Paxos has not been hit by mass tourism and still retains that wonderful Greek atmosphere that many visitors love.
Why? ...
It has no airport and little night-life and is therefore not a chosen destination for those who want easy access to a high life. You can get away from it all but still have opportunities for adventures. It has some grand beaches and the sea is a stunning colour.
We have visited as a package tourist family and again as flotilla sailors and loved it every time.
Loggos, a small harbour on the north east coast, is our particular favourite. We stayed in a small villa (more a cottage really) right on Levrechio beach, a short walk from the main village. It has a couple of mini markets, a bakery, tavernas and a brilliant cocktail bar.
The next on the list is Lakka, a bit further north. It is larger than Loggos and is a popular resting place for the yachting scene (e.g. Us)
For bigger shopping type expeditions there is Gaios in the south. This is the main town of the island and can get very busy as it has a good sized, sheltered harbour.
Gaios Harbour
It is where the hydrofoil and larger ferries arrive with day trippers from the mainland and Corfu.
Further pages with our experiences will appear in due course. So come back some time to see what there is.
Meanwhile ...
It lies 20 km (12.5 miles) to the west of the Greek mainland and 16km (10 miles) south of Corfu and is about 10 by 4 km (6.25 by 2.5 miles) in size.
This gives a total area of 30 sq. km ( 12 sq. miles).
The highest point of the island is 116 metres.
In the 2001 census, the population was 2500.
The coastline is 22 km and scattered with good beaches , lovely harbours and spectacular sea caves.
The west coast is inaccessible by road and consists of steep chalky cliffs.
The cliffs are eroded at sea level to give the famous blue caves .
They are considered to be some of the best beaches in Greece (although they are a bit pebbly).
Inland, it is still covered by olive groves surrounded by dry stone walls.
Paxos Olive Grove
There are many tracks which can be explored.In fact there are only two asphalted roads running the length of the island from Gaios to Lakka.
There are no natural springs, rain is the only supply of water. There can be a water problem as a result with the reservoirs running dry, necessitating tanker deliveries from the mainland.
There are three main villages/towns, all of them on the east coast.
North to South:
Lakka is the second largest harbour. Lined with Venetian and British buildings, popular with yachts and small boats.
Loggos (Longos) is the smallest harbour. Has a very unspoilt, relaxed feel.
Gaios is the main harbour and capital town on the island. The place to go for shops and plenty of tavernas.
There are some 30 or so pebbly coves and beaches on the island. They are all on the east coast and many are only accessible by boat or foot and have very little in the way of facilities. Great for getting away from the usual tourist hustle and bustle.
The Island gets its share of rain from November to February but after March the rain falls off sharply. June to September gives you long hot days, albeit slightly cooler than the rest of Greece. Rain showers and thunderstorms are not unknown. October and November are changeable.
There is no airport so you can't get there that way. There used to be a seaplane service from Corfu during the summer but alas that no longer operates (We would love to arrive that way).
You can also catch a ferry from Brindisi in Italy, not a lot of point taking your car though unless you are on a 'Grand Tour'.
You can hire the usual car, bike, moped or boat if you need to explore a bit more of the island, but there are buses and taxis of course.
In Gaios, for about 6 Euro (return price), you can catch a water taxi for a 30 minute ride to Antipaxos where you can spend the day on the marvellous beaches and then hop on a taxi back.
There are many historical and religious places of interest around Paxos and there is even a folk museum in Gaios.
March to May are good months for walking type activities as temperatures are comfortable and the island is full of wild flowers.
Of course in the summer you can just relax and loaf around on the beaches and visit tavernas.
Drive across to the west and enjoy the sunset from the various viewpoints.
Erimitis is a favourite.
Or get a boat trip round the island to see the west coast caves and cliffs.
So, in summary, Paxos is an ideal destination if you want an 'away from it all' holiday, but still fancy a bit of exploration and adventure on the side.
We are sure you will love it as much as we do.
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