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Corfu: Paxos & Antipaxos Blue Caves Boat Tour with Lunch

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/11

Duration6h–10h

GroupUp to 240

LanguagesEN · DE +3

PickupAt your hotel

What happens when you sail past Corfu's Old Fortress and keep going?

You board in Corfu, sail past the Old Fortress and Kanoni peninsula, then enter two sea caves with electric-blue water and white limestone walls. You swim and snorkel at Antipaxos in turquoise coves, see small protected islands, and finish with lunch in the waterfront village of Gaios before returning to Corfu in the evening. All entry fees and multilingual guiding are included.

6h–10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Admire Old Town of Corfu by boat
View Old Fortress and Saint George Temple
See Kanoni peninsula and Palace of Mon Repos
City sightseeing by boat at Kanoni
Sail south along Paxos west coast
Enter Blue Caves Ipapanti and Ahai
Admire white cliffs of Erimitis
See Ortolithos island and Tripitos Kamara
Swim and snorkel at Paradise beach
Sail through Paxos channel by Panagia and Agios Nikolaos
Moor at Gaios village port
Shop in Gaios village
Enjoy lunch at sea view restaurant

The Experience

You end up in two sea caves with water so clear it stops you mid-sentence. The boat leaves Corfu in the morning and spends the first hour showing you the Old Town from the water — the Old Fortress, the Kanoni peninsula, even the Palace of Mon Repos where Prince Philip was born, all sliding past as the guide talks. Then the boat turns south toward Paxos, and the coastline changes. The rocky cliffs get higher, the beaches narrower and whiter, and somewhere around mid-morning you're floating into the Blue Caves of Paxos. The caves themselves — Ipapanti and Ahai — are the kind of place that photographs don't quite capture. The water inside is so blue it looks unreal, and the rock walls are pale and smooth. You can swim and snorkel if you want, though some people just sit and stare.

After the caves, the boat heads to Antipaxos, where the beaches have names like Paradise and the sand really is that fine. The water is turquoise in a way that makes you understand why people compare it to the Caribbean, even though you're still in Greece. You get time to swim and snorkel here, and the water is warm enough that you don't rush. The guide will mention that this whole area — Paxos, Antipaxos, the small islands nearby — is protected under the European NATURA 2000 initiative, which means the Mediterranean monk seals that live here are safe, though you probably won't see one. You'll see Skaltsonski and Mongonisi islands as you sail, and the narrow channel between Paxos and the smaller islands of Panagia and Agios Nikolaos.

By early afternoon the boat moors in Gaios village, the main port on Paxos. It's small and narrow-streeted, the kind of place where you can walk the whole thing in twenty minutes. There are souvenir shops if you want them, but most people head straight to one of the traditional tavernas along the waterfront for lunch. The guide is there if you have questions, but this part is yours — you pick where to eat, what to order, how long to linger. The boat leaves Gaios in the late afternoon and heads back to Corfu, arriving in the early evening. Depending on the day, your guide speaks English, German, French, Italian, Russian, or Romanian — live on some days, audio on others.

One thing to know: this is a full day on the water. You're on the boat for most of it, and while the boat is stable and the sea is usually calm in summer, it's not a trip for anyone with serious heart or circulation problems. Everyone else, regardless of fitness level, handles it fine. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a light layer for the breeze once you're moving. The water in the caves and at Antipaxos is cold enough that a quick dip feels refreshing, not shocking.

What’s included

All-day boat tour departing from Corfu with city sightseeing past the Old Fortress, Kanoni peninsula, and Palace of Mon Repos.
Entry to two Blue Caves (Ipapanti and Ahai) with swimming and snorkeling time.
Visit to Antipaxos island with turquoise beaches and time to swim.
Sailing past Skaltsonski, Mongonisi, Panagia, and Agios Nikolaos islands.
Stop in Gaios village with time to explore shops and eat lunch at a traditional taverna (lunch cost separate).
Multilingual guiding in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, or Romanian depending on the day.
All fees and taxes included.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for heart conditions

Operated by Ionian Cruises

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Corfu who want to see the Ionian islands and sea caves in one day without arranging their own boat. Plan for a full day on the water — that's what lets you reach two caves, snorkel at Antipaxos, and still have time in Gaios village.