultural events :

Traditional festivals, are organized by the cultural associations:

• July 20 at Kato Horio
  
• August 6 at Epano Horio
  
• August 15 at episkopi
  

Facilities to the visitors :
Taverns operating at evening and night time, for the summer season
There are not any hotels or rooms yet available.

The municipality of Ierapetra
Vainia

Vainia is a village of 595 permanent residents, part of the municipality of Ierapetra, located 4 km north-east of the town on a hill overlooking the town of Ierapetra and the surrounding area.
At the top of the hill, at a place called "Vaini" was a Venetian tower which used to be the base for the operations of the local revolutioners against the Tukish invaders. This gave the village its present name which was known as " Gianitsi" from the name of its first Byzantine settler.
In the past there were a lot of pottery workshops making products of fine quality. Nowadays there is a small museum of folklore art and a cultural association, preserving the history of the village.

The municipality of
Pahia Ammos

The municipality of Pahia Ammos together with that of Kavoussi, extends at the northern part of the county of Ierapetra. It covers the area from the western slope of the mountain "Thripti" to the coast at the creek of the gulf of Mirabello.
East of the village of Pahia Ammos stands the imposing gorge of HA which is refuge of many species of Cretan flora and fauna. In some cases, depending on the weather conditions, the western slope of the mountain is ideal for paragliding and parapente.

Most of the 793 permanent residents, occupy with farming fishing and tourism.
The municipality conisits of the villages:

• Pahia Ammos, a coastal village of 495 inhabitants, 15 km north of Ierapetra and 21km from Agios Nikolaos, is the seat of the municipality. The village has a small harbour and a long sandy beach.
  
• Vassiliki, a small traditional village located on the hill overlooking the area at 90m a.s.l. 5km away from Pahia Ammos, with 191 inhabitants.
  
• Monastiraki, a village of 20 inhabitants built on the foot of "Thripti" mountain close to the gorge of HA.
  

Sights:

• The archaeological site fo Vassiliki, where the American archaeologist Richard Seager unearthed a pre minoan settlement, in 1904 A.D.. There are interesting findings from the site such as clay jars of a particular shape, minoan fortification, adequate etc.
  
• Within a few distance from Pahia Ammos there is the famous archaeological site of GOURNIA.
• Many chapels of architectural and historical interrest, amongst them the monastery of Faneromeni.
  
• The gorge of HA

Tourist facilities :

• There are a lot of small hotels and apartments at Pahia Ammos. There also many taverns at the coastal street where one can eat fresh fish and sea food.
  

The municipality of
Kavoussi

The village of Kavoussi is located at the northern coast of the county of Ierapetra, and it is the easternmost village of the county. It is 27 km away from Agios Nikolaos and 19 km from Ierapetra, built on the foot of the hill "Afentis" at 140m a.s.l.
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name with 711 inhabitants. Its main product is olive oil. There is also a traditional production of abstracts from oilive trees, cedar trees and sage

"Kavoussi" in the Cretan idiom means a cavity or a small cistern which concentrates the water of a small spring, and is commonly used as the name of certain locations in the island.
Sights :

• The archaeological site of "Vrondas", a preminoan settlement which can be visited by car.
  
• The archaeological site of "Plai Kastrou", preminoan settlement with interresting finds, now on display at the Iraklion museum, visited only by a 1.5km footpath.
  
• The gorge of Mison with rare flora and fauna, and two paths, one for walking and one for trekking.
  
• The cave "Theriospilios" with stalactites and stalagmites.
  
• There are 17 Byzantine churches, some of them with interresting fresoes.
  

• The patronal feasts of "Panagia" (Holly Mother) on August 15, and Profitis Ilias.
  
• Beach party at the beach of Tholos, every August at the full moon
  
• The feast of "Raki" (the cretan drink) on May.
  

• There are two guest houses and one small hotel
  
• There are also 4 taverns in the village operating all year around and one at the beach for the summer season.

The municipality of Ierapetra
The island of Hrissi
(Gaidouronissi)

A picturesque uninhabited little island of cedar forest, tempting golden beaches and the well preserved old church of Agios Nikolaos, only 8 miles off the port of Ierapetra, with every day boat schedules. There is a canteen, fully equipped by the Municipal Tourist Office, for snacks and refrshments.
Aerial view of the island.

The municipality of
Anatoli

The village is located at 600m a.s.l. 31km away from Agios Nikolaos, taking the road from Kalo Horio- Prina, and 14 km from Ierapetra.
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name with 1,288 inhabitants, which consists of the villages:

• Kalogeri (121)
  
• Nea Anatoli (729) (coastal village)
  
• Stomio (146) (coastal village)
  
• Amoudares (104) (coastal village)
  

The municipality of
Nea Mala

The municipality of Nea Mala covers the south- east part of the DIKTI mountain, reaching to the peak Dikti (2148m), and includes "SELAKANO" the biggest forest in Crete.
The 929 inhabitants occupy with farming, stock breeding and bee keeping.
The municipality consists of the villages:

• Males , a village of 595 inhabitants, located 40.6 km away from Agios Nikolaos and 40km north -west of Ierapetra at 580m a.s.l. It is the seat of the municipality.
  
• Hristos, located 4km away from Males with 151 inhabitants.
  
• Metaxohori, a village of 79 inhabitants ,7km away from Males, the birth place of Meletios Metaxakis, which has been renamed to Metaxohori in his honour, while its old name was Parsas.
  
• Selakano, a mountain village of 78 inhabitants, near the wonderful forest of the same name, built at 900m a.s.l.
  
• Mathokotsana, a mountain village of 22 inhabitants.
  

History:

• Near the village of Males, it is almost certain that was located the prehistoric town of MALLA.
  A principal city-state with great power which is mentioned in many insriptions having a peace treaty with other cities- states, such as LYTTOS etc.

• The ravine from the village Hristos to the gorge of Sarakina a course of rare beauty, with plane trees, pine trees small waterfalls and rare species of cretan fauna
  
• The monastery of "Panagia Exacousti", and a lot of other old chapels. The place is famous for its great number of churches.
  
• Agia Paraskevi an amazing place with high plane trees and running water.

Tourist facilities :

• No place for accoodation is available. Omly food served in taverns and traditional cafes.
  

• Patronal feast of Agia Paraskevi on July 26th
  
• Many traditional feasts organized by the cultural associations of Males and Hristos.

The municipality of
Gdohia

The municipality of Gdohia is the westernmost municipality of the county of Ierapetra and covers an area from the slope of DIKTI mountain to the southern coast.
The 137 inhabitants occupy with farming and stock breeding.

The municipality consists of the villages:

• Gdohia: The seat of the municipality with 103 inhabitants, located 22 km west of Ierapetra at 240 m a.s.l. There are 3 settlements, Papadiana, Daskaliana and Kato Gdohia, with old houses and interesting churches
  
• Vatos , a small coastal settlement with 34 permanent residents occupying with early vegetables cultivation.
  

Sights:

• The church of Panagia Evagelistria at the entrance of the village, restored and well preserved and the church of Agii deka at Kato Gdohia.
  
• The "unspoiled" beaches of Vatos and Kalikovrehtis

• Not available. There is a tavern at the neighboring village of Mournies.

• The cultural association of the village organizes every summer a small traditional feast.

The municipality of Ierapetra
Gra Ligia

Gra Ligia is a village of 1000 permanent residents, part of the municipality of Ierapetra, located 4.5 km west of the town at the coastal area between the torrents of Stomio and Gra Ligia.
From Gra Ligia started in 1966 the growth of the greenhouse production, which nowadays is the main source of income for the inhabitants of the county.
Paul Coopers, a young agriculturist from Holland, came at Gra Ligia in 1965 and considering the benefits of its climate, he made the first greenhouse with cucumbers. He teached the locals the secrets of the forced horticultural production and two years later a great number of greenhouses started to give Ierapetra its well known economical growth.
Paul Coopers was killed in an bike accident, and the local people honored him with a statue being now at the entrance of the village.

The municipality of
Kalamafka

The village is located at 480m a.s.l. 24.5km away from Agios Nikolaos, taking the road from Kalo Horio- Prina, and 24 km from Ierapetra.
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name with 617 inhabitants, including the settlements, Kamara and Psathi.

• Kalamafka (590)
  
• Kamara (27)
  
• Psathi
  

Sights :The gorge of Havga, the cave 40 Chambers, the cave Theriou Koufala, the hill Kastelos, the chapel of agios Antonios with curved temple and entrance, the chapels Agios Georgios, Agia Paraskevi, and Panagia

Cultural associations :The cultural association of Kalamafka.

Cultural events :The patronal feasts of Panagia at August 15 and Timios Stavros at September 14.

Facilities to the visitors :No place for accomodation. Some taverns and cafes operating at day time.

The municipality of
Makrilia

Makrilia is a mountain village at the southern slope of the peak Plakokefala (712m) at 240m a.s.l. 8km north-east from Ierapetra and 24k from Agios Nikolaos on the road from Kalo Horio- Prinas (a crossroad 4km after Kalo Horio).
The 184 inhabitants occupy with farming and stock breeding.

Sights :

• A cave not yet explored, within a distance of 1 km from the village, which used to be a shelter for the Christians during the Turkish occupation.
  
• The church of Agios Antonios, an old monastery with 101 cells in the past. Nowadays there is only one cell and signs of the existance of the church.

• Only food.

The municipality of
Messeleri

Messeleri is a mountain village between the peaks Plakokefala (712m), Skinavria (698m) and Vaharaki (496m) at 360m a.s.l. 12km north-east from Ierapetra and 20k from Agios Nikolaos on the road from Kalo Horio- Prinas (a crossroad 4km after Kalo Horio).
The 187 inhabitants occupy with farming and stock breeding.

Sights :

• The aechaeological site of OLEROS, an archaic settlement, which gave the name to the village.
  
• The monastery of "Panagia Vriomenou" dedicated to the birth of Holly Mother, built in 1577 A.D.
  
• The Byzantine chapels of "Agia Marina" and "Agios Georgios"
  
• The gorge of "KORAKAS" 3km long.

• The patronal feast of Panagia at the monastery of "Panagia Vriomenou" on August 15th, and "agios Ioannis o Prodromos" on September 26.

The municipality of
Mournies

Mournies is a mountain village at the southern slope of DIKTI at 310m a.s.l. 22km away from Ierapetra on the road to Viannos.
The 136 inhabitants occupy with farming and stock breeding.

The municipality consists of the villages:

• Mournies: The seat of the municipality
  
• Ano Simi, a small settlement with 20 permanent residents
  

Tourist facilities :

• There is a tavern.

The municipality of
Myrtos

The village of Myrtos is a coastal village at the western part of the county of Ierapetra, located 14.5 km from Ierapetra and 50.5 km from Agios Nikolaos, on the road to Viannos.
It is the seat of the municipality of the same name which consists of the villages:

• Myrtos (433)
  
• Gavrilis (22)
  
• Kalithea (13)
  
• Kopanes (90)
  
• Neos Myrtos (38)
  

The municipality of
Mythi

The village of Mythi is located 20km east of Ierapetra on the road to Mirtos, and 56 km away from Agios Nikolaos , at an altitude of 220 m. a.s.l and has 303 permanent residents.
Within a short distance from the village starts the wonderful gorge of Sarakina, with plenty of water and vegetation.

The municipality of
Riza

Riza is a mountain village at the southern slope of DIKTI at 500m a.s.l. 28km away from Ierapetra on the road to Viannos (a crossroad 3km after Mournies).
The 62 inhabitants occupy with farming and stock breeding.

The municipality consists of the villages:

• Riza: The seat of the municipality
  
• Kaimenos, a small settlement with 49 permanent residents