Situated 67 kilometers west of Heraklion, close to the seaside town of Tymbaki, is the village of Kokkinos Pirgos. Named after the red tower built in the mouth of Geropotamos River, Kokkinos Pirgos has become a popular tourist destination and hosts a number of hotels, rooms, restaurants and cafes. This area has a warm climate, and locals often grow fresh vegetables in greenhouses.
Kokkinos Pirgos is home to a long sandy beach that stretches several kilometers to the southeast until Kommos. During the summer season, the beach is also a nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles (Carretta carretta). Organizations such as Archelon protect the nests and the turtles, and the beach is open to the west winds. The eastern part of the beach, from the port to the airport, is called Katalyki and is very well organized, complete with umbrellas, sunbeds, lifeguard, and water sports. Just to the east of Katalyki is a large marsh, an important wetland in the Mesara plain, fed by the Geropotamos River.
Makrimaliana beach is located west of the harbor, stretching from Kokkinos Pirgos to Agia Galini. This beach is wide, but as it reaches Agia Galini it narrows due to the gravel masses that approach the sea. This beach is not organized, and is a rather remote area, but its rock formations sculpted by wind and sea make it a unique sight.
