Kokkinos Pirgos (means Red Tower in Greek language) is located west of Heraklion and near to the town of Timbaki. It’s name comes because a tower has been built with reddish soil in the entrance of the river Geropotamos. Kokkinos Pirgos is a seaside village with the main port of the region and developed in tourism. In Kokkinos Pirgos you can find everything you will need while on vacation: restaurants, cafes, excursion program, hiking tours, car rental, boat trips, diving courses, etc.
The village owns a very long sandy beach, that is starting here and reach till the southeast, till Kommos. On this long beach you might meet several of the famous Carretta – carretta sea turtles that lay their eggs in the sand the whole summer. The seaturtles and their nests are under protection. The beach is also open to west winds.
The east part of the beach, extended from the port till the airport, is called Katalyki. Katalyki Beach is a really well organized beach with umbrellas, sunbeds, lifeguard and many water sports. You can walk on the seaside road along the coast where you will meet many cafes, tavernas, restaurants, where you can enjoy your food/dring with seaview. In the east side of Katalyki you will find a large marsh, which is definitely one of the most important wetlands in the area with rare birds visiting like flamingos, etc)