Paleokastritsa's limestone cliffs plunge 90 metres into the Ionian Sea, creating a coastline of hidden coves accessible only by water. The Blue Caves — natural sea grottoes carved into the western headlands — refract morning light into cerulean pools that have drawn mariners since antiquity.
Byzantine monks established a monastery on the cape in 1225, using the sheltered bays below as supply routes from the mainland. The settlement's Greek name translates to "old fortress," referencing Venetian watchtowers that once guarded the harbour approaches.
Today, Corfu boat tours Paleokastritsa operate from Alipa Port, a working jetty where 14 licensed operators maintain fleets ranging from six-passenger speedboats to 80-seat motor yachts. The Blue Caves remain the most-visited destination, but longer itineraries reach Paxos and Antipaxos, two satellite islands 16 nautical miles south. Antipaxos beaches — Voutoumi and Vrika — sit on white pebble shores with visibility exceeding 30 metres underwater. The route crosses open water where bottlenose dolphins surface in spring and autumn migration windows.
Speedboat excursions prioritise agility, entering narrow grottoes where larger vessels cannot navigate. Cave walls reveal fossil deposits from the Cretaceous period, visible at low tide. Guides often pause at Ortholithi, a 20-metre sea stack, and Rovinia Beach, a sand-and-shingle cove with no road access. Day cruises to Paxos include port stops in Gaios, a fishing village with tavernas serving mastelo lamb cooked in clay pots. These longer trips depart at 09:00 and return by 19:00, covering 32 nautical miles round-trip.
The Paleokastritsa monastery perches 50 metres above the water, accessible via 142 stone steps from the port. Its icon collection includes a 16th-century Virgin Hodegetria and a silver-leaf epitaphios from Crete. Boat tours frequently pass beneath the monastery terrace, where visitors photograph the clifftop bell tower against open sea. The harbour itself charges no entry fee; operators collect payment directly for tours, which start at €15 for 90-minute coastal loops and reach €75 for full-day Paxos crossings.
2 hr
