A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu is a day on a boat that leaves Corfu and visits the islands of Paxos and Antipaxos and the Blue Caves. For more tours in Greece, start from our homepage; the cruises you can book appear between the sections below.
The sections follow a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu in order, from the departure port to the return, with answers to common booking questions.
Which Corfu ports does a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu leave from?
A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu sails from Corfu main port, Benitses port or Lefkimmi port. Main-port boats leave at about 08:20, Benitses boats at 09:00 and Lefkimmi boats at about 10:00.
One operator boards a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu at the main port between 07:40 and 08:10. The boat departs at 08:20, and another operator lists 08:25. The first operator meets guests at the Corfu Port Terminal on Ethnikis Antistaseos. Enter the main gate and turn left after about 50 metres. The boats are on your right.
Hotel pickup is an option for a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. One operator lists Sidari, Kassiopi, Ipsos, Dassia, Paleokastritsa and Corfu Town as main-port pickup areas. Another operator starts pickups between 07:00 and 08:30. Coach rides to the main port take about 20 to 120 minutes. Drivers find free parking in the B2 area of the port.
Lefkimmi port lies in the southernmost municipal unit of Corfu, and the boat leaves at about 10:00. Be there by 09:30, as boarding ends at 09:50 for guests without a coach. Coaches from hotels take 20 to 100 minutes. Benitses port has a high-speed catamaran, which the operator says means less sailing time.
A private Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu starts from Gouvia Marina on a motor yacht. Gouvia is a resort village about 8 km north of Corfu town. The yacht cruise runs from 10:00 to 18:00. A personal pick-up point can be arranged if the water is deep enough.
How long does the sea crossing from Corfu to Paxos take?
A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu that leaves Lefkimmi at about 10:00 enters the first cave at 11:30. From the main port, one timetable leaves at 08:20 and reaches that same cave at 11:30.
Paxos lies about 15 km away from the southern tip of Corfu. The southern ports sit closest to that gap. Main-port boats sail south with the Old Town, the Kanoni peninsula and the Palace of Mon Repos in view. Perama, Benitses, Kavos and Cape Asprokavos, the southernmost point of Corfu, follow before the channel to Paxos.
Approaching the channel, passengers see olive and cypress trees covering Paxos. On a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu, the first leg from Lefkimmi is smooth cruising, says one operator. The Corfu coastline stays in view on the way to Paxos.
The timetables show the difference. A second main-port boat leaves at 08:25 and enters the cave of Ipapanti at 11:15. Each cruise follows its own clock, so check the departure time at booking.
In the tourist season, sea-taxis, passenger ferries and hydrofoils cross from Corfu to Paxos in one to two hours. Outside that season, a hydrofoil service is infrequent and depends on the weather. A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu fills the whole day. The crossing is only one part of the timetable.
How close does a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu get to the caves?
A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu goes inside the caves, not just past them. The day boat enters two caves on the west coast of Paxos, Ypapanti and Ahai. It stops inside so passengers can take photographs.
Travel writers count more than thirty sea caves along the western shore of Paxos. The only way in is by boat. The cruise first sails south along the rocky shore and its white sand beaches. Then the boat enters the caves. The Blue Caves are large enough for vessels to pass right through them.
The timetable gives the caves a clear slot. One Corfu operator lists Ypapanti at 11:30 and Ahai at 12:00. Another lists 11:15 and 11:45. Both timetables put the entries 30 minutes apart. A third operator plans about 20 minutes at the caves. On a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu, the cave visit is a timed stop.
Ahai, also spelled Achai, is a cave system with winding, maze-like passages. Ypapanti is a very large cave. Inside, sunlight filters through the deep blue water and makes bright reflections on the white limestone. Legend says the marble palace of Poseidon stood in Ahai. Local legends also call the caves romantic hideaways for mythical sea creatures.
The caves lie in a protected area. The sea around them is a natural home of the Mediterranean monk seal. Paxos, Antipaxos and the water around them belong to a European network of nature protection areas. A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu therefore visits a place set aside for nature.
Which cliffs and rock arches line the west coast of Paxos?
On a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu, three sights stand out on the west coast of Paxos. They are the white cliffs of Erimitis, the tall rock of Ortholithos and the stone arch of Tripitos. One Corfu day cruise lists all three.
Steep white cliffs dominate the west coast, and the sea has worn away their bases at water level. At Erimitis, a chunk of cliff collapsed and left a small bay with white pebbles. Huge white limestone bluffs frame it. The sea below them shines a bright blue.
Ortholithos is a gigantic vertical rock that rises from the sea in front of a cave. The water around it is crystal clear. A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu lists it by name as a sight on the route.
Tripitos is a natural stone arch, a high bridge of rock that juts into the sea. It is what remains of a sea cave that collapsed. At its highest point it stands about 20 metres above the water. People on Paxos also call it Kamara Tripitou.
You can also walk to the arch. The trail starts near the village of Ozias and takes 10 to 15 minutes. The path is steep and uneven in places, so wear suitable shoes. A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu shows the arch from the water instead.
How long is the swim stop at Voutoumi or Vrika on Antipaxos?
The swim stop on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu lasts about one hour. One operator lists 50 to 70 minutes at Antipaxos, depending on the weather. A second operator’s programme runs from 12:25 to 13:25.
On a third operator’s Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu, the Antipaxos beach stop takes about one hour. A private yacht page speaks of the next hour or two at anchor. The first operator’s programme lists arrival at 12:40 and departure at 13:40. The figures differ by operator, so read your tour’s programme before you book.
Operators also name different beaches for the swim. One programme moors near Mesovrika beach. Another operator’s text names Mesovrika or Vrika, while its programme says Mesovrika or Voutoumi. A cruise on a deluxe vessel lists swimming at Voutoumi beach. So the beach changes with the boat.
According to Wikipedia, Vrika has white sand, while Voutoumi and Mesovrika have pebbles. A travel site adds that Vrika beach has sunbeds and umbrellas. Another calls Voutoumi a pale pebble shore below green hills. The shore under your feet depends on the beach your Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu uses.
One page says swimmers on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu swim directly from the boat. Another page lists snorkelling in the turquoise water of Mesovrika beach. A third page calls the Antipaxos water ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Use the hour for the water, because the programmes list a set time for departure from Antipaxos.
What else is there on Antipaxos besides the beaches?
Besides its beaches, Antipaxos is largely covered in vineyards and has one harbour. The island measures 5 square kilometres, lies about 3 kilometres south of Paxos and has 21 residents. A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu visits a very small community.
One travel site says a large vineyard on the island produces excellent wine. A second site says Antipaxos has a long wine-growing tradition, with vineyards scattered across the interior. Those vineyards, it adds, are part of the island’s character, not a polished winery-tour circuit.
The first site also says Antipaxos has no shops, no real roads and only a couple of tavernas. The second site says food choices are limited and seasonal, with the practical options around Vrika and Voutoumi. Ask how long a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu stays there before you plan a meal ashore.
A taverna on Voutoumi beach serves fresh seafood and pasta, says a third site. Paxos, Antipaxos and the area around them are part of Natura, a European network of nature protection areas. The islands on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu sit inside that network.
One operator on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu offers a walking path on Antipaxos. Its crew found the hidden paths and beaches while moored there. The path lists Vrika Beach as its first stop. A private yacht operator writes that smaller caves and rock formations surround the island.
What can you do in the free time in Gaios?
The Gaios sailing of the Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu moors 50 metres from the main square. One operator allows 110 to 130 minutes ashore for a walk, a taverna lunch or a swim.
Gaios is the capital and largest port of Paxos, on the east coast. The boat reaches it through a narrow channel between two small islets, Panagia and Agios Nikolaos. Mansions with colourful tiled roofs show the Venetian influence. Little shops in the alleyways sell local products and souvenirs.
The port is the centre of social life, with fishing boats sitting beside sailing yachts in the marina. Tavernas, bars and boutiques line the waterfront, and a small flagstoned square sits at the water’s edge. One Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu lists lunch at the sea-view restaurants of the village.
For a swim, walk five minutes from the south side of the village to the small beach of Gaios. For a dry option, the Paxos Folklore Museum fills a neoclassical building on the waterfront. Its rooms run from prehistoric times to island life in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Across the water, the Castle of Agios Nikolaos dominates its islet.
The Gaios stop closes the day on the Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. On one timetable the boat reaches the harbour at 14:10 and leaves at 16:20, after the caves and Antipaxos. The stop is short, so choose two or three of these ideas.
Which Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu also stops at Lakka or Loggos?
The Lakka version of the Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu moors in the centre of Lakka village. The group sailings named on the operator pages give free time in Gaios or Lakka. A private yacht cruise is the one that lists Loggos.
On the Lakka sailing the boat anchors in front of the village for 110 to 130 minutes of free time. Lakka is the harbour community in the north of Paxos and the second-largest settlement. It sits in a natural bay, and the operator calls it unspoiled by mass tourism.
Passengers on the Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu walk five minutes to the Lakka beaches. The route starts at the west side of the village. The operator also offers a walking map of paths around the area.
The Lakka stop comes first. On one timetable the boat leaves Lakka at 13:10, enters the Ipapanti cave at 13:30 and reaches Antipaxos at 14:10. A second operator confirms it: on a Lakka day, the free-time stop is in the morning, not the afternoon.
The day decides the village. That operator’s timetable sends the Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu to Lakka on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. It uses Gaios on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Loggos is the third-largest settlement on Paxos. A private Sunseeker cruise from Gouvia Marina adds Loggos to a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. The village lies a short way up the east coast from Gaios. The operator mentions tavernas and swimming spots, advises booking a table well in advance, and says the stops are flexible.
Which boat types run a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu?
A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu runs on a day cruiser, a motor boat, or a private yacht. One large cruiser lists a total capacity of 300 people. One private yacht tour limits groups to 12 guests.
The day cruiser is the standard boat. One operator describes two open decks with seating and views, plus an air-conditioned main hall. The same boat has a self-service bar, toilets, showers, cabins, changing areas, a TV, and stereo music. Its maximum participation is 240 guests.
Operators also run a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu on motor boats. One listing names a luxury motor boat for up to 230 people. It has three bathrooms and a skipper who speaks English. One tour calls its boat a deluxe vessel. Another tour lists a maximum of 150 people.
A private day uses a yacht instead. One private tour lists a Sunseeker Predator 60 for a group of up to 10 people. A Sunseeker Predator 54 is 16.45 metres long. It has two cabins, two toilets, a cockpit with a wet bar, a dining area, and a large sun pad. A skipper and a hostess are on board that yacht.
Semi-private tours use wooden yachts. A wooden yacht keeps a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu to no more than 12 guests. Another private tour lists an experienced captain and a hostess, with certified crews who know the Ionian Sea.
Are food and drinks served on board during the day?
Yes. On a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu, the on-board bar sells drinks and snacks throughout the trip. Items from the bar are not included in the tour, and the standard cruise does not include lunch.
Bar menus differ by operator on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. One bar offers coffees, juices, toasts, sandwiches, pizzas, croissants, and alcoholic drinks. Another lists soft drinks, beers, spirits, fresh orange juice, chocolates, and snacks. A third adds cocktails, cold beer, burgers, pizzas, and hot dogs. One operator calls its bar fully equipped.
Food and drinks are not part of the ticket on the group tours. Tour pages list items from the ship’s bar as not included. One tour says food and drinks are for sale on board or at the Paxos stop. Another says meals and drinks are not included in the ticket.
Private yachts handle food differently. The package on one Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu lists refreshments, light snacks, and fruit. It also lists one bottle of wine for every four guests. Another private tour lists local wines, beers, soft drinks, snacks, fresh fruit, and cocktails. A semi-private wooden yacht lists an open bar.
Lunch works differently. On a large boat, a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu lists lunch at a village taverna ashore. The ticket does not cover that meal. A semi-private wooden yacht lists a chef-prepared lunch as included. A private tour lists a full lunch at a handpicked seaside taverna.
Does a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu suit children and older travellers?
A Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu takes children, as long as an adult travels with them. One operator calls it not suitable for travellers with mobility issues, so ask before you book.
Age bands differ between operators. One booking form lists infants up to 23 months and children from 2 to 11 years. Another lists infants as 0 to 5 and children as 6 to 11. A travel site adds that infants must sit on laps.
The boat matters for families on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. One operator lists two open decks with seating, an air-conditioned main hall, toilets, showers and cabins. A comparison site says large excursion boats ride steady in a little chop. It calls them stable and comfortable for families uneasy about rougher water.
Older travellers need to check access first. One travel site says the cruise is not wheelchair accessible. It tells travellers with heart problems or serious medical conditions to avoid the tour. A comparison site advises you to follow the skipper’s instructions when boarding and disembarking.
Two more points help a child or an older traveller on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. A comparison site tells swimmers who lack confidence to wear a life jacket, even when the swim stop looks calm. It also lists motion-sickness tablets for travellers prone to seasickness, taken before boarding rather than after.
Which wind and sea conditions cancel or change the route?
Poor weather changes or cancels a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. One operator says the schedule is subject to change due to weather. If it cancels the cruise, you choose another date or a full refund.
Summer wind follows a daily pattern on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. The Maistro blows from the northwest from late spring to the end of September. It generally arrives in early afternoon, blows at force 3 to 6 and dies down by evening. Mornings are calm, and departures before 9 am tend to catch calmer water.
The caves face the open sea. They sit on the west coast of Paxos, below steep white cliffs. A sailing site says waves from the open sea can hit west coasts in the Ionian hard. Eastern coasts near the mainland have a calmer sea. A comparison site adds that wind stirring the water near the cave entrances lowers visibility.
A travel site says the route can change when waves are too high. The caves on a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu depend on the weather. A comparison site says smaller boats cancel or reroute more frequently in moderate chop. Larger vessels tend to run as scheduled.
Season also matters for a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. In early and late season the Maistro is less developed and sometimes fails to blow. Passing depressions then bring strong to gale-force southerly winds, says a yacht charter site. Another site says winds in September and October are generally stronger than in high season.
What do you pack, and how do you book a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu?
Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and comfortable shoes or sandals. Then book your Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu online. Choose the tour with or without hotel transfer at checkout.
Operators publish similar packing lists. A waterproof camera and a snorkel mask appear on them too, so bring both if you own them. One operator also lists a small bottle of water. Another tells guests to carry cash for food, drinks and shopping in Paxos.
Each Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu comes in two forms. With transfer, the operator collects you from the address you give at checkout. Without transfer, you meet the boat at the port yourself. One operator starts hotel pickups between 7:00 and 8:30 in the morning. It sends your exact time with the booking confirmation.
Book ahead. One operator asks for at least two to three days’ notice, because places depend on availability. Another sends its confirmation within 24 hours of booking, subject to availability. After that, the local operator emails a check-in form. You fill in your details, receive a boarding card, and show it to get on the boat.
Which questions do people ask before a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu?
Which languages does the commentary use?
Operator pages list English, Italian, French and German for a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu. One operator adds Romanian on five days of the week and Russian on three. Another promises full-day guiding in more than two languages. Check which languages run on your date.
Does the Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu run every day?
Departures follow set days. One operator runs its Gaios cruise on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, with dates from April to October. Another lists a departure for every day of the week. The days differ between operators, so check the calendar for your date before you plan the rest of your stay.
Which hotels and resorts does the pickup cover?
Pickup areas for a Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu depend on the operator. One list covers Sidari, Kassiopi, Ipsos, Dassia, Gouvia, Paleokastritsa, Kanoni and Corfu Town. Another list covers Kavos, Lefkimmi, Marathias, Moraitika, Messonghi, Benitses and Perama. Pickup applies only to the transfer option, so type your hotel into the booking form to confirm it.
Can you change or cancel the booking?
The rules differ by operator. One gives free cancellation up to 72 hours before pickup. Another charges no fee up to 24 hours before departure. A third lets you move to another open date and refunds you in full within 24 hours of booking. Read the terms of your cruise before you pay.
How do you pay, and is insurance included?
One operator lets you check availability and book online. It accepts Visa, American Express, Mastercard and Google Pay, and it states that all participants have insurance cover. Other operators set their own terms, so read the booking page for your Paxos Antipaxos Blue Caves cruise from Corfu.