Anchorages & Routes
One of the quiet luxuries of a skippered catamaran charter is that you never have to think about where to drop anchor. Your skipper reads the wind, the swell, and the time of day, and simply brings you somewhere beautiful. These five bays in Meganisi and Ithaca are some of the spots our skippers return to again and again — here’s what makes each one worth the stop.
1. Abelike Bay, Meganisi
A narrow, fjord-like inlet on Meganisi’s southern coast, Abelike Bay feels like it belongs to you alone. Steep green hillsides fold down into water so clear you can watch the anchor settle on the sandy bottom from the deck. It’s a favorite for a quiet lunch stop — sheltered enough that the boat barely moves, so plates stay put and the swim ladder gets a lot of use.
What to expect: flat, glassy water, excellent snorkeling along the rocky edges, and few other boats even in peak season.
2. Atherinos Bay, Meganisi
Atherinos bay is where the day often winds down. Your skipper will typically bring you here for an evening stop, close enough to shore that a short tender ride puts you at a table for dinner.
What to expect: a genuine calm atmosphere, fresh seafood tavernas, excellent snorkeling along the rocky edges.
3. Spartochori, Meganisi
Perched on a hillside above its own small harbor, Spartochori offers a different mood from Vathy — quieter, more local, with narrow lanes and a handful of family-run tavernas. It’s a favorite for guests who want a slower afternoon: a swim, a walk up into the village, coffee overlooking the water.
What to expect: panoramic views from the village above, a peaceful harbor below, and some of the friendliest tavernas in the Ionian.
4. Kioni, Ithaca
Often described as one of the prettiest harbors in the Ionian, Kioni is a small, horseshoe-shaped bay backed by old stone windmills and terraced hillsides. It’s a highlight stop on most week-long routes — the kind of place guests ask to come back to.
What to expect: a picture-postcard harbor, excellent waterfront dining, and a short, easy walk up to the old windmills for the view.
5. Pera Pigadi, Ithaca
A quieter, more secluded anchorage than Kioni, Pera Pigadi is where skippers head when the goal is simply time in the water — clear, calm, and undisturbed. There’s little ashore here by design; it’s a swim stop, not a harbor stop, and one of the most peaceful hours of a typical charter day.
What to expect: exceptional swimming conditions, minimal boat traffic, and a genuinely restful stop mid-route.
You don’t have to choose
The best part of sailing with a skipper is that you don’t need to plan any of this. Tell your skipper what kind of day you’re after — a lively harbor evening, a quiet swim stop, a mix of both — and they’ll shape the route around it, drawing on local knowledge that doesn’t show up on any chart. These five bays are simply a preview of what’s possible in a single week around Meganisi and Ithaca.
