The village beach (Mavros Kolympos - Black Swimming -) is a quiet one, with small grayish pebbles, a rocky seabed with blue, clear and deep waters. It is not developed, but has enough tamarisks around it to give shade to bathers, as well as several tavernas with fresh fish and rooms to rent.
If here, be sure to visit the Kokkines Petaloudes Gorge (that of the Red Butterflies), also called Oreino: this links the inland village of Oreino with the south coast. It is one of the loveliest in Crete, with lush vegetation and the magnificent butterflies, which are about most in the Spring.
