Koufonisi – Day Trip from Naxos – Greek Island Infatuation

During our stay on Naxos, we had planned to do some island hopping.  Unbeknownst to us, because we were there so late in the season (1^st week of October), most of the inter-island day trips had finished.  Not being one to easily let a dream die, I decided to ask around at most of the many day tour places in the town.  I found that my best options were on offer from the  Naxos Tours office at Chora Naxos Protodikion square, Naxos 843 00, Greece.  The friendly staff helped me book a Greek Island tour for my day trip to Koufonisi.   

Sailing Tour to Koufonisi

The tour office had a deal on the last sailing tour of the season with Actionseaze which would take us out for the day on the Penelope around to the south of Naxos, visiting Koufonisi and having lunch on the boat.  Swimming off the boat along the way was also part of the day’s activities.  I had never been swimming off the back of a sailboat. Therefore, I decided that being in the Greek islands was the perfect place to experience this for the first time.

We set off from Naxos harbour in the morning, however, the weather was not favourable for sailing, so we just had to make way under engine power instead.  I was a bit disappointed about that but it was still a beautiful day spent on the Aegean Sea, with a magnificent view of the islands.  Turning south we made our way past the rich houses of Naxos and onwards, watching beautiful white sand beaches that glittered in the sunlight, as we slipped by.

 

Rina Cave

First stop was at a Rina cave on Naxos island that opened off a small inlet at the south of Naxos.  We pulled into the cove where the beautiful aqua-marine water was calm and inviting.

The Penelope has snorkelling gear and even a few pool noodles and such, for guests to use when they go swimming (I brought my own snorkelling gear along with me – being a bit germ phobic).  I jumped off the boat into the crystal clear water – it was really cold!!  After catching my breath, I swam around for a bit, looking at a few fish through my goggles.  Inside the cave was very cold, and a little bit spooky. I paddled back out into the sunshine and just floated around for a while enjoying the moment.

Everyone got back into the Penelope and we set off for Ano Koufonisi.  As we chugged out into the harbour I was looking forward to seeing this little island.

Koufonisi

My cousin and I set off for a walk through the streets in the Chora.  It was like a ghost town.  All the cafes and restaurants had closed up with the end of the season.  Chairs and tables were stacked on top of each other in stone courtyards outside interesting looking restaurants.  Apart from one elderly Greek lady, we were the only people in the street.  It was a very beautiful place, and I would love to go back and experience it when more people are actually there!!

Anyway, we continued along and walked up past the windmills and accommodation villas beside the coast.

Completing our circuit we ended up back at Ammos Beach, where we found the seemingly only open café on the island. We then had a drink whilst waiting for the return of the Penelope.

It was a beautiful island and looked like a magic place to spend a few relaxing days.  Koufonisi is on my list of islands to re-visit for my next trip to Greece.

The journey home

Once back on the Penelope we moved out alongside Kato Koufonisi and stopped for lunch.  I had previously asked at the tour office when we were booking the tour if they could provide a gluten-free meal for me, but to be honest I wasn’t expecting too much.  Lunch was the biggest bowl of pasta you have ever seen and a shared salad.  So I told the people that I couldn’t eat the pasta, and they just gave me extra salad, which was nice of them.  They also gave us a homemade type of retsina to try – possibly an acquired taste!

There were more opportunities for swimming after lunch. I opted to stay on the boat this time, relaxing in the sun as we were gently rocked by the waves.  Turning around to make for home, the weather became overcast and grey.   The final stop off was at a beach on Naxos, where only the brave went swimming again while the rest of us talked.

We returned to Naxos harbour at the end of a lovely day, having gained some new experiences.

I would recommend this tour, but I think it would have been nicer a few weeks earlier.  Probably the second-last week in September at the latest would have been better. Then we could have seen Koufonisi alive, and perhaps the water would also have been a few degrees warmer!

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