If there is one excursion our guests come back raving about, it is the Paxos and Antipaxos boat trip. Every single week, someone will walk through the door after a long day at sea and say the same thing: "The water at Antipaxos. I didn't believe the photos, but it really is that blue."
Here is everything we tell guests when they ask. Which boat to choose, which port to leave from, what to pack, and why an early start really is worth it.
Why We Always Recommend It
Paxos and Antipaxos are two small islands thirty-odd miles south of Corfu. Paxos is covered in olive trees planted by the Venetians — something like half a million of them on an island you can walk across in a morning. Antipaxos is smaller still, mostly empty, and has the brightest turquoise water we've seen anywhere in the Mediterranean.
The day rolls three experiences into one: the Blue Caves along Paxos' western cliffs, the beaches of Antipaxos, and an hour ashore in Gaios — a tiny Venetian harbour that feels lifted from a film set. Nine hours out of your holiday, six memories you won't forget.
Paxos — The Olive Island
Three small harbours (Gaios, Lakka, Loggos), hills of silver-green olive, and about 2,500 residents in total. Most tours stop only at Gaios — if you want to see the others, a longer private charter or a ferry stay makes sense.
Antipaxos — The One With The Water
Two beaches, a few vineyards, nothing else. Voutoumi and Vrika. The water is shallow, the sand is fine, and the colour genuinely matches the photos. Two simple tavernas at Vrika for lunch — book ahead or be patient.
The Realistic Day
Most guests don't quite realise it is a long day. Early pick-up (usually 7:30–8:00am from their accommodation), 2–3 hours out, 2–3 hours back, and everything worthwhile squeezed into the middle. Expect to be on the boat until 6:30pm.
The morning usually goes to the Blue Caves on Paxos' west side. Midday is the Antipaxos swim stop — usually 90 minutes to two hours anchored at Voutoumi. The afternoon is a shore visit at Gaios village, then back home.
What to Visit Once You Arrive
The Blue Caves
A chain of arches carved into Paxos' limestone cliffs. The light refracts inside into an otherworldly blue — the name is not marketing. Smaller boats can enter the caves; larger ones stop just outside.
Voutoumi Beach
The photo-famous one. Fine white pebble under shallow turquoise water. There's a beach bar up the cliff path if you want a cold beer and a souvlaki, but many guests bring sandwiches and skip the climb.
Gaios Village
A Venetian port tucked behind a little island (Agios Nikolaos) that shields the harbour from the open sea. Pastel houses, cobbled alleys, tiny kafeneia. An hour is enough to feel you've seen it; two hours is better if your boat allows.
Which Type of Boat?
This is the decision most guests agonise over. Here is what we actually say:
The Big Tour Boat
€35–55 per person. Fine for first-timers who want a day at sea cheaply. The Blue Caves are seen from the outside, the swim stops are shorter, and the deck gets crowded. Worth it if budget is the first constraint.
The Small Group
€80–120 per person. The sweet spot. Faster boat, proper entry into the caves, longer anchorage at Antipaxos. This is what we recommend to 80% of our guests.
The Private Charter
€400–900 per boat for up to 8 people. If you're a family of four or a group of six friends, the per-person cost works out close to the small-group rate, and the day is completely yours. Sunsets included.
The Ferry Without a Tour
€25 return, twice daily. You skip Antipaxos and the Blue Caves entirely but get 5 unhurried hours on Paxos. Perfect for a couple who would rather have a long lunch in Loggos than a schedule.
Our Host's Tip
Book the port closest to where you're staying. Corfu Town, Benitses and Kavos all run trips; picking the right one saves you a 45-minute shuttle each way. We keep a cheat-sheet by the welcome basket at our beach houses — ask us when you arrive.
What to Pack
Reef shoes or aqua socks. The pebble beach at Voutoumi is sharp on bare feet.
A rash vest and high-SPF sunscreen. The open water multiplies the sun.
Cash in euros. The Antipaxos beach tavernas don't take card.
Motion sickness tablets. Even a gentle swell gets the unprepared. Take them before boarding.
When to Go
June and September are the two best months — warm water, fewer boats at the anchorages, and tavernas still running full service. July and August are lively but crowded. May and October run weather-dependent; we book our own day trips for the middle of a week in case we need to reschedule.
★ Rent a Car with Herbie
An early boat-trip start is much easier when you've got your own car parked at your accommodation. Our rental partner delivers to wherever you're staying — no airport queue.
Book a car →A Base That Works for the Day
Because the boat leaves early, the commute from wherever you're staying matters. Our beach houses on the east coast put you minutes from the Corfu Town and Benitses departures. If you're combining Old Town nights with beach days, a town base works as well.
★ Oikia 4 — Corfu Town
A Corfu Town apartment close to the Old Port, so the early morning walk to the boat is five minutes rather than forty.
View apartment →Further Reading
If you love the Antipaxos water, you will enjoy our guide to the hidden beaches on Corfu reachable only by boat. And for a calmer swimming day without the crossing, see the east coast beaches guide.