Located south of Naxos, in the Cyclades islands, Koufonisia is a small group of islands comprising of Pano (Upper) Koufonisi and Kato (Lower) Koufonisi. They belong to the Small Cyclades group, together with their neighbours Iraklia, Schinoussa, Amorgos and Donoussa while their administration centre is Naxos island.
These two small islands are of exceptional beauty, mainly due to the sand colour and crystal clear tropical like sea. Their architecture follows the traditional Cycladic style, with the white washed houses and the blue frames that match the colour of the Aegean Sea and the narrow alleyways.
It is easy to travel to Koufonisia from Naxos, by ferry, by smaller tour boats during middle and high season or by sailing boat on a daily cruise. Tour boats depart either from Naxos Town or from Moutsouna, for a much shorter trip to Koufonisia.
Kato Koufonisi is mostly uninhabited, except for some fishermen’s houses. At Pano Koufonisi, most accommodation units are rooms to let or studios and apartments. There are no big hotels. Although there are plenty of rooms for the tourists, during high season (middle July to middle August) it is very hard to find a place to stay if you haven’t already pre-booked your accommodation. This is why you need to plan early enough.
During your stay, you may also come across some nature lovers who have camped by the sea. However, this is common during the low season only.
The beaches of Pano Koufonisi
There are 6 beaches at Pano Koufonisi. These are Ammos, Hondros, Harokopou, Fanos, Platia Pounta and Pori. They are all sandy beaches, except for Hondros that contains small pebbles.
Pori beach is the most famous of them all, as it is considered by most the most beautiful beach on the island.
Why visit Koufonisia
The best reason to travel to Koufonisia is their amazing beaches. If you want to enjoy them more, make sure you visit from early May till the end of June or even during September.
Additionally, their location offers a great opportunity for island hopping to the nearest islands, as the ferry connects them all. Good planning is necessary to make the most of your time. You should know that from Naxos, there are daily cruises that stop to all the Small Cyclades. This is a fantastic and short way of getting to know the islands, so that you can safely decide which ones you like the most. While on the ferry, you won’t have the chance to get out, you will only be able to admire them from the boat’s deck.
