Lefkada to Paxos and Antipaxos by boat, the day-trip route in detail

Lefkada to Paxos and back in a day is doable, scenic, and one of the most asked-for routes we run. The crossing is roughly 35 nautical miles each way. You leave Lefkada around 09:00, swim at Voutoumi on Antipaxos by lunch, eat in Lakka or Gaios on Paxos in the afternoon, and are back at base by 17:00.

The crossing, what it actually feels like

Paxos sits about 70 km south-west of Lefkada in open Ionian water. There is no land between the south of Lefkada and the north of Paxos other than the small rock of Sesoula, so the crossing is the longest stretch of open water on our routes. On a calm morning with a flat sea and no wind, the Mazziena 26SP cruises it in around 70 minutes at 28-30 knots. On a windier afternoon return, allow more time.

This is why the crossing is done morning out, late afternoon back: the prevailing Ionian summer wind builds during the day, and the sea is flattest at dawn and again at last light.

First stop: Antipaxos

Antipaxos is the smaller island below Paxos. Its beaches, Voutoumi, Vrika, Mesovrika, are the brightest turquoise water you will see in Greece. The seabed is white sand, and in places the water reads almost cyan. We drop anchor off Voutoumi, the most famous, and swim in. A small taverna sits on the beach if you want fried fish and beer.

Voutoumi gets busy in August. If you want it calmer, ask for Mesovrika instead, same colour water, fewer tenders.

Second stop: Paxos

After lunch we hop the short five-minute crossing up to Paxos proper. There are two main villages worth stopping in:

• Gaios, the capital, sheltered behind the small islet of Agios Nikolaos. Narrow harbour, working fishing boats, ouzo bars on the quay.
• Lakka, on the north end. A horseshoe bay with shallow turquoise water, smaller than Gaios, and the prettier of the two for an afternoon swim and a coffee.

Time on Paxos is usually 90 minutes to two hours. Enough to eat, walk the village, swim.

When the wind says no

Paxos is the route most affected by weather. The crossing is fully exposed. On days when the wind builds quickly we will switch to Meganisi by boat on the inner Ionian loop, which is protected by the surrounding islands and stays calm in conditions that would make Paxos uncomfortable. The other backup is to explore Lefkada hidden beaches by boat on the west coast, which can run if the wind comes from the south. For the boat we put on Paxos days, see the Mazziena 26SP rental, our flagship.

A real day

A British couple last June asked for Paxos specifically. The morning was glass-flat. We left at 09:00, anchored off Voutoumi by 10:20, swam for two hours, ate fried calamari at the beach taverna, crossed to Lakka for an espresso and a walk, and were back in Lefkada by 16:45. Two passports stamped by the sea.

FAQ

How long is Lefkada to Paxos by boat? About 35 nautical miles each way. Around 70 minutes on the Mazziena 26SP in flat conditions.

Is Antipaxos worth the trip? For most guests, yes, Voutoumi and Vrika are the brightest-water beaches in the Ionian. Antipaxos is the headline; Paxos is the lunch.

What happens if the wind picks up? We switch to the protected inner Ionian loop. You still get a full day on the water with five island stops, just not across the open sea.

Can I do Paxos with the Highfield 650 Sport? Yes, but the smaller hull is less comfortable on the open crossing if there is any chop. We default to the Mazziena 26SP for Paxos days. Marine forecasts: hnms.gr.

To book the Paxos and Antipaxos day from Lefkada, use the booking form and pick "Mazziena 26SP".