Folegandros · Karavostasis & the south-east · Καραβοστάσης
Karavostasis, the harbour of the island
Karavostasis, 'where the ships stop', is the island's port, a small, quiet settlement of white houses on the south-east coast, 3.5 km below Chora and protected as a traditional settlement since 1978. Its own beach, Chochlidia, lined with tamarisks, runs round the harbour; Vardia lies just to the east and little Latinaki to the south, and the coast road goes on past more coves to Livadi. In summer the caiques leave from the quay every day for the beaches you cannot reach by road.
The 'ship stop', a harbour that had no ferry pier until 1984, with three family beaches round it
The story of Karavostasis
Until 1984 there was no pier for the ferries: the big ships waited out in the bay and people and goods were rowed out to them in small boats. The oldest building in the port is the chapel of Agios Artemios on the harbour, recorded in 1888, whose feast is celebrated in October.
Along the shore stand the syrmata, old sheds into which the fishermen hauled their boats, some of them now little bars. On the road up to Chora there is the chapel of the Agioi Anargyroi and, a little further on, that of Agioi Pantes, built into the rock. In August the port holds its own food festival, the Kaikokakavia, around the fishermen's soup, kakavia.
Where to stay
Where you'll wake up in Karavostasis
Karavostasis
Fall asleep on a headland above the sandy cove of Vardia
Vardia Bay Studios · Studios · €€
Karavostasis · Karavostasis & the south-east
Where to eat
Tables we love in Karavostasis
Karavostasis · Karavostasis & the south-east
Karavostasis · Karavostasis & the south-east
Good to know
Before you go to Karavostasis
Getting there
Every ferry and fast boat docks here. The bus to Chora leaves from the pier and waits for every boat, whatever the hour.
When to go
Morning, for a swim at Vardia before the boats come in, and August for the Kaikokakavia festival.
More of Folegandros
Villages you'll want to see next
Chora & the cliffs
Chora
A village of squares on the lip of a 200 m cliff, around a medieval Kastro lived in without a break since it was built
Chora & the cliffs
The Panagia
The white church on the rock above Chora, built from an ancient temple, at the top of a zig-zag path
Ano Meria & the north
Ano Meria
A farming village 3 km long, made of farmsteads, stone walls and lemon trees in round towers against the wind
Fall for more of Folegandros
Every stay we recommend across Folegandros, from village guesthouses to rooms on the sea.
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