Paxos boat trips are the best way to discover an island whose finest beaches, sea caves and neighbouring islet of Antipaxos can only be reached from the water. Whether you hire a small self-drive boat for the day, no licence needed. Or join an organised cruise with a skipper, a day on the sea is the highlight of most holidays on Paxos. From the harbours of Gaios, Lakka and Loggos you can set out to the turquoise coves of Antipaxos. The dramatic blue caves and white cliffs of the west coast. Quiet bays that no road reaches.
This guide explains how boat hire works, what it costs, where to rent, the best routes and the pick of the organised trips. You can plan the perfect day afloat.
Here you will find everything about Paxos boat trips: renting a self-drive boat without a licence, where to hire in Gaios, Lakka and Loggos, costs and deposits, how self-drive works, whether you need any experience. The organised and skippered cruises on offer, trips to Antipaxos and the blue caves, the best routes, what a typical day looks like, whether trips suit families, when to go, what to bring. Why a boat trip is the essential Paxos experience. Whether you dream of captaining your own small boat to a hidden cove or rather sit back on a guided cruise. This guide will help you plan the perfect day on the water around Paxos and Antipaxos.
Can you rent a boat in Paxos without a licence?
Yes, you can rent a small self-drive boat on Paxos without a licence, provided the engine is up to around thirty horsepower.
One of the great pleasures of a holiday on Paxos is that you do not need a boat licence to hire a small motorboat for the day. Under Greek rules, boats with engines up to around thirty horsepower can be driven without any qualification. It is exactly these small. Easy-to-handle craft that the island’s rental companies offer to visitors.
The rental company provides full tuition, including a briefing on how to operate the boat, a lesson at sea with an experienced operator. Information on maps, routes and the day’s weather. Even for those who have never driven a boat, this careful preparation makes self-drive hire safe and straightforward.
For anything more powerful, a speedboat with an engine over thirty horsepower, a valid boat licence is required. Most visitors, however, are perfectly happy with the smaller boats, which are ideal for pottering along the coast, anchoring in quiet coves and making the short crossing to Antipaxos at a gentle, relaxed pace. These boats typically carry up to six or seven people. Making them well suited to a family or a group of friends. Their modest speed is all you reach every corner of the coast within an easy day.
Where can you hire a boat on Paxos?
You can hire a boat in all three of the main harbours of Paxos: Gaios, the capital, and the smaller villages of Loggos and Lakka.
Boat hire is available in each of the island’s three harbour villages, so you are never far from a rental. Gaios, the capital and main port on the east coast, has the largest choice of operators, while the pretty northern bay of Lakka and the tiny harbour of Loggos also have well-established rental companies serving visitors staying nearby.
Long-running local firms operate from each port, with names familiar to regular visitors. Hiring out fibreglass boats and inflatable RIBs by the day. Many can be found easily along the waterfront or through their own websites. Because the island is small and the villages close together, you can generally pick up your boat from whichever harbour is nearest your accommodation and return it there in the evening.
It is wise to book ahead in the peak months of July and August, when demand for the popular boats is high. Either directly with a rental company or through your accommodation, as the best and most popular boats are often reserved well in advance. In the quieter shoulder months there is usually more availability, but reserving in advance still guarantees you the boat and the day you want.
How much does boat hire cost on Paxos?
Self-drive boat hire on Paxos starts from around seventy euros per day for a small boat, rising with the size and power of the craft.
The cost of hiring a self-drive boat on Paxos depends mainly on the size and power of the boat and the time of year. With prices starting from around seventy euros a day for the smaller, licence-free craft. Larger or more powerful boats, and hire in the peak season, cost more, so it pays to compare options.
Fuel is generally not included in the headline price and is charged separately according to how much you use, usually settled when you bring the boat back. In practice a day of gentle cruising along the coast and across to Antipaxos uses only a modest amount of fuel, so this adds relatively little to the total.
Most companies also ask for a refundable deposit when you collect the boat, returned when you bring it back undamaged, and require a form of identification. For a family or group sharing the cost. A day’s boat hire is very reasonable given the freedom and the access it gives to beaches and coves that cannot be reached any other way.
How does self-drive boat hire work on Paxos?
Self-drive hire on Paxos is simple: you collect the boat from the harbour, receive a safety briefing and a short lesson at sea, and are shown the routes and safe anchorages.
Renting a self-drive boat is an easy and well-organised process. After booking, you collect your boat from the harbour in the morning, where the company talks you through how it works, the safety equipment on board. How to start, steer and anchor it. For licence-free boats, a short practical lesson at sea ensures you feel confident before you head off on your own.
The staff also advise on the best routes for the day, pointing out sheltered anchorages, good swimming spots and any areas to avoid depending on the wind and sea conditions. Life jackets and basic equipment are provided, and you are given a way to contact the company you need any help during the day.
With the briefing done, the day is yours. You can cruise gently along the coast, drop anchor for a swim in a quiet bay, cross to the beaches of Antipaxos. Or explore the caves and cliffs, all at your own pace, before returning the boat to the harbour in the late afternoon or evening. This freedom to set your own itinerary is what makes self-drive hire so popular.
What organised and skippered boat trips run from Paxos?
Paxos offers a range of organised and skippered boat trips.
Not everyone wants to drive their own boat, and Paxos has plenty of organised options for those who rather sit back and enjoy the scenery. Day cruises run from the island’s harbours around the coasts of Paxos and Antipaxos. Taking in the main sights such as the blue caves, the sea arches and the beaches, often with swimming stops along the way.
For a more personal experience, private skippered boat trips and charters are widely available, where you hire a boat together with an experienced local captain for the day. This is a notable choice for families. Couples or groups who want the freedom to design their own route and the reassurance of a skipper who knows every cove and cave.
Skippered trips also suit those who want to visit the more challenging spots, such as the Paxos blue caves on the exposed west coast, in comfort and safety. Whether shared or private, an organised trip takes care of all the navigation, leaving you free simply to swim, sunbathe and take in the beauty of the coast.
Can you take a boat to Antipaxos from Paxos?
Yes, taking a boat to Antipaxos is the classic Paxos boat trip.
The short trip across to Antipaxos is the single most popular boat excursion from Paxos, and for good reason. The little island, lying about three kilometres to the south, is home to the beaches of Vrika and Voutoumi. Whose soft white sand and dazzling turquoise water rank among the most beautiful in Greece. It can only be reached by sea.
In a self-drive boat the crossing takes only around fifteen minutes over usually calm water. You can set your own timetable. Anchor off one of the famous beaches, and swim in the clear sea before moving on to a quieter cove. Water taxis and organised cruises also make the trip for those who prefer not to drive.
It is wise to take water, sun protection and cash for the day. Arriving early, before the day-trip boats from Corfu and the water taxis bring the crowds. Rewards you with the beaches at their most peaceful and the water at its clearest and calmest. Combining a morning at Antipaxos with an afternoon exploring the coast of Paxos makes for a perfect day on the water. It is an experience no visitor to the islands miss.
What are the best boat routes and places to visit around Paxos?
The best boat routes around Paxos take in Antipaxos and its beaches, the blue caves and sea arches of the rugged west coast, the sheltered bay of Lakka in the north, and the southern inlet of Mongonisi, along with countless.
Paxos and Antipaxos pack a remarkable variety of scenery into a small area, and a day by boat lets you sample the best of it. Heading south, the beaches of Antipaxos are the obvious highlight, while the southern tip of Paxos around Mongonisi has sheltered bays and a little islet linked to the shore, popular for swimming and lunch.
The west coast is the dramatic side of the island, a wall of steep white cliffs pierced by the blue caves, grottoes and the great sea arch at Tripitos. This coast is exposed to the open sea and best explored on a calm day. Ideally in the morning. It offers some of the most striking scenery in the whole Ionian.
To the north, the beautiful round bay of Lakka is a favourite anchorage, with clear water for swimming and a village of tavernas around the shore, while all along the more sheltered east coast lie small pebbly coves and swimming spots that no road reaches. The pretty harbour of Loggos, midway up the east coast, also makes a charming place to pause for a coffee or a meal. Its waterfront tavernas looking out over the moored boats. Planning your route around the wind and the sights you most want to see is part of the fun of a Paxos boat trip. No two days on the water need ever be quite the same.
Do you need experience to drive a boat on Paxos?
You do not need previous experience to drive a licence-free boat on Paxos.
A common worry for first-timers is whether they can manage a boat without any experience, and on Paxos the answer is reassuring. The licence-free boats are small, slow and simple to operate. The waters between Paxos and Antipaxos and along the sheltered east coast are usually calm, so conditions are forgiving for a novice.
Crucially, the rental companies do not simply hand over the keys. They give a thorough briefing on land and a practical lesson at sea, showing you how to steer, control the speed. Drop and raise the anchor. Read the basic safety information, so that you set off feeling confident rather than nervous.
For added peace of mind, staff advise on where to go and where to avoid given the day’s weather, and are contactable if you run into any difficulty. Those who feel truly unsure can always choose a skippered trip instead. Most visitors find that after the lesson they quickly relax and thoroughly enjoy the freedom of driving their own boat.
When is the best time for Paxos boat trips?
The best time for Paxos boat trips is from May to October, when the weather is warm and the sea is calm.
Boat trips on Paxos run through the summer season, broadly from May to October, when the weather is warm. The sea is inviting and the rental companies and cruise operators are all operating. Outside these months the seas are rougher and most boat services stop, so almost everyone takes to the water during the warm half of the year.
Within the day, the morning is generally the best time to be on the water, as the sea is usually calmest before the afternoon breeze gets up. This makes the morning ideal for the crossing to Antipaxos and especially for exploring the exposed west coast and the blue caves. Where calm conditions are needed to approach the cliffs safely.
The shoulder months of June and September offer an excellent balance of warm, settled weather and quieter waters, while July and August are the hottest and busiest. Whenever you go, it is worth keeping an eye on the wind. Planning the more exposed parts of your route for the calmer hours. Being ready to adjust your plans to the conditions on the day.
What you bring on a Paxos boat trip?
On a Paxos boat trip bring plenty of water, sun protection, a hat and swimwear, along with a towel, snacks or a picnic, and cash for tavernas and fuel.
Sensible preparation makes all the difference. The essentials are plenty of drinking water, strong sun cream, a hat and sunglasses. Swimwear, since you will want to swim from the boat in the clear coves and off the beaches of Antipaxos.
It is also worth packing a towel, snacks or a picnic. A light top or cover-up for the breeze, along with cash for beach tavernas. Water taxis or fuel, as card facilities cannot always be relied upon on Antipaxos and in the smaller places. A dry bag keeps phones, cameras and money safe from spray and splashes.
For making the most of the wonderfully clear water, a mask and snorkel are well worth bringing, as the seabed and marine life are a delight to explore. With these things packed, and a route planned around the weather, you are set for a relaxed and memorable day exploring the coast of Paxos and Antipaxos by boat.
What is a typical day on a Paxos boat trip like?
A typical day starts with collecting your boat in the morning and heading out over calm seas, first to Antipaxos for a swim, then along the coast to explore caves and coves.
A day out on a self-drive boat usually begins in the morning, when you collect the boat from the harbour. Receive your briefing and set off while the sea is at its calmest. Many people head straight across to Antipaxos first, to enjoy the famous beaches of Vrika and Voutoumi before the day boats and crowds arrive. Anchoring offshore for a swim in the brilliant turquoise water.
From there the day unfolds at your own pace. You cruise back along the coast of Paxos, stopping at quiet coves for another swim, exploring the sea caves and cliffs of the west coast if the water is calm. Or making for the sheltered bay of Lakka or the southern inlet of Mongonisi for lunch at a waterside taverna or a picnic on board.
Most boaters drift back towards the more sheltered east coast and their home harbour, with time for a final swim along the way. Returning the boat in the late afternoon or early evening, tired, sun-warmed and salty, after a day of swimming and exploring, is one of the most satisfying feelings of a Paxos holiday.
Are Paxos boat trips suitable for families with children?
Paxos boat trips are well suited to families with children, thanks to the calm, sheltered waters and the shallow, sandy beaches of Antipaxos.
Families with children are among those who most enjoy a day on the water around Paxos, and the conditions are generally very family-friendly. The sea between Paxos and Antipaxos and along the sheltered east coast is usually calm. The shallow. Gently shelving sand at Vrika beach on Antipaxos is ideal for children to paddle and swim safely.
For families who hire a self-drive boat, the freedom to set their own pace is a great advantage. Allowing frequent stops for swimming, snacks and rest. The chance to seek out quiet coves away from the crowds. Life jackets, including children’s sizes, are provided by the rental companies, and the briefing covers everything parents feel comfortable.
Families who rather not drive can choose a skippered or organised trip. Where an experienced captain handles the boat and the navigation, leaving parents free to relax and watch the children. With a little planning around the weather and plenty of sun protection, a boat trip makes a notable and memorable day out for all ages on Paxos.
Why take a boat trip on Paxos?
You take a boat trip on Paxos because the island’s best beaches, sea caves and the islet of Antipaxos can only be reached by sea.
The simple reason to take a boat trip on Paxos is that so much of the islands’ beauty lies beyond the reach of the roads. The finest beaches of Antipaxos, the blue caves and cliffs of the west coast. Countless hidden coves can be enjoyed only from the water, so a boat unlocks the very best of the destination.
Beyond the access it gives, a day on the sea is simply one of the great joys of an Ionian holiday. The freedom to cruise where you please, anchor in a secluded bay. Dive into brilliantly clear water and share a picnic on deck is something visitors remember long after they return home, whether they drive themselves or relax with a skipper. There is a particular magic to seeing the islands from the water, their green slopes, white cliffs and turquoise bays revealed in a way that is impossible from the land.
For all these reasons, a boat trip is the highlight of most stays on the islands, and forms the heart of the experiences offered around Paxos and Antipaxos. However you choose to do it, setting out onto the turquoise sea is the moment that turns a holiday here into something truly special.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a licence to hire a boat in Paxos?
You do not need a licence to hire the smaller self-drive boats on Paxos, which is one of the reasons a boat trip is so popular here. Under Greek regulations, motorboats with engines up to around thirty horsepower can be driven without any boating qualification. These are precisely the small. Easy-to-handle craft that the island’s rental companies offer to holidaymakers. Before you set off, the company gives you a full briefing and a short practical lesson at sea, showing you how to start, steer and anchor the boat and explaining the safety equipment on board. That even complete beginners can head out with confidence.
Only if you want a more powerful speedboat, with an engine over thirty horsepower, do you need a valid boat licence. For most visitors, however, the licence-free boats are ideal, being perfectly suited to gentle cruising along the sheltered coast. Anchoring for a swim in quiet coves. Making the short and usually calm crossing to the beaches of Antipaxos. This combination of no licence, full instruction and easy conditions makes self-drive boat hire on Paxos accessible to almost everyone. A notable way to explore the islands at your own pace.
How much is a boat trip to Antipaxos from Paxos?
The cost of a boat trip to Antipaxos from Paxos depends on how you choose to make the journey. If you hire a small self-drive boat for the day, prices start from around seventy euros for the boat, with fuel charged separately according to use. Since the crossing to Antipaxos is short and the day’s cruising gentle, the fuel used is modest. Shared between a family or group, this makes self-drive hire a very economical way to reach the island, with the added freedom to explore the coast of Paxos as well.
Alternatively, water taxis run across specifically to the beaches of Vrika and Voutoumi, typically costing in the region of twenty-five euros for a return ticket per person. Which is convenient if you simply want to spend the day on the Antipaxos beaches without driving. Organised day cruises that take in both Paxos and Antipaxos, often including the blue caves and swimming stops. Are priced per person and vary with the operator and what is included. Whichever option you choose, a trip to Antipaxos is generally good value given that its extraordinary turquoise beaches can be reached in no other way. It is considered one of the essential experiences of a holiday on Paxos.
What is the best boat trip in Paxos?
The best boat trip in Paxos for most visitors is a full day that combines the beaches of Antipaxos with the blue caves and cliffs of the Paxos west coast, since together these take in the finest scenery the islands have to offer. A typical circuit start with an early crossing to Antipaxos, while the sea is calmest, to swim at the beautiful Vrika and Voutoumi beaches and anchor in a quiet cove. Followed by a cruise along the dramatic west coast of Paxos to see the towering white cliffs, the sea caves and the great arch at Tripitos, all best visited in the calm of the morning.
The northern bay of Lakka and the southern inlet of Mongonisi are further lovely spots to include, with sheltered water for swimming and tavernas ashore for lunch. Whether you make this trip in a self-drive boat, giving you complete freedom over your route and timing, or on a skippered or organised cruise. Where an experienced captain handles the navigation, the essential ingredients are the same: turquoise water, hidden coves, dramatic caves and cliffs, and plenty of swimming. It is this combination that makes a full-day boat trip around Paxos and Antipaxos the standout experience of a holiday on the islands.
Is it better to hire a self-drive boat or take an organised cruise on Paxos?
Whether it is better to hire a self-drive boat or take an organised cruise on Paxos depends on what you want from the day and how confident you feel on the water. A self-drive boat, which the smaller licence-free craft allow you to captain yourself after a short lesson, offers complete freedom: you set your own route and timetable. Linger as long as you like in quiet coves, seek out beaches away from the crowds. Stop to swim whenever the mood takes you. For families, couples and small groups who value independence. Who are happy to keep an eye on the weather and plan around it.
This is often the most rewarding choice, and it can also work out very economical when the cost of the boat is shared. An organised or skippered cruise, on the other hand, takes all the effort out of the day, as an experienced local captain handles the navigation and knows exactly where and when to go. Which is ideal if you rather relax completely, if the sea is a little rough, or if you want to visit trickier spots such as the blue caves on the exposed west coast in comfort and safety.
Larger group cruises are sociable and good value per person, while a private skippered charter combines the freedom to design your route with the reassurance of an expert at the helm. In short, choose self-drive for independence and organised or skippered trips for ease and peace of mind; visitors staying longer on the island happily do both.
Can you visit the Paxos blue caves by boat?
Yes, the Paxos blue caves can be visited by boat. Indeed a boat is the only way to see them, since the caves lie along the steep. Road-less west coast of the island where towering white cliffs plunge straight into the sea. You have a choice of ways to reach them: you can hire a self-drive boat and make your own way there. Join an organised day cruise from one of the island’s harbours, or take a private skippered trip.
The caves are best visited on a calm day and ideally in the morning, when the water is at its stillest and it is safe for boats to approach the cliffs and cave mouths closely. The sunlight angles into the caves to light the water an intense, glowing blue. Self-drive boaters take particular care here and go only when conditions are settled, keeping a safe distance if there is any swell. Which is why visitors prefer to see the blue caves on a skippered or organised trip where the captain judges the conditions.
A typical outing combines the blue caves and the great sea arch at Tripitos with the beaches of Antipaxos and other coves, making for a full and varied day. For a closer look at the caves themselves, see our dedicated guide to the Paxos blue caves.