An Astypalaia boat trip is a seven to eight hour day cruise from Pera Gialos to the Koutsomitis sandbar, the Kounoupes islets and the Red Rock, with lunch and three swim stops, priced from 45 euros a head. Plan the rest of the trip with Greece Tours.
This page covers the trip: what it costs, the route, the islets, the Red Rock, the west-wing coves, private and rental boats, the season and how to book.
What does an Astypalaia boat trip cost?
From 45 to 75 euros a head for a full-day shared cruise to the Koutsomitis and Kounoupes islets with lunch, 350 to 900 for a private boat to six beaches, and 120 to 250 a day for a licence-free rental from Pera Gialos or Maltezana.
The shared price covers the boat, the skipper, a cooked lunch, water and soft drinks. An Astypalaia boat trip is booked around it.
Wine and beer are poured with lunch on most day cruises. Guests meet it in the first Astypalaia boat trip hour.
Private boats price by the vessel and the hours rather than by the head. It decides which Astypalaia boat trip suits the party.
Rentals add 30 to 60 euros of fuel depending on the route. Astypalaia boat trip skippers prepare for it.
Children go half price and under fives travel free.
Tickets sell at the harbour kiosks and on the platform listings.
Where does an Astypalaia boat trip go?
South-east from the Chora harbour at Pera Gialos to the islets of Koutsomitis and Kounoupes, past the Red Rock, and on the private routes around the west wing to Kaminakia, Vatses, Agios Ioannis and the caves of the southern cliffs.
Astypalaia is shaped like a butterfly, two land wings joined by a narrow isthmus. Every Astypalaia boat trip is routed around this.
The coast runs to 110 kilometres around an island of only 97 square kilometres. That is the Astypalaia boat trip advantage over the road.
Most of the best beaches on the western wing sit at the end of dirt roads. The Astypalaia boat trip price reflects it.
The islets off the south-east coast have no road access at all. An Astypalaia boat trip settles this at boarding.
Skippers set the route on the morning by the wind.
Full days make three or four swim stops.
What are Koutsomitis and Kounoupes?
Two small uninhabited islets off the south-east of Astypalaia: Koutsomitis with a sandbar joining two rocks and turquoise shallows on either side, and Kounoupes with a pebble beach and clear water below low cliffs.
Koutsomitis is the stop every day cruise is sold on. The Astypalaia boat trip listing states it plainly.
The sand spit is narrow enough to have water on both sides of a towel. An Astypalaia boat trip carries the masks for it.
The shallows run one to two metres deep over white sand. An Astypalaia boat trip fills first on that count.
Kounoupes sits a short hop away and makes the second swim stop. The Astypalaia boat trip route is set by it.
Neither islet has a building, a bar or a path.
Boats anchor off and passengers swim or wade ashore.
What is the Red Rock?
Kokkinos Vrachos, a sheer headland of red volcanic stone on the south coast, rising straight from deep water with a small cove at its foot, and the landmark the day cruises stop beneath for photographs and a swim.
The colour comes from iron in the volcanic rock. This is what an Astypalaia boat trip delivers.
The water below the cliff turns deep blue within a few metres of the shore. The Astypalaia boat trip season turns on this.
Snorkellers find bream and wrasse along the rock face. The Astypalaia boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
No road reaches the cove below it. Skippers raise it early on an Astypalaia boat trip.
Afternoon light makes the rock glow on the return leg.
It is the most photographed point on the Astypalaia coast.
What is Kaminakia?
A pebble beach in a deep bay on the south-west of the western wing, with clear water, a small seasonal taverna and a rough dirt road, and the destination of the private boat routes around that side of the island.
The drive takes 40 minutes from Chora on a poor track. Astypalaia boat trip skippers prepare for it.
By boat it is under an hour from Pera Gialos. An Astypalaia boat trip is booked around it.
Vatses sits in the next bay with a sand beach and a cave at its western end. Guests meet it in the first Astypalaia boat trip hour.
Agios Ioannis lies further north below a monastery and a waterfall in spring. It decides which Astypalaia boat trip suits the party.
The taverna at Kaminakia serves goat and fish on the pebbles.
Private boats combine all three in a day.
How long does an Astypalaia boat trip last?
Seven to eight hours on the shared day cruise with lunch and three swim stops, four to eight on the private boat routes, and as long as the party wants on a self-drive rental.
Day cruises leave Pera Gialos between 10:00 and 10:30. An Astypalaia boat trip settles this at boarding.
The run to Koutsomitis takes about an hour. Every Astypalaia boat trip is routed around this.
Lunch is served on board at anchor or at a beach taverna. That is the Astypalaia boat trip advantage over the road.
Return lands in the late afternoon.
Private boats start earlier and reach the islets first.
Wind changes the order of the stops rather than cancelling the day.
Where does the Astypalaia boat trip leave from?
Pera Gialos, the harbour below Chora, for the day cruises and most private boats, and Maltezana on the eastern wing for rentals and a few of the south-east runs.
Pera Gialos sits a ten-minute walk down from the Chora windmills. The Astypalaia boat trip route is set by it.
Maltezana is the island’s second village and 9 kilometres east. The Astypalaia boat trip listing states it plainly.
The airport sits beside Maltezana on the isthmus. An Astypalaia boat trip carries the masks for it.
Electric buses link Chora, Pera Gialos and Maltezana through the day in summer.
Parking at Pera Gialos is limited and fills in August.
The boat name and time are on the ticket.
What is Astypalaia?
The westernmost of the Dodecanese, halfway between Amorgos and Kos, with about 1,300 residents, a white Chora climbing to a Venetian castle, a butterfly-shaped coastline, and a Cycladic look despite its Dodecanese address.
The Querini castle at the top of Chora was built by Venetian lords in the fifteenth century. Skippers raise it early on an Astypalaia boat trip.
Windmills line the ridge below the castle. This is what an Astypalaia boat trip delivers.
Ferries reach it from Piraeus in nine to twelve hours. The Astypalaia boat trip season turns on this.
A small airport takes flights from Athens in under an hour.
The island runs an electric-vehicle programme and its buses are electric.
Few visitors reach it, which is why the coves stay empty.
When is the best season for an Astypalaia boat trip?
June to September for daily departures and 23 to 26 degree water, with the meltemi most frequent in July and August and the south-east islets sheltered on most days.
May and October run on request rather than on a timetable. It decides which Astypalaia boat trip suits the party.
Sea temperature peaks in late August. Astypalaia boat trip skippers prepare for it.
August brings the island’s busiest weeks and the boats fill. An Astypalaia boat trip is booked around it.
Wind cancellations are refunded or moved to another day.
Booking a few days ahead covers high summer.
June has the calmest days and the fewest visitors.
What do you bring on an Astypalaia boat trip?
Swimsuit, towel, sun cream, a hat, water shoes for the pebble beaches, a layer for the return, and cash for the island tavernas and the boat bar.
The islets have no shade and no facilities. The Astypalaia boat trip price reflects it.
Card readers are not reliable on the smaller boats. An Astypalaia boat trip settles this at boarding.
Masks are supplied on the day cruises and fins are not. Every Astypalaia boat trip is routed around this.
Dry bags keep phones safe during the swim landings.
The sun on the water is stronger than it feels.
Crews carry water and name anything else at confirmation.
What are the common Astypalaia boat trip mistakes?
Driving to Kaminakia on the dirt road in a small hire car, expecting shade on the islets, booking a day cruise on the day before a ferry that leaves at dawn, and forgetting cash on an island with few card readers.
The western roads damage rental cars and void the insurance. An Astypalaia boat trip fills first on that count.
Koutsomitis has sand and water and nothing else. The Astypalaia boat trip route is set by it.
Ferry schedules here are sparse and early departures are common. The Astypalaia boat trip listing states it plainly.
Cash is the reliable payment outside Chora.
The fifth is skipping the Red Rock swim on the return leg.
Booking early in the stay avoids the ferry clash.
How do you book an Astypalaia boat trip?
Book a few days ahead in July and August and a day ahead through the rest of the season. Shared day cruises cap at twenty to forty, and private boats need two to three days’ notice in high summer.
Operators confirm the harbour, the boat and the time by message. The Astypalaia boat trip calendar is shaped by it.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead is standard on the platform listings. Skippers raise it early on an Astypalaia boat trip.
Dietary needs go on the booking for the lunch cruises. This is what an Astypalaia boat trip delivers.
Wind reroutes are called on the morning of the trip.
Groups of six or more take a private quote rather than separate seats.
A Cyclades boat day to the west sits at Ios boat trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an Astypalaia boat trip cost?
From 45 to 75 euros a head for the shared day cruise to Koutsomitis and Kounoupes with lunch, 350 to 900 for a private boat to six beaches, and 120 to 250 a day for a licence-free rental plus fuel.
What is Koutsomitis?
An uninhabited islet off the south-east coast where a narrow sand spit joins two rocks, with turquoise shallows one to two metres deep on either side. It has no building, no shade and no road, and every day cruise stops there.
Where does the boat leave from?
Pera Gialos, the harbour a ten-minute walk below the Chora windmills, for the day cruises and most private boats, and Maltezana on the eastern wing for rentals and a few of the south-east runs.