SeaTV · Cyclades Islands · Koufonisia
Koufonisia Island — A Sheltered Haven in the Cyclades
Lesser Cyclades, between Schinoussa and Naxos. We came here because of the weather — 30 knots forecast — and discovered an island that turned out to be one of our favourite Cyclades stops. The small port on the east side gives decent Meltemi shelter, and the village ashore is the real surprise.
As sailors know, the route depends on the wind — its strength, its direction, and what the forecast is doing tomorrow. With 30 knots forecast, we needed safe shelter. So we sailed to South Koufonisia (also called Koufonosi) where there’s a small port at 36°55’48″N · 25°36’0″E. For full marina detail (depths, mooring lines, capacity, reservation policy), see the Koufinisi Marina page.
⚠ Reality check:
→ Marina entrance is narrow · plan the manoeuvre carefully
→ Visiting yachts may be asked to anchor along the western platform
→ Paralia Pori only suitable in calm weather
→ Reserve a place in advance · the marina fills up in season
⛵ How We Got There — The Sailing
Sailing was upwind, with the first reef in the main and the jib wound tight. The white ripple from the waves was pure pleasure — the kind of sailing that justifies the boat. Heading toward shelter you’ve decided on, with the wind building, focuses the whole day.
Docking reality: The entrance to the marina is narrow, and we were asked to anchor along the western platform. Docking was difficult because the bow thruster did not work — a charter-boat problem that compounds in a tight space.
Lesson: Test the bow thruster at check-in. In a narrow Cyclades marina with wind, a working thruster is the difference between a clean approach and a stressed one.
Discovering Koufonisia
The island turned out to be one of those stops that justifies the whole trip. The village is small, traditional, and has the kind of Cycladic atmosphere the bigger islands have lost — low-key, walkable, with traditional restaurants and shops along the front. We took the boat in for shelter and stayed for the place itself.
⚓ Anchorages Around Koufonisia
1. Marina · 36°55’48″N · 25°36’0″E · Meltemi Shelter
Koufinisi Marina (Main Port)
Position: Small port on the east side of South Koufonisia · the main shelter on the island.
Use: Primary Meltemi shelter for the Lesser Cyclades. Reserve in advance.
→ Full marina detail: Koufinisi Marina page
2. Position · 36°55.47″N · 25°36.14″E · East of Marina
Koufonisia Bay — Sheltered Anchorage East of Marina
Position: Just east of the marina · separate sheltered bay.
Best use: Anchoring alternative when the marina is full. Sheltered conditions in moderate weather.
3. Position · 36°56.43″N · 25°37.24″E · Calm Weather Only
Paralia Pori — East-Coast Crystal-Water Bay
Position: East side of Koufonisia.
Bottom: Crystal-clear water · good holding.
⚠ Limit: Only suitable in calm weather. Not a Meltemi-shelter option — exposed to the prevailing summer winds.
Exploring the Shoreline
You can walk along the shoreline from the village and find quiet beaches and small tavernas with sea views. Koufonisia rewards a slow shore day — it’s small enough to circumnavigate on foot, and quiet enough that the walk feels like the point. Local specialities include fava (yellow split-pea purée) and fresh-caught fish — the standard Cycladic food culture at small-island scale.
Wind Strategy on Koufonisia
Strong Meltemi (NE) — primary use case: The marina is your shelter. Reserve in advance. The eastern Koufonisia Bay is the secondary option.
Moderate weather: All three anchorages workable. Marina or Koufonisia Bay for the night.
Calm weather: Paralia Pori opens up — the most attractive spot in calm conditions, but exposed when the wind builds.
Pro Tips for Koufonisia
Test the bow thruster at check-in. The Koufinisi marina is narrow and a working thruster makes a real difference. If yours doesn’t work, plan the approach around that constraint.
Reserve in advance in season. The marina has limited capacity (~22 yachts). In Meltemi conditions every charter in the area is heading here. Book early.
Use Koufonisia Bay if marina is full. The bay just east of the marina gives you alternative shelter. Quick dinghy run to the village ashore.
Save Paralia Pori for calm weather. Don’t overnight there if any wind is forecast — it’s exposed and the holding is meant for a day stop in settled conditions.
Walk the shoreline. Koufonisia is small enough to circumnavigate on foot. Half-day walk gives you the village, quiet beaches, sea views, and a sense of the island’s scale that day-trippers miss.
Try the fava. Yellow split-pea purée — the local Cycladic specialty. The traditional places along the front all do their own version; walk the front and pick what looks good.
Suggested Routes from Koufonisia
West to Schinoussa: Short hop. See Schinoussa Island.
West to Iraklia: ~10 NM · the third Lesser Cyclades stop. See Iraklia Island (plane wreck snorkel).
North to Naxos: ~5 NM via Keros · the larger island.
Full Cyclades route: See the SeaTV 8-Day Cyclades Route — Koufonisia features in the Lesser Cyclades section.
✅ Sailor’s Checklist for Koufonisia
▢ Bow thruster tested at charter check-in
▢ Marina reservation made in advance (Meltemi season)
▢ Western platform anchor option understood as plan B
▢ Koufonisia Bay (east of marina) plotted as marina-full backup
▢ Paralia Pori confirmed as calm-weather only
▢ VHF on Ch. 16 throughout
Emergency & Service Numbers — Koufonisia
European Emergency: 112
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal
Coastguard Working (VHF Ch. 12): Per region
Naxos Port Authority: Closest active port · VHF Ch. 12 / 16
Olympia Radio (VHF Ch. 03/86): Greek HF/VHF maritime service
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Drone passes over the marina entrance approach in 30-knot Meltemi conditions, the western platform anchoring layout, the village from the air, and the calm-water Paralia Pori on the east side. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
Koufonisia · Other Pages
→ Koufinisi Marina — full mooring detail · 22-yacht capacity, 3.8–4 m depths, mooring lines
Lesser Cyclades Neighbours
→ Schinoussa Island · west neighbour
→ Iraklia Island · further west (plane wreck snorkel)
Cyclades Routes & Region
Sailing to Koufonisia?
The Lesser Cyclades’s primary Meltemi shelter, a narrow marina, and a village that’s the real reward of arriving.
“We came for the Meltemi shelter and stayed for the island. Koufonisia is what the Cyclades used to feel like — the village walkable, the food traditional, and the sailing decisions about wind angle rather than crowds. Reserve the marina ahead, test the bow thruster, and let the weather bring you here.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Cyclades Edition
