Yacht Charter Naxos

Yacht Charter Naxos

On a Naxos yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore many of the central Cyclades islands all within an easy sail. When on an Aegean Sea yacht charter, whether you're after the nightlife, the beaches, the culture or the deep human history, a Naxos Island sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

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Yacht Charter Naxos

Yacht Charter Naxos

On a Naxos yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore many of the central Cyclades islands all within an easy sail. When on an Aegean Sea yacht charter, whether you're after the nightlife, the beaches, the culture or the deep human history, a Naxos Island sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

The Cyclades Islands are a perfect quiet greek escapes from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Whereas, if you visit Mykonos you wouldn't exactly get the same! The largest Cyclades island, Naxos is big enough to need a car (or boat) to get around. While it does have some nightlife, it is nothing as wild as its neighbouring islands, but its size does mean that you can enjoy the lively nights but still get peace and quiet on those that you would prefer to relax.

There are some busy, beautiful beaches where you will find beach bars and all the infrastructure needed to make the most of the sun, sea and sand, with a beer in hand. Agios Giorgios is a popular white sandy beach with shallow turquoise waters where you can enjoy the buzz, but if this is not your scene, you sail a little way away and you'll soon find a village or town with a beach that hasn't the amenities and buzz, but a quite space that promotes a genuine sense of escape.

Naxos is historically one of the richest of the Cyclades island group. It has evidence of habitation reaching back millennia and the adventurous will soon find relics from traders and empires from thousands of years ago. If walking or mountain biking is your thing, the highest point of Naxos Island is 1,000m above sea level, and there are some great trails to explore inland.

Though many areas of the Cyclades are marketed as hideaways, you'll soon find the perfect spot to hide away on your Naxos yacht charter. You just need to set sail and keep a good watch for a spot of your very own!

Explore Naxos By Renting A Yacht

Your Naxos yacht charter will open the door to many a quiet Cycladic island retreat, with excellent sailing routes in-between.

You will almost certainly fly into Mykonos, widely held as the 'Ibiza of the Aegean Sea' thanks to its legendary nightlife and structured tourism infrastructure, but if that's not your scene, you can quickly embark on your charter holiday to find your own haven.

Human history has swept through the Cyclades for thousands of years and those in search of ancient ruins will not be disappointed. Relics of the Athenians, Ottomans and even Minoans can be found in lots of different places around the islands.

You can also avoid the loud crowd as you choose to anchor or moor your charter yacht in places that suit you. Such as the nearby beautiful island of Paros and the tiny Antiparos, which are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their ideal distance from Athens. Other small Cyclades islands like Schinoussa, Sikinos and Ios are small enough to walk across yet large enough to still feel secluded! Nearby Tinos and Syros have plenty going on that you can have some fun ashore.

You will often find that Greek villages go at their own pace, and while they may have a hotel or two, most aren't hyper focused on tourism. It is their natural beauty and calm aura that makes a greek charter so special. Chora, a stiff 20 minute walk up the hill from the main port of Ios is stunningly beautiful and well worth the walk. Similarly, Parikia on Paros has better tourism infrastructure but is resoundingly Cycladic in nature!

How To Get To Naxos

There are three airports serving Naxos Island - Mykonos is closest, as well as Athens and Santorini.

Mykonos Airport

Just 4km from Mykonos Town, the airport is served by a number of European and international airlines. This is around an hour's ferry ride to Naxos Island.

Athens Airport

This major international airport has flights from all over the world, and you can fly to Naxos' domestic airport in around 45 minutes.

Santorini Airport

Several European and international airlines fly into this airport, and you can take a ferry onto Naxos from there.

Marinas In Naxos

Somewhat surprisingly there is only one, small marina on Naxos - Naxos Marina - that has 70 berths.

Naxos Marina

With just 70 berths, this is the main marina on the island with boats for rent including luxury yacht charters, catamarans, monohull sailing yachts, luxury motor yachts and RIBs on a bareboat or crewed yacht charter basis.

Berth Characteristics:

70 berths

Max Length 20m (65 Feet)

Max Draught 5m (16.5 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, toilets, washing facilities, fuel, bar, supermarket restaurant and shipyard

Suggested Sailing Routes From Naxos

Thanks to its central location in the Cyclades it is possible to sail to an island every day on a Naxos yacht charter. On your bareboat charter or skippered yacht charter, you can enjoy the small Cyclades islands with just a short sail.

7 days - the Cyclades: Just west of Naxos is Paros, and its beautiful capital, Parikia. Head SW from here to Antiparos and after a quiet night ashore, then south to Sikinos. Your next sail will be again short, this time to Ios - don't miss the capital Chora! NE to Mersini on the small Cyclades island of Schinoussa, before spending night 6 at Moutsouna on the east coast of Naxos Island. Return to base for handover the next day.

14 days - Island chain hopping: With 14 days you can stretch your sea legs a bit and sail well beyond the Cycladesthemselves. In the first couple of days you can sail through the Cyclades and then head off west to the Peloponese and then the Saronic Islands before heading north into Athens and then back to the Cyclades and to your marina. This is an opportunity to get out and explore the different sub-cultures of Greek island life, as well as get a taste for the capital city Athens as you go.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Naxos

The sailing season runs from late April to October, with July and August being the busiest months for yacht rental. This is ironic as July and August can be the worst times to sail! Both the extremely hot air temperatures and often hazardous Meltemi winds can make for big winds sailing when you honestly just want to hide from the heat.

The sea is cooler - often quite chilly - at the beginning of the sailing season, with the chance of rainfall in Spring. As the days lengthen you will still see green fields and flowers in May and the winds can be quite benign too. Combined with the crowds being smaller, this suggests that May to early June are the sweet spot for a Greek island yacht charter.

Come September and October the seas remain warm having soaked up all the seasons sun. However there are often water shortages on the islands and everything looks parched.

Sailing Weather In Naxos

April to mid June: There is rainfall and the temperatures build steadily from the mid-teens to the mid 20 degree C range. There are sometimes gentle southerly winds, though these are replaced by ever stronger N-NW Meltemi winds that are rarely hazardous but make for exciting sailing at times.

Late June-August: You'll be unlucky if you see any rain, though it could be welcome in the summer heat! Temperatures are from 30s with recent hot days exceeding 40. The northerly Meltemi winds can be fierce and can hit F7 for a solid few days.

September-October: The seas remain warm and the Meltemi eases. These months can be the best time of year to sail as the temperatures are often in the comfortable low to mid 20s.

FAQs:

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

There are a few main points to consider when considering a yacht charter. Firstly, what is your budget? Do you have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat, or would you be interested in having a skipper on board? Whom you are taking sailing, and how many cabins you would require on board? Finally, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip? Once you have figured these questions out you can then plan the perfect yacht charter.

What are the Marinas in Naxos?

Naxos Marina is on the west coast of Naxos Island and has 70 berths for yachts of up to 20m LOA.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Naxos?

Given the large crowds, fierce heat and often feisty Meltemi winds in July and August, there are better times to do a yacht charter. We would suggest late May when the land is green, water is plentiful and the winds lighter. You also shouldn't struggle to get a berth in a marina!

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Naxos ?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in Naxos?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Bring warm weather and cool weather clothing if it looks like the weather can be cool as well as warm and remember at sea it can be cool on most evenings.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a skippered on board your yacht charter you typically don't require licences.

Frequently asked questions
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.