Karavostásis: Beaches, Boats and Island Culture

In Karavostásis, beach days go hand in hand with boat trips and island culture. When planning your stay, you can first consider whether you mainly want to spend time at the beach, take a boat to other beaches, or experience a festival programme. The descriptions of the different beaches and the days of the week when boat trips run offer useful pointers.

Beaches around Karavostásis

Chochlidia is the main beach in the Karavostasis area and is a family beach. Vardia lies on the eastern side of Karavostasi and is also described as a family beach. Sand and shaded spots are mentioned for Vardia; the beach is suitable for beach games and relaxation. There are also several small, secluded beaches in the Karavostasis area.

Latinaki is a small sandy beach overlooking the settlement of Karavostasis and its harbour. From Karavostasis, Latinaki can be reached on foot in ten minutes via the coastal and main road to Livadi; walking time may vary depending on the route or pace. Vitsentzou lies between Latinaki and Pountaki, about one kilometre from Karavostasis along the route to Livadi. Access is via a path beside the main road.

Livadi beach lies in the agricultural settlement of the same name, 1.2 kilometres from Karavostasis and the harbour. Latinaki, Vitsentzou and Livadi thus offer different points of reference: a view of the settlement and harbour, a location between two beaches, or a beach in an agricultural settlement.

Boat Trips and Diving

Boat trips depart from Karavostasis daily for various beaches where you can swim. Schedules may vary, so check the times before making your plans. You can spend a beach day either at the places described on land or by taking a boat trip to another beach.

The same boats also travel around the island on certain days of the week. This island tour is therefore not described as a daily trip. If you would like to include it in your plans, ask locally about current departures. Times may vary for trips to different beaches; for the island tour, be sure to take the relevant day of the week into account.

Diving is another possible focus: Georgitsi Cave is suitable for diving.

Festival and Easter Procession

Every July, the Folegandros Feasts (Giortes Folegandrou), the island’s summer festival, bring the streets of Kastro, the harbour of Karavostassis and Ano Meria to life. The programme includes theatre performances, films, and concerts of classical and Greek music. If the festival is important to your trip, check that year’s programme before you arrive.

On Easter Tuesday, the icon procession goes to Petoussis and Livadi and ends at the harbour of Karavostassis. There, the moored kaïkes, boats and yachts, as well as all the houses, are blessed.

Planning Your Stay

When planning your trip, it is worth considering the time of year alongside how you would like to spend each day. For beach days, the different features of the beaches can help guide your choice; for the island tour, the day of the week matters, while for beach trips, check the current schedule. The festival adds a cultural programme in July. If you are looking for a hotel in Karavostásis, these interests can help you organise your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Vourvoulos, Agkali, Thira, Íos, Vlychada, Megalochori, Pyrgos, Vothonas

For the broader travel overview: Santorini.