Paros
via Naxos & Schoinousa.
Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Paros via Naxos, Donousa, Koufonissi, Schoinousa and Irakleia. Central + Small Cyclades loop with the quietest anchorages on the Aegean charter map.
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
6 nm short shake-down hop east to Naxos. Town harbour well-protected; Portara marble doorway is the headline sunset spot. Stern-to in Naxos town harbour, €30-50/night. Plan to hike Mount Zas (Zeus birthplace, 4 h) and kitro citron liqueur tasting at Halki.
Distance
11 NM
Sailing
~2.2h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
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
Short 6 nm shake-down hop east across the Naxos-Paros channel. Naxos town harbour is well-protected and stern-to is reliable. The Portara — a single marble doorway from the unfinished 6th-century BC Apollo temple — sits on the islet at the harbour entrance and is the headline sunset spot.
Things to do
Sunset at the Portara marble doorway
Hike Mount Zas (Zeus birthplace, 4 h)
Kitro citron liqueur tasting at Halki
Swim Agios Prokopios Beach
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Naxos town harbour, €30-50/night. Well-protected from any wind direction. Plenty of slot capacity even in peak season.
Naxos → Donoussa
24 nm east-southeast to Donousa — most remote populated Small Cyclades island, 100 year-round residents. Stavros harbour on the southwest is small and sheltered; anchor in the bay outside if the quay is full. Kedros Beach south of the village is the headline swim, sand and turquoise water, sheltered from N.
Things to do
Swim Kedros Beach (south of village)
Hike to Kalotaritissa stone village
Snorkel the Cave of the Wall
Grilled gouna sun-dried mackerel at a beach shack
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Stavros harbour, €15-25/night, limited slots. Anchor in the bay outside on sand at 5-7 m. Sheltered from N Meltemi.
Donoussa → Koufonissi
15 nm southwest to Koufonissi — boutique-yachting hub of the Small Cyclades. Pano Koufonissi (the inhabited island) has the quay; Kato Koufonissi (uninhabited) is the day-anchor for the Pori Beach turquoise lagoon swim. Astakomakaronada (lobster spaghetti) is the local speciality.
Things to do
Day-anchor swim at Pori Beach lagoon
Snorkel the cliff caves on the southeast coast
Astakomakaronada lobster spaghetti at the harbour
Walk Pano Koufonissi white-washed alleys
Mooring tip
Pano Koufonissi harbour stern-to, €25-40/night, slots fill by 17:00. Anchor on sand at 4-7 m east of the village if full.
Koufonissi → Schoinousa (Mirsini Harbor)
5 nm short hop west to Schoinousa — quietest of the populated Small Cyclades, 200 residents. Mersini harbour at the foot, Chora village on the hill above. Tsigouri Beach is the headline swim — sandy, shallow, sheltered from N. Stern-to in Mersini harbour, €15-25/night, limited slots. Anchor on sand at 4-6 m east of the harbour. Sheltered from N. Plan to swim Tsigouri Beach (sheltered from N), walk up to Chora hilltop village, tomato keftedes under a tamarisk tree.
Things to do
Swim Tsigouri Beach (sheltered from N)
Walk up to Chora hilltop village
Tomato keftedes under a tamarisk tree
Hike to Panagia mountain church
Mooring tip
Stern-to in Mersini harbour, €15-25/night, limited slots. Anchor on sand at 4-6 m east of the harbour. Sheltered from N.
Schoinousa → Irakleia
7 nm west to Irakleia — population 100, one taverna at Agios Georgios harbour, single road, the Blue Cave a 30-minute hike from the village. Quietest island stop on the Cycladic charter circuit. If a panigiri (saint-day festival) coincides, the entire village joins.
Things to do
Hike to the Blue Cave (30 min from village)
Beach swim at Livadi (best swim water in Small Cyclades)
Grilled gouna at the harbour taverna
Walk the kastro pirate-era ruins
Mooring tip
Anchor in Agios Georgios bay on sand at 5-7 m. Sheltered from N Meltemi. Small quay slots €15-25/night, lazy lines absent.
Irakleia → Paros
20 nm west back to Paros. Optional snorkel detour to the Antiparos Cave (south coast of Antiparos, 0.5 nm short of the cave entrance). Naoussa for the photogenic fishing harbour overnight; Parikia for easier mooring. Last evening dinner on the Naoussa pier with octopus drying on the rope at the centre of the village.
Things to do
Snorkel the Antiparos Cave detour
Octopus on the rope at a Naoussa pier taverna
Wine tasting at a Marpissa vineyard
Walk Lefkes village marble paths at dusk
Mooring tip
Naoussa harbour stern-to, €30-50/night, often full by 17:00. Plastira Bay 0.5 nm east on sand at 5-7 m. Parikia is the larger alternative.
Schoinousa → Paros (Check Out)
Handover at Parikia or Naoussa before 09:00. Boat inspection — deposit released within 7 days. Crew transfer to Paros airport (PAS) is 15 minutes from Parikia. Photo evidence of any noted damage before signing. Plan to final inspection with the base manager and last swim at Golden Beach (south coast).
Things to do
Final inspection with the base manager
Last swim at Golden Beach (south coast)
Breakfast on the Parikia portside
Airport transfer (15 min to PAS)
Mooring tip
Hand over before 09:00. Deposit released within 7 days post-inspection. Photo evidence of any noted damage before signing.
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