Cruising the Cyclades Islands

Introduction

Cyclades (Κυκλάδες) is the quintessential group of Aegean islands. Their name comes from the the greek word κύκλος (circle) because they form a rough circle centered around the small island Delos.

In the early Bronze Age, Cyclades was the center of a brilliant civilization, the Cycladic civilization which gave us surprisingly modern looking paintings and statuettes. Today, the Cyclades with its many islands is the most popular cruising area in the Aegean. The islands are arid and rocky which gives them na austere beauty. Their traditional architecture with its white-washed houses and arches blend harmoniously with the terrain. Yet, each island has an individual character and diversity ranging from the volcanic Santorini to the remote Donousa.

For the cruiser, there are many interesting sight-seeing sites as well as many anchorages. From the trendy Mykonos and the cosmopolitan Syros to the uninhabited Rhinia.

Climate & Weather Information

In the summer months the weather is dominated by the meltemi which in the west Cyclades comes from the NE and on the east Cyclades from the N.

For details see Aegean Weather.

Weather Windows

The best times to tour the Cyclades are in the Spring, May and June, and in the autumn, September and October. You are less likely to encounter strong meltemi winds and also all the anchorages are less crowded. Other than the weather-wise unpredictable winter months, the worse time to be cruising the Cyclades is during the month of August. In August not only will you encounter a number of meltemi gales but all harbors and anchorages, even the most remote, will be crowded as this is the prime vacation time in Greece and the rest of the EU.

Radio Nets

See Aegean Sea.

Navigation Charts Required

BA: 1037 Nisís Falkonera to Nísos Ios; 1038 Stenó Sífnou to Stenó Kafiréa; 1040 Nísos Íos to Vrakhonisídha Kandhelioússa; 1041 Nisos Naxos To Vrakhoi Kaloyeroi; 1444 Nisos Milos to Nisos Paros; 1647 Nísos Tínos to Nísos Ikaría; 2682 Kólpos Patalion to Nísos Nísiros
Imray-Tetra: G31 North Cyclades; G33 Southern Cyclades (West); G34 Southern Cyclades
NIMA: 54320 Kiklades Nisoi to Kriti; 54321 Nisos Thira; 54332 Nisoi Paros & Naxos; 54412 Nisos Amorgos & Plans in Astipalaia; 54355 Nisos Andros & Dhiekplous Kafireos
Greek: 41 Cavos Maleas to Cavos Kimis; 42 Andros to Chalki Island; 415 Ydra to Sikinos; 421 Karystos to Naxos; 423 Paros to Astypalia

See also Aegean Sea.

Passage Description

It is assumed that you start your cruise from the convenient and relative close to the marinas near Athens harbor of Vourkari in the island of Kea. Kea is the closest Cycladic island to Athens. You can, of course, start your cruise at any other island. Also, you may skip or add islands to the overall cruise.

You start the cruise by sailing in the easy southern direction and then proceed east and finally NW to close the circle. Although distances are short given the many interesting islands it advisable to allow at least a month for the cruise. Should you be pressed for time it best to visit fewer islands and spend a couple of days exploring each island that you do visit. You can either rent a motor-scooter or a car for your land explorations. In many places you may also hire a taxi. Most young drivers will speak some english and the older ones some french.

Distance & Duration

See also Aegean Distances Tables.

Possible Departure Points

Vourkari, Kea 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E

Route/Suggested Stopovers

Start from Vourkari in the island of Kea 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E and
1. sail SSE to the southern tip of the island 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E keeping well clear of the submerged reef 37°34.7′N, 24°15.8′E, then turn SE and sail
2. to the northern tip of Kythnos 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E at which point you turn S and head for
3. the pleasant small harbor of Loutra 37°26.6′N, 24°25.9′E on the NE side of Kythnos. The distance from Vourkari is 22 nM.
  
  This is a good place from which to explore the island.
From Loutra sail S 23 nM to Livadhi 37°08.6′N, 24°31.2′E the main harbor of Serifos island.

Do not fail to visit the main village of Chora, a wonderful example of Cycladic architecture.
After departing from Livadhi head SE and sail for 20 nM to Platis Yialos 36°55.8′N, 24°43.7′E in the island of Sifnos famous for its cuisine, its pottery, and architecture.

Here you can watch the pottery being made in several workshops. It ranges from the strictly utilitarian cookware to decorative. A visit to the capital of the island Apollonia is highly recommended.
From Platis Yialos head SW and sail to Adamas 36°43.5′N, 24°27′E the main harbor in the island of Milos where the famous Venus de Milo statue was found. The distance is 25 nM.

In Milos, an island not often visited by cruisers, you should visit Phylakopi, the Bronze Age Cycladic settlement, and the lovely town of Plaka. There also many beaches with interesting and colorful volcanic rock formations.
After you depart from Adamas and exit the deep bay steer ESE and head for
1. 36°46.6′N, 24°31.2′E, then turn to SE and transit the Milos-Kimolos channel,
2. when you reach 36°45.2′N, 24°33.4′E turn ESE again and sail to Karavostasi 36°36.8′N, 24°57.1′E in the island of Folegandros maybe the most picturesque of Cyclades. The total distance from Adamas is 34.5 nM.
  
  The thing to do here is to either walk (about 3/4 of hr) or take the bus to Chora. Wander its narrow streets and take memorable photographs.
The next island to visit after Folegandros is Santorini or Thera with dramatic towns built on the lip of the caldera of an active volcano. Unfortunately there are no good harbors here save for an unfinished marina 36°20.1′N, 25°26.2′E on the S side of the island. While sailing directly from Karavostasi to the Santorini Marina is 29 nM, it is recommended, if you are not in hurry, to
1. first sail to the NE entrance of the caldera 36°27.9′N, 25°21′E. From there make a loop of the caldera noting the lovely town of Oia, the main town Thíra perched high up, and the island of Nea Kameni which emerged from the water during the eruption of 1573.
2. Exit the the caldera on its SE side 36°21.5′N, 25°20.9′E, and then proceed to the marina 36°20.1′N, 25°26.2′E. The total distance with this detour is about 37 nM.
  
  The "must see" places in Santorini are:
- Minoan Akrotiri - the extensive and one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean
- The town of The town of Thíra & the Museum
- A visit by a local tour boat to the volcanic island of Nea Kameni
Our tour takes you from Santorini to the easternmost island of the Cyclades Amorgos. It is a long, for the Cyclades, 39 nM NE sail to Katapola 36°49.7′N, 25°51.8′E the main harbor of the island.

The main attraction here, and it is a must, is a visit to the 1088 AD Monastery of Hozoviotisa built within a cave on a cliff overlooking the S, stormy rocky shore. It is one of the most dramatic sites in the Aegean.
If you want to go to small, out of the way island, sail N from Katapola to the lovely cove of Dendro 37°05.7′N, 25°48.2′E in the small island of Donousa. It is a 17 nM sail.

You may, of course, skip this island and go directly to the next stopover.
The next stopover is actually in either of two islands or even better visit both:
- Mersini 36°52.3′N, 25°30.6′E in the small island of Schinousa - 23 nM SW from Dendro or 19 nM W from Katapola
- Ayios Georgios 36°51.9′N, 25°28.3′E in the small island of Iraklia - 23 nM SW from Dendro or 19 nM W from Katapola.
- Note that the distance between Mersini and Ayios Georgios is just 2.3 nM.
From either Mersini or Ayios Georgios you sail NW for to Port Naxos 37°06.3′N, 25°22.5′E the port of the largest of the Cyclades, Naxos.
It is well worth to drive in the interior of the island and visit its nice villages.
Next, our tour takes to one of the loveliest towns of the Cyclades: Naoussa 37°07.5′N, 25°14.1′E in the nearby island of Paros, 10 nM W of Port Naxos.
If you want to spend several days in Paros, and it is worth it, it is more convenient to sail to the main port of Parikia 37°05.4′N, 25°08.9′E, 10 nM SW of Naoussa.
From Paros you can sail NE and visit either bustling and fashionable Mykonos or secluded Rhinia. You can, of course, visit both.
1. The distance from Parikia to Mykonos Marina 37°27.8′N, 25°19.6′E is 26 nM and from Naoussa 21 nM.
2. The distance from Parikia to South Bay in Rhinia 37°23′N, 25°14.3′E is 20 nM and from Naoussa 16 nM.
  Note that the distance between Mykonos Marina and South Bay is 9 nM.
The next port of call on the tour is cosmopolitan Ermoupolis 37°26.1′N, 24°56.8′E, the capital of the Cyclades, in the island of Syros. The distance to Ermoupolis is:
- 16 nM WNW from South Bay, and
- 19 nM WSW from Mykonos Marina.
  
  Syros is a lovely island well worth exploring by car.
From Ermoupolis it is 26 nM NNW sail to Batsi 37°51.5′N, 24°47′E in the island of Andros.

Worth visiting in Andros is Chora, its capital, with a nice Museum of Modern Art.
Finally, we sail 26 nM SW from Batsi back to Vourkari 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E in Kea thus completing our tour of the Cyclades.

Possible Arrival Ports

You can stop your cruise in any of the islands but if you complete it you will end back in

Vourkari, Kea 37°40′N, 24°19.5′E

Forum Discussion Topics

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

See Aegean Sea.

References

See Aegean Sea.

Personal Notes

I have sailed all of the above passages. --Istioploos

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Cruising the Cyclades Islands

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