Paros
via Naxos & Schoinousa.
Catamaran charter Greece — 7-day Paros, Naxos & Schoinousa Cyclades route. Small Cyclades chain, Koufonisia, Iraklia, sheltered family loop.
Day-by-day route
Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.
Paros → Naxos
Easy 8 nm hop ESE from Paros to Naxos — comfortable shake-down leg with the Meltemi astern. Largest marina in central Cyclades. Book a Naxos berth ahead in season.
Distance
11 NM
Sailing
~2.2h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Best season
May – October
Duration
7 days · Sat – Sat
Departure
Paros
Sailing area
Cyclades
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
Day-by-day journey
Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.
Paros → Naxos
Trade Paros' refined appeal for Naxos' rough soul. Sail into Naxos Town, where the huge marble gate known as Portara frames the sunset like a portal to myth. After climbing Mount Zas, the legendary birthplace of Zeus, feast on kitro-glazed pork (citrus liquor from nearby lemons) in a small taverna. Finish with a nighttime swim in Agios Prokopios, the sandy glistening silver under the stars.
Things to do
Photograph Portara at sunset
Hike the Mount Zas summit trail
Lunch on kitro-glazed pork
Swim Agios Prokopios long sand
Wander old chora marble streets
Mooring tip
Naxos Marina (south of town) — lazy lines, fees, water/power available, busy in season. Reserve in advance. Town quay is also possible but tight for catamarans.
Naxos → Donoussa
Let the Aegean bring you to the slumbering treasure in the Small Cyclades, Donioussa. Drop anchor at Kedros Beach; the turquoise waves there will clearly show octopuses scurrying between rocks. Trek to Kalotaritissa, an abandoned settlement reclaimed by wildflowers, or swim the Cave of the Wall, a secret underwater church. At a beach cottage, dine on gouna (sun-dried mackerel), with sand underfoot.
Things to do
Anchor & swim at Kedros Beach
Hike to Kalotaritissa wildflower ruins
Snorkel the Cave of the Wall
Sunset gouna at a beach shack
Stroll the tiny harbour village
Mooring tip
Anchor in Kedros or Stavros bay (sand 5–8 m, very few moorings). Fully exposed in N–NE Meltemi — pick a south-facing cove or move to Naxos lee if forecast >25 kn.
Donoussa → Koufonissi
Go to Koufonissi; simplicity rules there. Swim to the uninhabited coves of Kato Koufonissi from Pori Beach, a crescent of powdered sugar sand or boat. Lunch at a harborside taverna on astakomakaronada, lobster pasta, the catch pulled in at daybreak. Join fisherman fixing nets on the pier by evening; their laughing mingles with the clink of ouzo glasses.
Things to do
Swim Pori Beach turquoise crescent
Dinghy across to Kato Koufonissi
Lunch astakomakaronada on the quay
Snorkel limestone arches at Italida
Late drink in the small harbour bar
Mooring tip
Stern-to on the small Koufonissi quay (lazy lines, fee, fills early) or anchor in the bay south of port (sand 3–6 m). Fully exposed to N — move to Schoinousa if Meltemi peaks.
Koufonissi → Schoinousa (Mirsini Harbor)
Anchor in Mirsini Harbor, a haven of silence where time slows down and goats graze hillside. Schoinousa For a morning float, claim the gradient blues of Tsigouri Beach; then, climb to Panagia Church for 360° vistas of the unending blue Aegean. Dinner calls for Tomato keftedes and fresh white wine in a family taverna; the Milky Way is your chandelier.
Things to do
Anchor & swim at Tsigouri Beach
Walk up to Panagia clifftop church
Tomato keftedes at a family taverna
Beach-hop the southern bays by dinghy
Stargaze on deck after dinner
Mooring tip
Stern-to or alongside in tiny Mirsini Harbor (limited length, fee) or anchor in Tsigouri Bay (sand 4–6 m). Bay open to S — re-anchor on N side if S forecast.
Schoinousa → Irakleia
Find Irakleia, the best-kept secret among the Small Cyclades. Wander olive fields to the remnants of Kastro, an ancient fortification murmuring stories of pirates, after snorkel the dazzling depths of Blue Cave. Under paper lanterns, dance to fiddle tunes, plates of honey-drenched loukoumades in hand, if timing lines up. Crash a village panigiri.
Things to do
Snorkel the Blue Cave entrance
Hike to Kastro hilltop ruins
Loukoumades at a courtyard kafeneio
Swim Livadi long sand beach
Sunset walk on the western cape
Mooring tip
Anchor in Agios Georgios bay (sand 4–6 m) or the small Livadi cove. Tiny inner quay only takes 1–2 boats. Open to N — pick a south-facing bay in fresh Meltemi.
Irakleia → Paros
Sail back to Paros, stopping along way to dive the Antiparos Cave. By 17:00, then relax in Naoussa's elegant harbour—octopus drying on lines, yachts bobbing among fishing boats. At a riverside table, toast your journey with xinomavro wine and seafood saganaki under the goodbye colors of the sunset.
Things to do
Snorkel-dive the Antiparos Cave
Stroll Naoussa's old fishing harbour
Last swim at Kolymbithres rock pools
Goodbye seafood saganaki on the quay
Sundowner overlooking the Antiparos sound
Mooring tip
Naoussa small harbour fills early — stern-to outer mole or anchor in the bay (5–7 m sand). Parikia main port is the alternative if Naoussa is full or wind is hard from N.
Schoinousa → Paros
One more trip to Kolymbithres's moonlike bays, then a lazy breakfast of koulouri (sesame bread rings) and strong Greek coffee in Parikia's alleyways. With a camera roll of secret coves, a vow to the Aegean, and salt-streaked hair, set forth.
Things to do
Final breakfast of koulouri & coffee
Pack and sweep cabins
Refuel before hand-back
Technical hand-over with company
Last walk through Parikia's alleys
Mooring tip
Return to base by 17:00 the day before for the agreed hand-back; sleep aboard the final night, disembark by 09:00. Parikia harbour has fuel & water at the south mole.
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