The Greek island of Naxos in the South Aegean Sea is an idyllic destination – and a fabulous jumping-off point for embarking on a boating adventure.
A waterside view in Naxos (Photo: Pug Girl via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
Swimming on endless sandy beaches, hiking mythical mountains, and enjoying delicious Greek cuisine are just some of the enticing opportunities awaiting you on Naxos. But for a real experience of a lifetime, there’s nothing quite like heading out onto the open seas aboard your own private boat. There are a wide number of companies offering boat rentals in Naxos – with all departures from the island’s main port in the town of Chora – and we’ve picked out three of the best below.
Click & Boat
A reputable name in the boat rentals sector, Click & Boat list more than 40,000 vessels for hire across the globe. A peer-to-peer platform, owners can create a free listing for their boat by adding pictures, a description, a price, and advice about the local cruising area. Renters can then contact them directly via an online messaging service to ask any questions, as well as view feedback from previous renters. Bareboat rentals are the cheapest option, but you can also have a captain onboard for an additional cost. When we searched for boat rentals in Naxos, there were over 100 vessels available, with the cheapest option a 5-metre motoryacht complete with sundeck and outdoor shower, priced at €43 per day before fees, which can be hired with or without a skipper, and requires no license to be used independently.
SamBoat
Another well-regarded industry name, SamBoat lets you search for your ideal boat according to price, size, dates of travel and other requirements. Then, when you’ve found one that meets your needs, you send a booking request to the boat owner. If the request is accepted, you pay the rental fee directly to SamBoat who then deposit it to the owner when your rental period begins. On the day itself, you board the boat and make sure it fits with the descriptions before signing your contract. When we looked for Naxos rentals, we found hundreds of options (including both crewed and bareboat charters) with prices starting at €100 per day (before fees) for a 4.5-metre open motorboat that can be helmed without a license.
Naxos Rent A Boat
Naxos Rent a Boat by Xanemo Sailing is a new service of crewed motor yacht cruises setting off from Naxos island to the small cyclades, Mykonos, Paros and Antiparos. They offer private cruises for a half or full day cruise, complete with professional and highly-trained crew and free onboard WiFi, Pricing is fully transparent, so you know exactly what’s included and what isn’t, and there’s no hidden fees either. As a local company, their team also has insider knowledge on the Greek islands that allows them to offer guests help and advice on the best spots to head to.