Folegandros boat tours leave the quay at Karavostasi for a six to eight hour round-the-island cruise, four-hour half-day runs, private speedboats of six to ten metres and a guided snorkelling programme, reaching Katergo, Livadaki and the caves under the Chora cliff. Plan the rest of the island with Greece Tours.
This page covers the whole day: where the boats leave and what they look like, the beaches and coves they reach, Katergo and the round-the-island circuit, the price bands, the snorkelling cruise, how the meltemi decides the route, and how to book Folegandros boat tours in high summer.
What Folegandros boat tours run from Karavostasi?
Five formats operate from Karavostasi: the round-the-island cruise of six to eight hours, four-hour half-day runs along the south coast, private speedboat charters on six to ten metre hulls, a guided snorkelling cruise with equipment supplied, and evening sunset trips of two to three hours.
The round-the-island cruise departs between 10:00 and 10:30 and returns to the quay by 17:30. It circles the full coastline, stops three or four times for swimming, and serves a cooked lunch on board. Half-day runs leave at 10:00 and 15:00, cover Katergo, Vorina and Serfiotiko, and return within four hours. Group sizes on the caiques sit between 20 and 30 passengers. The Folegandros boat tours operators state this at booking. This is what Folegandros boat tours deliver on the water.
Private charters work differently. The skipper agrees the route at the quay, adjusts it to wind, and carries six to ten guests depending on hull length. A four-hour private booking reaches Katergo, Livadaki and the caves under the Chora cliff. A full-day private booking completes the 32 km circuit with time at Ampeli and Agios Nikolaos. The Folegandros boat tours price reflects it.
The sunset trip leaves at 19:00 in July and 18:30 in September, runs west under the Chora cliff, and anchors off Agios Nikolaos while the light drops behind Sikinos. Wine, beer and mezedes are served on board, which pairs naturally with a land-based Folegandros wine tasting earlier in the trip. Snorkelling cruises run four days a week from mid-June through mid-September. Folegandros boat tours are sold on that.
All five formats share the same departure point, the same weather rules and the same VHF-monitored return schedule, so switching between them across a five-day stay involves no change of harbour. The Folegandros boat tours route is set by it.
Where do the boats leave from and what do the vessels look like?
Every departure uses the concrete quay at Karavostasi, immediately east of the ferry berth. The fleet mixes traditional wooden caiques of 12 to 15 metres with fibreglass speedboats of six, eight and ten metres, each carrying a boarding ladder and a fitted sunshade.
Karavostasi sits 3 km below Chora on the island’s east coast. The bus from Chora takes eight minutes and costs 2 euros; taxis charge 8 to 10 euros. Boarding starts fifteen minutes before departure. The quay has no ticket office, so operators meet passengers beside the moored vessel with a printed manifest and a passenger list. Every one of the Folegandros boat tours is timed against it. Folegandros boat tours leave Karavostasi with this settled.
The caiques carry 20 to 30 passengers under a full-length canvas awning, with bench seating along both gunwales, a marine toilet, a freshwater rinse hose and a wide stern platform with a four-step ladder. Cool boxes hold water and soft drinks. Lunch is prepared in a small galley below the wheelhouse and served at the second swim stop. Folegandros boat tours fill first on that count in August.
Speedboats carry six on the 6 metre hull, eight on the 8 metre and ten on the 10 metre, all with 150 to 300 horsepower outboards, bow sun cushions, a bimini top and a swim ladder at the transom. Cruising speed reaches 22 knots, which cuts the run to Katergo to twelve minutes. Skippers hold Greek commercial licences and carry VHF radios, life jackets in adult and child sizes, and a first-aid kit. The Folegandros boat tours fleet is fitted for it.
Arrival by ferry lands passengers at the same quay, including the Milos to Folegandros crossing, which takes 45 minutes on the high-speed vessel. Passengers on Folegandros boat tours read it from the deck.
Which beaches and sea caves do folegandros boat tours reach?
Standard routes reach Katergo, Livadaki, Ampeli, Agios Nikolaos, Vorina, Serfiotiko, Fira and Vitsentzou, plus the sea caves under the Chora cliff and Chrysospilia on the north-east coast, all within a 17 nautical mile circuit of Karavostasi.
Katergo lies 1.2 nautical miles south of Karavostasi, a red-rock pebble cove with three small bays and no road access. Vorina and Serfiotiko sit closer, at 0.6 and 0.9 nautical miles, both shingle, both shadeless after 13:00. Fira and Vitsentzou fall on the same southern stretch and take fifteen minutes of cruising between them at eight knots. Folegandros boat tours are sold on that.
Agios Nikolaos lies on the west coast, 5 nautical miles round from the port, with tamarisk shade and one taverna operating from June to September. Livadaki sits 0.8 nautical miles further north, sand and pebble, reachable on foot from Ano Meria in 35 minutes. Ampeli, the northernmost swim stop, adds another 1.5 nautical miles and holds water at 4 to 6 metres over sand. The Folegandros boat tours route is set by it.
The cliff caves run beneath Chora, where the rock rises 200 metres straight from the sea. Tenders and speedboats enter two of the openings when swell stays under half a metre; the caiques hold position outside. Chrysospilia, the cave carrying ancient inscribed names, is viewed from the water only, since archaeological protection keeps landing closed. This is what Folegandros boat tours deliver on the water.
Folegandros boat tours combine four of these stops on a half-day and seven or eight on the full circuit, with swim times of 30 to 45 minutes at each anchorage. That is the Folegandros boat tours difference.
What is Katergo beach and why does boat access matter there?
Katergo occupies the island’s south-eastern tip, a 300-metre pebble cove backed by rust-coloured rock with no road, no taverna and no shade. Access runs either on a 40-minute walking track from Livadi or by boat from Karavostasi in twelve to fifteen minutes.
The walking route starts at Livadi campsite, climbs a stony ridge, drops 90 metres and crosses loose scree in the final stretch. In July heat above 34 degrees the walk back at 16:00 is the hard half. Boat transfers remove that entirely, and shuttle caiques run four to six sailings a day between 10:00 and 18:00 at 12 to 15 euros return. The Folegandros boat tours fleet is fitted for it.
Water at Katergo shelves fast. Depth reaches 3 metres eight strides from the shoreline and 12 metres at the anchorage where cruise boats hold. The pebbles are coarse, so water shoes matter, and the seabed is clean rock and sand with no seagrass. Visibility runs 15 to 20 metres in September. Passengers on Folegandros boat tours read it from the deck.
The cove faces south-east and takes the meltemi across its mouth. When the north wind reaches force 6, chop wraps the headland, the shuttle stops and the anchorage empties. Under those conditions the walking track stays open, though the exposed ridge carries the same gusts. June and late September deliver the steadiest conditions. Folegandros boat tours leave Karavostasi with this settled.
Bring two litres of water per person, food, and an umbrella. Nothing is sold at the cove, and the nearest supply point is Karavostasi, 1.2 nautical miles back around the point. Folegandros boat tours carry the gear for it.
What does the round-the-island cruise cover?
The full circuit covers roughly 32 km of coastline in seven to eight hours, running anticlockwise from Karavostasi past Chrysospilia, along the north shore below Ano Meria, down the west coast to Agios Nikolaos, and back via Katergo with three or four swim stops.
Departure is 10:00. The first leg passes the Chora cliff, where the village sits 200 metres above the waterline, then reaches Chrysospilia after 25 minutes. The cave mouth holds inscribed names cut by ancient visitors, viewed from the boat at a standoff of 30 metres. Landing is prohibited under Ephorate protection. This is what Folegandros boat tours deliver on the water.
The north coast between Chrysospilia and Ampeli is the most exposed stretch of the circuit and the first section dropped when the meltemi builds. Under calm conditions the boat anchors at Ampeli for a 40-minute swim, then runs south to Livadaki and Agios Nikolaos, where lunch is served at anchor around 13:30: grilled fish or chicken, Greek salad, bread, fruit, water and local wine. That is the Folegandros boat tours difference.
The afternoon covers Vitsentzou and Fira, then Katergo for the final swim at 15:30. Return to the quay falls between 17:00 and 17:30, which leaves time for the 18:00 bus up to Chora. Skippers narrate the geology of the volcanic west cliffs and point out the Panagia church on the ridge above Folegandros town. The Folegandros boat tours timetable is built on it.
Snorkel masks are carried on board. Children over five travel at reduced fare on the full-day circuit. The Folegandros boat tours season turns on this.
What do folegandros boat tours cost?
Shared group cruises run 45 to 80 euros per person including lunch and drinks. Private speedboat charters cost 300 to 500 euros for four hours with six guests and 550 to 900 euros for a full day, with fuel and skipper included in the quoted figure.
The lower band on the group cruise, 45 to 55 euros, covers half-day runs of four hours with fruit, water and one swim-stop snack. The 65 to 80 euro band covers the eight-hour circuit with a cooked lunch, wine, beer and soft drinks. Children aged five to twelve pay 50 to 60 percent. Infants under two travel free. Folegandros boat tours leave Karavostasi with this settled.
Private pricing scales with hull length rather than headcount. A 6 metre boat carrying six costs 300 to 380 euros for four hours; an 8 metre carrying eight costs 420 to 500 euros; the 10 metre reaches 900 euros across a full day. Divide by the group and the per-head figure lands near 60 euros. Folegandros boat tours carry the gear for it.
Fuel, skipper, life jackets, snorkel gear and harbour fees sit inside the price. Paid separately: food and drink on private charters unless a catering package is added at 20 to 25 euros per head, port taxes of 2 euros in a small number of listings, and gratuity, which runs 10 percent by convention. Skippers handle it before Folegandros boat tours cast off.
Folegandros boat tours accept card payment at booking for online reservations and cash at the quay for walk-ups, with deposits of 30 percent standard on private hires during August. The Folegandros boat tours operators state this at booking.
What does the guided snorkelling cruise include?
The snorkelling cruise runs four to five hours with a certified dive professional on board, supplies masks, fins, snorkels and 3 mm shorty wetsuits in adult and child sizes, and makes two or three water entries at sheltered south-coast coves in depths of 3 to 8 metres.
Departure is 10:00 from Karavostasi on an 8 or 10 metre boat carrying eight to twelve guests. The guide runs a fifteen-minute briefing covering mask clearing, fin technique, buddy pairing and the surface signals used in the water. Every entry uses the stern ladder, and a float line trails behind the boat as a rest point. The Folegandros boat tours timetable is built on it.
Sites rotate between Vorina, Serfiotiko, Fira and the rock shelves west of Katergo. Bottom composition mixes limestone reef, posidonia meadow and clean sand. Marine life logged on these runs includes ornate wrasse, salema, damselfish, octopus in the rock crevices, and sea urchins across the shallow shelf. Visibility reaches 20 metres in September and 12 to 15 metres in June. The Folegandros boat tours season turns on this.
Minimum age is eight years. Every participant confirms they swim 50 metres unaided and float without support. Non-swimmers stay aboard or use a buoyancy vest at the surface with the guide alongside. Guests holding open-water certification join a deeper 10 metre entry at the third site when swell stays under 0.4 metres. It decides which of the Folegandros boat tours to take.
Underwater cameras are supplied on request at no charge, and the guide shares the image files by download link within 48 hours of return. Every one of the Folegandros boat tours is timed against it.
How does the meltemi decide the route on folegandros boat tours?
The meltemi, the dry north wind of July and August, sets every route. When it blows force 4 to 5, skippers abandon the north coast and run the sheltered south shore. Above force 5 sustained, departures cancel outright and passengers take a refund or reschedule.
The wind builds through the morning, peaks between 14:00 and 18:00, and eases after sunset. It arrives from between 340 and 020 degrees, which leaves the entire southern coastline from Karavostasi to Katergo in the lee of the island’s spine. That geography is why half-day runs survive conditions that shut the full circuit. Skippers handle it before Folegandros boat tours cast off.
Operators make the call between 07:30 and 08:30 using the Hellenic National Meteorological Service forecast and a visual check of whitecaps off the port entrance. Passengers receive a phone call or message by 09:00. Cancelled departures release a full refund inside three working days or a free move to another date, at the passenger’s choice. The Folegandros boat tours operators state this at booking.
June and September deliver the calmest sea state of the operating season, with the meltemi absent or under force 3 on most sailing days. Late July and the first fortnight of August carry the highest cancellation rate, near one day in four. Water temperature runs 22 degrees in June, 25 in August and 24 in September. The Folegandros boat tours price reflects it.
Motion sickness medication taken 45 minutes before boarding handles the residual chop on the south run. Booking folegandros boat tours early in a multi-day stay leaves room to shift a cancelled sailing to a later date without losing the trip. Folegandros boat tours are sold on that.
When does the season run and how are folegandros boat tours booked?
The season runs from early May to mid-October, with daily sailings from mid-June to mid-September. Group cruises suit families with children over five; private speedboats suit couples and parties of six. Booking three to six days ahead is standard in August, with free cancellation to 24 hours.
May and October carry a reduced timetable of three or four departures a week, water at 19 to 21 degrees, and prices 15 to 20 percent below the August band. July and August fill the 20 to 30 seat caiques two to four days out and the private 8 metre boats five to seven days out. June and September hold availability inside 48 hours. It decides which of the Folegandros boat tours to take.
Reservations go through the operator’s website, the accommodation reception in Chora, or direct at the quay at Karavostasi the evening before. Online bookings confirm within two hours and hold free cancellation until 24 hours before departure. Private charters take a 30 percent deposit; the balance is paid in cash to the skipper at boarding. Every one of the Folegandros boat tours is timed against it.
Pack a hat, SPF 50 sunscreen, a towel, water shoes for the Katergo pebbles, a light windbreaker for the north-coast leg, and two litres of water per person beyond what the boat supplies. Glass containers are refused at boarding. Cash covers gratuities, since card terminals are absent on the smaller hulls. Folegandros boat tours fill first on that count in August.
Folegandros boat tours pair well with a rest day in Chora, and a single full circuit covers coastline that six days of walking never reaches. The Folegandros boat tours fleet is fitted for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Folegandros boat tours cost?
From 45 to 80 euros per person on the shared group cruise with lunch, 300 to 500 euros for a four-hour private speedboat carrying six, and 550 to 900 euros for the full day, with fuel and the skipper included.
Where do Folegandros boat tours leave from?
From the quay at Karavostasi beside the ferry berth, the island’s only port, with the small caiques and the six, eight and ten metre speedboats moored along the same wall.
Can you reach Katergo beach by boat?
Yes. The pebble cove on the south-east tip takes 15 minutes by boat from Karavostasi against a 40-minute walk over the ridge, and it carries no shade, no road and no taverna.