Must see spots in Corfu area

[mihpreda]

Hello fellow sailors!

We are chartering a boat for one week from Corfu and the end of July.

Can you recommend some must see places during the trip ?
We are planning to see Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, maybe the mainland.

We like a mix of quiet anchorages and towns, with one good marina midweek (which I fear we won't find any).

Thank you
Mihai

[dlymn]

The only"good marina" is Gouvia, but that's not why you come to the Ionian. On the mainland, you can anchor at Valtou near Parga. Can be hectic with speedboats towing kids around. The ferryman will take you to Parga from your boat for a fee.
Sivota has some good anchorages. The quay is good but rolls a lot with the prevailing NW. The tavernas etc are good. Plataria is getting busy. Plenty of places to eat. Saghiada if you draw less than 2m is usually quiet. The fish tavernas are great. North of Corfu, Agni is a good anchorage. The tavernas are good and have lazylines. Agios Stephanos is a good anchorage and the tavernas are classy. Above Stephanos there are several small bays with good anchorage but totally undeveloped. Kassiopi has room for 5 boats; forget it except the sailing in the open sea is excellent. Stay at NAOK in Corfu. Radio ahead on 62 ? or email for a place. 500m from old Corfu town. Megayacht hang out there
The best time to sail is between 3 and 8. The best time to get a mooring against a quay is11am.Conflict of interest here. It might not be too crowded. A lot of people go home to avoid the heat of July and August and then come back in September October.

[mihpreda]

Thank you for replying !

Any beautiful beaches where we can sleep overnight !
Preferably empty, with no trace of humans.

Regards
Mihai

[dlymn]

Go to google maps and put in Agni Greece. You should get Agni which is NE of Gouvia. Change to satellite view and then move up North. You'll see plenty of coves, most with resorts or houses, but when you go past the obvious shoal (keep well east of the tower in the water), you'll see several small bays that seem to be uninhabited except for the boaties that have the same idea as you. August is one of the most popular times of the year for chartering and so it's not easy to be alone. Heikell ( a pilot guide, you should get it with the boat) also describes a few anchorages on the mainland directly opposite Corfu. Haven't been there yet but have read some positive reports. Heikell also describes a few coves south of Parge that are good to anchor in. We've anchored at Ammoudhia (or Fanari), it give good shelter from the prevailing NW winds, but it is also a tourist beach with lounges and umbrellas. There are a couple of nice secluded coves south of this (Heikell comments about Two Rock Bay)

Few people worry much about the fact that some people enjoy clothing optional swimming or sunbaking.

[AlphaBravo]

Parga is great, a lovely bustling town, but not too keen on the small port area as it messy, rubbish every! Valtou is a enclosed bay just north of Igoumenitsa on the mainland, usually very quiet with the occasional flotilla going in there, but lots of room. My favourite town spots are Lakka and gaios on paxos, just two amazing, yet busy, places. Mingonissi just south of gaios is a lovely 1-horse stop with great taverna. Also try petitri 11nm South of corfu, a great fishing village, not overan by tourists.

Enjoy.

[mihpreda]

Thank you guys for your advice.

It's not about clothing that we seek empty beaches.
We usually like to sleep right on the beach for one night during the trip with no one to bother.

Regards
Mihai

[Polux]

I have been sailing on the area and not liking it. Just too many boats for my taste. The only place I found nice and not crowded was the Othoni Island on the North of Corfu. There is a new marina too but I don't like marinas.

The anchorage is protected from the prevalent wind but you have to look where you put the anchor. What looks the best place it isn't because the bottom is rock. Anchor in sand at 6/8 meters deep near the old port entrance on the right side. Respect the non anchoring indications on the map (left side) because a Ferry of considerable still uses the old port.