Day Cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos (Voutoumi Beach) and the Blue Sea Caves

Seven miles south of Corfu's southern tip (Cape Asprokavos) lie the two smallest main islands of the Ionian archipelago: olive-covered Paxos (Paxi) and its tiny, vineyard-covered sister island of Antipaxos. In Greek mythology, Poseidon struck the southern tip of Corfu with his bronze trident and broke off Paxos to create a secret love nest for himself and the sea-nymph Amphitrite. Taking a full-day boat cruise (or the fast passenger hydrofoil) to Paxos, Antipaxos and the Blue Caves is the single highest-rated excursion from Corfu.

How the Full-Day Paxos & Antipaxos Excursion Cruises Work

Cruisers depart between early in the morning and early in the morning from Corfu Old Port (for guests staying in central/northern Corfu) and from Benitses or Lefkimmi / Kavos in the south (returning in the early evening to in the early evening), following a classic three-part route:

1. Part 1, The Western Cliffs & Blue Caves of Paxos: while the eastern coast of Paxos is gentle and green, its western coast is a sheer wall of white chalk cliffs pierced by colossal natural sea caverns. The boat sails right inside the echoing limestone domes of the Ypapanti Cave and the Blue Caves (Galazioi Spilaioi), where sunlight refracting off the white seabed turns the cavern water electric sapphire.
2. Part 2, Swimming at Voutoumi (or Vrika) Beach on Antipaxos (60 to 75 Minutes): the boat sails ten minutes south to tiny Antipaxos (population: ~20) and drops anchor in 3 metres of water off Voutoumi Beach, universally ranked among the clearest, brightest neon-turquoise bays in the world, so you dive straight off the boat ramp for an hour of swimming.
3. Part 3 to 2 to 2.5 Hours Ashore in Gaios (or Lakka) Village on Paxos: spend the afternoon wandering the pastel Venetian harbour of Gaios (separated from the pine-covered islet of Agios Nikolaos by a natural fjord-like sea canal) or horseshoe-shaped Lakka for a seaside seafood lunch.

Want to Visit Paxos Independently for a Full Day? Take the Hydrofoil.

If you prefer exploring Paxos on your own schedule rather than a group tour boat, book the fast Joy Cruises / Ilida passenger hydrofoil ('Flying Dolphin') from Corfu Port or Lefkimmi, which reaches Gaios on Paxos in just 55 minutes (from Gaios quay, small local water-taxi boats shuttle independently to Antipaxos's Vrika and Voutoumi beaches in 15 minutes).