Boat trip round Antiparos

Norsk utgave (Norwegian edition)

A boat trip round Antiparos makes a good change after a few days on the beach. Captain Kouvaras arranges this trip with his boat Thiela. He goes every day, as long as it is not too windy. To be sure to get tickets for the trip, you should buy them a few days before. We have experienced the trip to be sold out the day before. The simplest way to get tickets is to buy them from one of the travel agents on the island, but you can also buy direct from Captain Kouvaras, as he often sits on the quayside by his boat in the evening.

The trip usually goes from the village of Antiparos south along the east coast of Antiparos. Then he crosses over to a bay between 2 small island, about half-way between the southern point of Paros and Antiparos. Here there is a shallow bay with a fantastic sandy bottom which makes the sea clear as glass, with just a hint of green. Unbelievably beautiful. Here we drop anchor and have our first swim. You will not believe how clean and clear the sea is out here between these 2 islands!

Here we see captain Pepino’s boat going through the grotto. The next picture shows that his boat is not very big, but if the weather is ok, is not too windy. It is easily big enough for a family or two. A trip out here with the charming Captain Pepino's is a good alternative for those who may find a whole day on a boat round Antiparos a bit much. 

It is unfortunately no longer possible for us to have this experience, as Captain Pepino's passed away 10 Feb 2001. I have therefore wiped out the pages about the trip to the grotto, but will let these pictures and words remain in memory of this man who was highly regarded on Antiparos.

Luckily you can also get to the inside of the grotto by entering from behind the rock of which it is a part. Here we make a stop and get the chance of another swim from the boat. Here you can swim through the grotto if you wish, or swim into another cave. But you ought to be aware of a certain fact if you swim through the grotto: it has magical properties! Or so they say in Antiparos. To be more precise, it has magical properties for pregnant women. If a pregnant woman swims through the grotto, she will give birth to a son. In Antiparos there are countless proofs that this is in fact so!!

After a short stop here we continue a little further north until we reach the quiet waters between Despotico and Antiparos. This is where Agios Georgios (St Georgios) is. We tie up at the quayside and go ashore and have about 2 hours free time before we have to be back at the boat for lunch. Here at Agios Georgios there are many good beaches, and the longest of them is just near where the boat ties up. There are also a couple of tavern for those who wish to spend some time in the shade.

While we relax on the beach or in the shade, Captain Kouvaras and his helper are busy preparing to serve us lunch. This consisted of (and probably normally does) Greek salad, tzatsiki, chips, bread, souvlaki and plenty to drink. We could choose between wine, beer, soft drinks and water, everything nice and cold!! After a long day on and by the sea ,a nice and refreshing lunch was most welcome!

No complaints about the food and the service!

After all the food and drink it is time to continue north. Here on the west side of Antiparos there are many good small beaches. Some of these are accessible from land, like Livadia and Sunset Beach, but many others can be reached only by boat. The trip continues north until we get to the same level as Antiparos Camping north of Antiparos Village. Here there is a narrow, shallow passage between Antiparos and the island of Diplo. Boats the size of Thiela can go through here if the skipper knows the waters. Captain Kouvaras is fortunately local, and the trip through went without problems. We have heard from others who have taken the trip that when the weather is really calm you may be lucky and the boat stops and a long rope is thrown in the sea and those who wish can hang on to it and be pulled after the boat. But when we took the trip if was quite windy and we went straight through, with only a short stop for a last swim. Most people had by now had enough of sea and swimming and we did not stay long before continuing to the port of Antiparos.

Tassos Kouvaras is a lively and nice guy