An Evia boat trip shows the island of Euboea from the water, from the fishing grounds off Eretria to the sea caves of the north and the Petali islands in the south. Find more coast and island days with Greece Tours.
Read on for the cruises on sale, the fishing and sailing trips, the islets, the sea caves, the tidal strait at Chalkida, planning tips and common questions.
What is an Evia boat trip?
An Evia boat trip is a sea outing along the coast of Euboea, the large island just off the Greek mainland. Trips leave from Eretria, Karavos, Marmari and other harbours for swims, fishing, sea caves, sunset cruises and the islets of the South Euboean Gulf.
Evia lies close to Attica and Boeotia. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from the mainland at Chalkida and links the North Euboean Gulf with the South Euboean Gulf. That makes the island easy to reach by road, without a ferry.
Eretria is the main base for an Evia boat trip in the south. The town faces the coast of Attica across the narrow South Euboean Gulf, and its name means “city of the rowers”. Homer lists Eretria in the Iliad among the Greek cities that sent ships to the Trojan War.
The coast offers variety. The south has quiet islets and fishing grounds, the far south has the Petali islands, and the north has sea caves with stalactites. An Evia boat trip can fill a morning, an evening or a whole day. Our Evia tours page covers the island on land.
Which Evia boat trip can you book?
GetYourGuide sells a fishing boat cruise from Eretria, a private half-day cruise from Karavos, a full-day cruise to Port Buffalo and the Blue Lagoon, a full-day fishing trip with a barbecue, and a 2-day private cruise to the Petali islands and Marmari.
Two short formats lead the list. “South Evia Fishing Boat Cruise: Morning Swim or Sunset” lasts 4 to 5 hours from Eretria. “South Evia: Private Half-Day Cruise, Morning or Sunset” lasts 3 to 5 hours from Karavos port. Both run as private groups, offer pickup and allow free cancellation.
A longer Evia boat trip suits groups who want more time on the water. The full-day cruise from Eretria heads to Port Buffalo and the Blue Lagoon on the west coast. A second full-day option adds fishing, a barbecue and snorkelling to the Evia boat trip.
The local dive centre Thalassa Diving Academy runs its own rib boat tours. Its routes cover the islets off Eretria, the sea caves of Limionas in the north, the caves near Zarakes in the south and a coastal run from Artaki to Melouna.
Italian tour operator Grecia365 sells a classic snorkelling cruise to the Petali islands from Marmari harbour, for groups of 10 to 18 people.
What does the Eretria fishing cruise include?
The South Evia fishing cruise leaves Eretria port for a 4-hour morning or sunset trip across the South Euboean Gulf. Guests fish with the crew, stop to swim in clear water and get refreshments on board. Pickup is available.
This Evia boat trip uses a fishing boat rather than a yacht. Guests try hands-on fishing as the boat crosses the gulf.
The swim stops break up the fishing on this Evia boat trip. The trip includes swimming stops in clear water, and refreshments are served on board.
Pick the time of day that suits your Evia boat trip. The morning version is built around a swim. The sunset version sails in the evening light.
The trip runs as a private group, so only your party is on board. It lasts 4 to 5 hours, takes bookings up to 10 hours before departure and allows free cancellation. A full-day fishing cruise with a barbecue and snorkelling also runs for those who want more time at sea.
What does the private cruise from Karavos show?
The private half-day cruise sails from Karavos port in South Evia. The morning option visits Punda Beach and Fig Tree Cove. The sunset option is a romantic cruise with local snacks and snorkelling.
The morning route is for swimmers. The boat stops at Punda Beach and at a small bay known as Fig Tree Cove, where guests can swim and rest before the return to Karavos. This Evia boat trip lasts 3 to 5 hours, depending on the option.
The sunset route slows the pace. Guests sail along the coast in the evening light, snack on local food and snorkel before dark. GetYourGuide describes it as a sailing cruise.
The cruise runs for private groups and small groups. Pickup is available, bookings close 10 hours before the start, and free cancellation applies.
For a longer voyage, a 2-day private cruise listed under Eretria sails to the Petali islands and Marmari, turning an Evia boat trip into a short sailing holiday.
Which islets can an Evia boat trip reach from Eretria?
Aspronisi and Agia Triada lie off Eretria. Aspronisi has one main beach and a sandy islet that appears and disappears with the tide. Agia Triada once belonged to the King of Greece and keeps his tower, though landing is not allowed.
Aspronisi is a small islet across from Eretria, with a main beach and a low hill with trees. Next to it, a strip of sand rises above the water at low tide and vanishes again when the sea comes back in.
Agia Triada is larger and covered in trees. Thalassa Diving Academy notes that its tower still holds the king’s personal items, such as paintings. Boats circle the islet, and guests swim around it in clear water that suits snorkelling.
This Evia boat trip by rib starts at Eretria port. A certified instructor guides the snorkelling, and the price includes masks, snorkels, water, fruit, a Greek snack, a captain, a lifeguard and fuel.
The Petali islands, further south off Marmari, make another Evia boat trip. Grecia365 calls them the “Greek Seychelles” and sells a cruise with three swimming stops, hidden beaches reachable only by boat, and fruit and snacks served on the beach.
Where can you see sea caves on an Evia boat trip?
Limionas beach in North Evia is the start of a rib tour into 10 sea caves with stalactites, stalagmites and a rare blue-winged bat. In South Evia, a shorter tour from Zarakes enters 2 caves with very clear water.
The northern Evia boat trip begins with the drive. On the way from Chalkida to Limionas, the road passes Dirfys, the tallest mountain on Evia. At Limionas the boat enters 10 caves for sightseeing or snorkelling, past stalactites and underwater openings.
After the caves, the boat stops at a private beach that can only be reached from the sea. Guests snorkel with a guide or relax, and the tour ends at a traditional taverna, where food costs extra.
The southern route starts at Zarakes beach. This Evia boat trip enters 2 caves with stalactites, stalagmites and clear blue water, then stops at a beach with a seafront taverna before the return.
Two more routes show the west and north coasts. A rib from Porto Buffalo heads to the Blue Lagoon for snorkelling and quiet beaches, and Thalassa Diving Academy describes this destination as windless as a rule.
In the north, a tour from Drosia circles Eglezonisi, a tree-covered islet with three sandy beaches and the ruins of the house of the archaeologist Francis Turville-Petre.
Why is the Euripus Strait unusual for boats?
The Euripus Strait at Chalkida has strong tidal currents that change direction about four times a day, which is rare in the Eastern Mediterranean. The flow reaches about 12 km per hour, and small boats struggle to sail against it.
The strait is only 38 metres wide at its narrowest point, in the middle of Chalkida. A sliding bridge crosses it there and moves aside to let ships through. A second, cable-suspended bridge south of the town spans the strait where it is 160 metres wide.
The currents puzzled scholars for centuries. The Swiss scientist François-Alphonse Forel helped explain them through his study of seiches, and D. Eginitis, director of the Athens Observatory, published the full answer in 1929.
The name comes from the ancient Greek word euripos, used for any narrow sea where the ebb and flow is violent.
Ships have used the strait since antiquity. Herodotus describes it at the time of the Battle of Artemisium in 480 BC, when fleets of triremes sailed through. Watching the water turn at the old bridge makes a good stop before or after an Evia boat trip.
How do you plan an Evia boat trip?
Book the GetYourGuide cruises at least 10 hours ahead and choose a morning or sunset slot. Pickup is available on the fishing and Karavos cruises. Boats can also be rented, with or without a skipper.
Pick the base for your Evia boat trip by route. Eretria serves the fishing cruise, the full-day trip to the Blue Lagoon and the islets of Aspronisi and Agia Triada. Karavos and Marmari serve the Petali islands, and Limionas serves the northern caves.
Renting is another way to plan an Evia boat trip. BednBlue lists sailing boats, catamarans, motor yachts and small inflatables for hire in Evia, by the day, the weekend or longer. Sailing boats suit larger groups on a budget, while motor yachts reach more stops in one day.
Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection and a hat. The rib tours of Thalassa Diving Academy supply masks and snorkels, and the GetYourGuide cruises include refreshments on board. Our Evia section lists more trips on the island.
For a longer adventure, Thalassa Diving Academy runs a 4-day rib safari around the whole island. The route links Chalkida, Limni, Aidipsos, Kymi, Karystos, Marmari and Eretria, with stops at remote beaches, caves and snorkelling spots, three hotel nights and full meals. It is the longest Evia boat trip on offer.
What do travellers ask about an Evia boat trip?
Where do Evia boat trips leave from?
Eretria, Karavos, Marmari, Limionas, Zarakes, Porto Buffalo and Drosia all serve as starting points.
How long is an Evia boat trip?
The half-day cruises last 3 to 5 hours. Full-day cruises and a 2-day private cruise also run.
Can you fish on an Evia boat trip?
Yes. The South Evia fishing cruise from Eretria includes hands-on fishing with the crew.
Is snorkelling gear included?
Yes on the rib tours of Thalassa Diving Academy, which supply masks and snorkels.