The Cyclades: A Water-Sports Paradise

When it comes to the Cyclades, anyone who invests in a mask, snorkel, and flippers has entry to intense, serene beauty. Yet even without underwater gear, this archipelago is a swimmer’s paradise, with warm, clear, and clean waters to entice visitors.

Most of the Cycladic islands gleam with beaches, from long blond stretches of sand to tiny pebbly coves. The best beaches are probably those on the southwest coast of Naxos but every island rewards those prepared to explore off the beaten track. The strands on Santorini, though strewn with plenty of bathers, are volcanic; you can bask on sands that are strikingly red and black.

As for water sports, there are many options to entice sunseekers; waterskiing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking, scuba diving, and windsurfing have become ever more popular. Paros and Naxos are the islands for kitesurfing with regular, reliable winds in the channels that surround them.