Paros
via Ios & Santorini.
Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Paros via Ios and Santorini, returning through Folegandros and Sifnos. Compact southern Cyclades loop for confident-Meltemi crews.
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 → Ios (Ormos)
22 nm south to Ios on Meltemi reach — strongest wind day of the route. Reef early, plan to be inside Ormos by 16:00. Mylopotas swim is daytime only.
Distance
22 NM
Sailing
~4.4h 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 → Ios (Ormos)
Cast off from Parikia after the lunchtime provisioning run and head south on the Meltemi reach. 22 nm to Ios — the Naxos-Sikinos channel is the breeziest part of the leg, expect 22-30 knots steady on a port-tack reach. Reef early. Ormos harbour at the south end of Ios is sheltered and has stern-to slots; the new marina is undergoing expansion. Mylopotas Bay 1 nm south is the standard daytime swim anchorage but unsafe overnight in Meltemi.
Things to do
Hike to the supposed tomb of Homer above Plakotos
Swim Manganari Bay (south coast)
Late-night Chora rembetika square
Sunset drinks above the windmills
Mooring tip
Ormos harbour stern-to, €25-40/night. New marina slots when available are pre-bookable. Mylopotas anchorage daytime only.
Ios → Santorini (Vlychada Marina)
Short 18 nm south to Santorini. Caldera entry deserves daylight and a calm wind window — leave Ios at first light, be at Vlychada by lunchtime. The caldera itself is unanchorable (depth 300+ m); Vlychada Marina on the south coast is the only practical overnight. Taxi to Oia in the late afternoon for the cliff-top sunset; the famous viewpoint above Ammoudi Bay fills with crowds from 18:00.
Things to do
Taxi to Oia for the cliff-top sunset
Wine tasting at Santo Wines or Domaine Sigalas
Swim off Red Beach (south coast)
Caldera-edge fava with capers in Megalochori
Mooring tip
Vlychada Marina stern-to, €60-100/night. Book ahead in peak season. Cruise-ship buoys off Thirasia are an unreliable alternative.
Santorini → Folegandros (Katergo Islet)
Turn west for the return loop. 22 nm northwest to Folegandros — first true upwind leg, Meltemi on the bow. Day-anchor at Katergo Bay (boat-only access, sheltered from N) for a swim before mooring. Karavostasi is the only practical port; small, sheltered from N, exposed S. Cliff-top Chora is a 30-minute climb up the kalderimi or a taxi from the harbour.
Things to do
Swim Katergo Bay (boat-only access)
Taxi up to Chora for the cliff-edge Panagia church
Matsata pasta with goat ragù in a courtyard
Walk the kalderimi path to Ano Meria
Mooring tip
Karavostasi stern-to, €25-40/night, limited slots. Anchor in the bay east of port on sand at 4-7 m if full. Avoid in S winds.
Folegandros (Katergo) → Karavostasi Harbor
Lay-day on Folegandros. Morning at Katergo (anchor 4-7 m on sand, sheltered from N), afternoon ashore. Cliff-top Chora is the headline activity — 200 m above the harbour, accessed by taxi or the kalderimi up. Walk along the cliff edge from Chora to Panagia church for the panorama back across the caldera. Lunch at one of the courtyard tavernas in the village; the cheese-and-honey pies here are the local speciality.
Things to do
Cliff-edge walk Chora to Panagia church
Swim Agali Beach (south coast)
Cheese-and-honey pies at a Chora taverna
Sunset cocktail above Ano Meria
Mooring tip
Stay at Karavostasi for the second night, no leg. Day-anchor at Katergo (sheltered N) and at Agali (sheltered N). Book the harbour slot 24h ahead in peak.
Folegandros → Sifnos
32 nm northwest to Sifnos — long upwind day, plan two long port tacks. Platys Gialos on the south coast is the most reliable overnight when Meltemi is in the standard N quadrant; the wind shadow off the south end of the island gives full shelter. Kamares on the west coast is the alternative when wind clocks east. Sifnos is the gastronomy island of the Cyclades — chickpea revithada cooked overnight in a wood oven, mastelo lamb in clay pots.
Things to do
Walk to cliffside Chrysopigi monastery at Faros
Mastelo lamb in clay pots at Artemonas
Pottery workshop visit in Vathy
Swim Vathi Bay (south coast, calmest swim)
Mooring tip
Platys Gialos anchorage on sand at 5-8 m, sheltered from N. Kamares quay stern-to, €20-30/night. Vathi south coast is the alternative for E wind.
Sifnos → Paros
20 nm northeast back to Paros. Meltemi on the beam — the easier sailing leg of the return half. Naoussa on the north coast is the headline Cycladic fishing-harbour-turned-yacht-village; the inner harbour mooring slot competition is real, plan to arrive by 16:00 or anchor in Plastira Bay. Parikia on the west coast is the larger alternative if Naoussa is full. Last evening: dinner at one of the Naoussa pier tavernas, octopus dried on the rope at the centre of the village.
Things to do
Snorkel the moon-rock outcrops at Kolymbithres
Wine tasting at a Marpissa vineyard
Octopus on the rope at a Naoussa pier taverna
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.
Paros → Check Out
Handover at Parikia or Naoussa before 09:00. Inspection with the skipper present — deposit released within 7 days. Crew transfer to Paros airport (PAS) is 15 minutes from Parikia. Standard last-morning routine: laundry pickup the night before, breakfast at a portside café, last swim off Golden Beach (south coast) before the airport drive.
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 at Parikia or Naoussa before 09:00. Deposit released within 7 days post-inspection. Confirm any damage notes with photo evidence.
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