Best things to do in Mariou in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Mariou is a small village in the Rethymno region of Crete, south of Rethymno city and 2.5 km from the south-coast resort of Plakias. The village stands back from the sea, with the nearest beach 2.3 km away at Plakias and four more within 4 km. Rethymno is 19.4 km away in a straight line, but the roads over these mountains wind, which is why Plakias, the next village down, is about 40 km south of Rethymno by road.
Chania airport lies 44.1 km from Mariou as the crow flies, so the transfer is a long one. Mariou works as a quiet base for the Plakias beaches, the gorges behind them and the walking country above them.
Things to do in and around Mariou
Six outings sit within 5 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Swim at Plakias. The fully equipped sand of Gialia beach starts 2.3 km away and runs 1.3 km east from the edge of the town to Cape Mouri.
- Walk the Kotsifos gorge. The canyon starts 2.8 km from Mariou at Kannevos and ends at Plakias, and the upper section of the Kotsifos gorge takes about an hour on foot to the bridge between Selia and Myrthios.
- Spend a day at Damnoni. The organised bay 2.9 km away has coarse pale sand and turquoise water, and the east end of Damnoni stays quieter than the west.
- Snorkel at Ammoudi. White sand and bright green water sit 3.3 km from the village, and Ammoudi has a scuba diving centre and tamarisk trees for shade.
- Jump in at Kalypso. The steep-cliffed cove 3.5 km away drops into deep, calm water through narrow rock passages, so Kalypso suits confident swimmers and divers rather than small children.
- See the Kourtaliotiko waterfall. The gorge 4.4 km from Mariou runs 3 km between the Kouroupa and Koules mountains, and a paved road through Kourtaliotiko reaches the viewpoints and the trailhead.
About the village and its setting
Mariou is a village rather than a resort, and the everyday places in it reflect that. A grill house, a dairy shop and a taverna all stand within 400 m of the centre, while the hotels, bars and shops of the coast are in Plakias, 2.5 km away.
The setting is the south-facing corner of the Rethymno region, where mountain ridges run down to the Libyan Sea. Neighbouring Plakias sits at the mouth of the Kotsifos valley between Cape Kako Mouri and Cape Stavros, and its low-rise character has long drawn travellers who want a quieter base than the north-coast resorts. Further west, Rodakino, 9.5 km from Mariou, splits into Ano and Kato Rodakino at the foot of the Krioneritis mountain, where the residents farm, herd and fish.
Beaches in and around Mariou
Mariou has no beach of its own, and the 5 nearest all lie within 3.8 km on the coast below the village. They divide neatly into organised sand and rocky snorkelling water.
- Plakias lies 2.3 km away, a 1.3 km run of sand with umbrellas, water sports, snack bars and showers, backed by hotels and restaurants.
- Damnoni sits 2.9 km away, an organised sandy bay at the mouth of an olive-covered valley, busy at the west end with secluded coves beyond the east end.
- Ammoudi is 3.3 km away, reached on the paved road from Lefkogia and marked by its green slippery rock, with white sand, a rocky seabed and green water good for diving.
- Kalypso lies 3.5 km away, a small cove between Plakias and Preveli with deep blue water at the foot of the cliffs. Access on foot is free through the Kalypso Cretan Village Resort and Spa.
- Skinaria sits 3.8 km away, 3 km south of Lefkogia, with grey-beige sand, fine pebbles and exceptionally clear water over a rocky seabed that makes it one of the finest snorkelling spots in the area.
Gorges near Mariou
Four gorges start between 2.8 km and 7.4 km from the village, the two nearest of them within a ten-minute drive.
- Kotsifos gorge lies 2.8 km away and runs 1,800 m, about 10 m wide at its entrance and 600 m at its widest, with near-vertical sides up to 600 m high and a small chapel to Saint Nicholas built into a rock cavity.
- Kourtaliotiko gorge sits 4.4 km away, known for its waterfall, its year-round springs and the chapel of Agios Nikolaos at the base of the cliffs, set in the Xiro Oros range 22 km south of Rethymno.
- Kakoperatos gorge is 6.1 km away, in the Agios Vasilios area.
- Swallows’ gorge lies 7.4 km away and is also known as Chelidonia.
Where to eat in Mariou
Eating in Mariou means three places in the village itself, with the choice widening in Plakias about 2 km away.
- To Mprizolaki is 100 m from the centre.
- Stavgiannoudakis Dairy is a dairy shop 100 m away.
- Taverna Mariou stands 400 m from the centre.
- Medousa Restaurant lies 2.1 km away, in Plakias.
Getting to Mariou
Mariou is reached on the mountain roads that cross south from Rethymno to the Libyan Sea coast, with Plakias 2.5 km further on. Straight-line distances understate every journey here, and the roads run far longer than the map suggests.
Chania airport is the closer of the two airports at 44.1 km in a straight line. A car is the practical way to use the village, because the beaches, the gorges and the neighbouring villages of Rodakino and Spili all sit between 2 km and 11 km away in different directions.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mariou in Crete?
Mariou lies in the Rethymno region on the south side of Crete, 2.5 km from Plakias, and 19.4 km from Rethymno city in a straight line.
Does Mariou have a beach?
Mariou has no beach of its own, but 5 lie within 3.8 km. Plakias, 2.3 km away, is the nearest and the most organised, while Skinaria and Ammoudi suit snorkelling.
Is there a quiet beach near Mariou?
Skinaria, 3.8 km away, is a small, secluded beach. The east end of Damnoni and its coves also stay quieter than that bay’s busy west end.
Can you walk a gorge from Mariou?
The nearest gorge is the Kotsifos, 2.8 km from the village. It runs 1,800 m from Kannevos down to Plakias between sides that reach 600 m in height.
How far is Mariou from Rethymno?
Rethymno is 19.4 km from Mariou in a straight line, and considerably further by road. Neighbouring Plakias is about 40 km south of Rethymno on the road, which shows how much the mountain route bends.
Where Mariou is
Best things to do in Mariou in 2024 is located at Marioú. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
