Despotiko Boat Trip: Kaiki, Cruise or Private Boat

A kaiki is a traditional wooden fishing boat, and this Despotiko boat trip has the clearest route here. It costs $101 per person for six hours, rated 4.8 from 414 reviews. The first stop is Panteronisia, the Blue Lagoon, for a swim and a snorkel. The boat then follows the southeastern coast past Mastichari Cave and the cliffs, with several more swim stops around Antiparos and Despotiko; the captain adapts the route daily.

The food sets it apart. Morning coffee and snacks come first, then a BBQ grilled on deck: souvlaki, salads, tzatziki and pita bread, with local wine, soft drinks and fresh fruit. You are back at Pounta around 16:15.

Pickup is listed; check availability for the details. The listing recommends the trip for children aged five and above, and the route may change with the weather and the sea.

The swim cruise is the Despotiko boat trip with the most reviews on this page: 793, rated 4.7, at $56 per person for seven hours. It sails from Paros to Antiparos, Despotiko and the Blue Lagoon, with bays, sea caves and a cliff dive if you want one. A traditional Parian lunch is served on board with wine, soft drinks, fresh fruit and snacks. Drinks are described as controlled, so not unlimited. The crew has snorkelling gear for each swim stop.

The full-day cruise is the longest day: 8.5 hours at $101 per person, rated 4.5 from 58 reviews. It makes numerous swim stops, explores caves and offers cliff diving, and lunch is a traditional Parian meal with local wines, soft drinks, fruit and snacks. Snorkelling gear is available on request, an English-speaking guide is on board, and pickup is listed.

One note: its description names no stops beyond Antiparos «and beyond»; Despotiko appears only in the title. The kaiki and the swim cruise name it in their route.

Two listings put the boat in your group’s hands. The private speedboat costs $448 per group, up to 6 people, for 2 to 7 hours, rated 4.9 from 41 reviews. It leaves Aliki and covers Paros, Antiparos and Despotiko, with caves and cliffs along the way. On board there is a fridge, a table, a shower, sunbeds and a sound system, plus snacks, soft drinks and beer. A tavern lunch is optional, at your cost. Shared by six, the boat comes to about $75 each.

The private day costs $1,110 per group, up to 5 people, for a half or a full day of 4 to 7 hours, rated 4.8 from 25 reviews. It is the one listing here that names the Temple of Apollo on Despotiko, alongside Antiparos, the Blue Lagoon, sea caves and snorkelling. Snacks and wine are served on board, a tavern in Antiparos town is optional, and the guide speaks several languages. Confirm the meeting point and any transfer when you book.

Izaac from the United Kingdom took the speedboat in the afternoon: «Secluded beaches and islands were actually secluded!» Jennifer from the United States, on the private day: «He customized the day around what we wanted and brought nice drinks and fresh snacks.»

Book the kaiki. If you take one Despotiko boat trip, make it the $101 per person kaiki: a wooden boat, the Blue Lagoon first, a BBQ lunch on deck and a 4.8 rating from 414 reviews.

Want the most reviewed day? The swim cruise at $56 per person. A group of up to six? The private speedboat at $448 per group, up to 6 people gives you the boat and the pace.

The most booked trip on this site also stops at Despotiko, for lunch: the full-day boat tour with lunch and drinks at $213 per person, rated 5.0 from 652 reviews. Compare it with the self-drive boats, the sunset trips and the snorkelling boat in our list of ten trips.