Ios Island: Speedboat Cruise from Mylopotas Beach

Ios is best understood from the water, where the island’s long coast opens into secluded beaches, pale coves, and clear swimming spots that are hard to reach by road. This afternoon speedboat cruise packs a surprising amount into a short outing, with stops near Manganari, Kalamos, Papas, Plakes, and Koumpara.

I like the chance to snorkel with equipment provided, and I like the personal touch from the crew. Niko is singled out for making the trip memorable, while Sam is noted as a good guide. The main drawback is time: the booking information lists 2.5 hours, while the general description refers to a three-hour trip, so you should confirm the exact schedule before planning the rest of your day.

Key points to know before booking

• Mylopotas is both the departure point and one of Ios’s best-known beaches, so you can swim or relax there before boarding.
• Manganari brings the movie connection, with five linked bays and the beach used for scenes from The Big Blue.
• Kalamos is the main snorkeling stop, with quiet, clear water and equipment supplied.
• Papas and Plakes add a more remote feel, while the boat also passes many smaller beaches along Ios’s 87-kilometer coast.
• Koumpara is the planned final swim, with the water tinted by the afternoon or sunset light.
• The $69 price includes the boat, snorkeling equipment, water, and juice, but not towels, hotel pickup, or personal spending.

Why seeing Ios by boat changes the island

Ios has about 87 kilometers of coastline, including 32 kilometers of sandy beaches. From a road, you see only pieces of it. From a speedboat, you get the larger picture: long strips of sand, empty-looking coves, rocky edges, and beaches that appear one after another around the island.

That matters because Ios can feel very different depending on where you spend your time. Mylopotas is easy to reach and has plenty of facilities. Other beaches named on this route, such as Kampaki, Plakotos, Petalidi, Neraki, Sapounochoma, Diamoudia, Klima, Pikri Nero, and Tzamaria, offer a quieter setting and fewer obvious signs of town life.

You should not expect a slow sightseeing boat with long explanations at every headland. This is a short, active coastal outing. The speedboat is the point. It lets you cover more shoreline, then stop for swimming and snorkeling without spending much of your day on the water.

The activity is listed at $69 per person. That is a fair price if you want a boat outing with several coastal views and included snorkeling gear, rather than simply paying for a short transfer to one beach. It is less compelling if your main goal is to spend hours on one stretch of sand, since the cruise keeps moving and the scheduled duration is limited.

Starting at Mylopotas Beach

The meeting point is the Meltemi Watersports center at the end of Mylopotas Beach. You are responsible for getting there, since hotel transfer is not included. That makes this easiest for you if you are already staying near Mylopotas or can arrange your own transport to the beach.

Mylopotas is a practical place to begin. It has the facilities that smaller coves lack, and you can arrive early enough to get oriented before boarding. The beach itself is one of the main highlights of Ios, with golden sand, deep blue water, and services nearby.

The afternoon departure shapes the mood of the trip. The light should be softer than at midday, and the final stop at Koumpara is intended to catch the warmer color of late day. Still, the cruise is not sold as a full sunset sailing, so check the start time carefully if that final light is important to you.

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen. Towels are not included, and large bags or luggage are not allowed aboard. Pack light, and keep your belongings to the essentials you need for a few hours on the water.

Manganari and the five-bay coastline

Manganari is one of the strongest stops on the route. Its beach is known for a sequence of five bays, giving the coast a more varied shape than a single long sweep of sand. The water is described as crystal clear, and the setting has the polished look of a postcard without needing much decoration.

The beach also carries a small piece of film history. Scenes from The Big Blue were shot here, so film fans may recognize the setting or at least understand why it was chosen. You will not be touring a movie set, but the connection gives the stop a little extra character.

Manganari is valuable even if you have never seen the film. It shows why a boat trip makes sense on Ios. You can view the sequence of bays from offshore and appreciate how the beach changes from one section to the next. The drawback is that the itinerary covers many places, so you may not have enough time to settle into one bay for a long beach afternoon.

Kalamos, where snorkeling takes center stage

The cruise then reaches Kalamos on the eastern side of Ios. This beach is presented as a quieter place with clear water, and it is the main point for getting into the sea with the supplied snorkeling equipment.

You may be able to look around the reef and, depending on the route and conditions, see the underwater cave or shipwreck features associated with the outing. The exact snorkeling site can change, since the boat itinerary may be altered by wind and sea conditions. It is best to think of the equipment as a useful inclusion, not a promise of a long guided snorkeling session at one fixed location.

The appeal of Kalamos is its calm feel. After the open-water ride, a swim in a sheltered cove gives the trip a welcome change of pace. If you are not a confident swimmer, tell the crew before entering the water. One particularly useful detail from the crew feedback is that the staff were reassuring and attentive toward a family member with a strong fear of water, which suggests that clear communication with the team can make a difference.

You should still judge your own comfort honestly. This is a boat-and-swim activity, not a glass-bottom sightseeing trip. If you would rather remain aboard, the boat ride and coastline views are still part of the outing, but snorkeling is one of the main reasons to choose it.

Papas, Plakes, and the quieter coves

After Kalamos, the route includes the isolated beaches of Papas and Plakes. These are the sort of places that are most interesting from the water because their appeal is tied to their separation from the busier parts of the island.

The boat also passes a long list of additional beaches, including Kampaki, Plakotos, Petalidi, Neraki, Sapounochoma, Diamoudia, Klima, Pikri Nero, and Tzamaria. You should not assume that each one is a separate stop with time to go ashore. The useful way to read this part of the route is as a broad coastal tour, with the speedboat showing you many corners of Ios in a compact window.

That variety is one of the cruise’s best features. Instead of spending your entire afternoon at a single organized beach, you get a sense of how much of Ios remains quiet and open. You can also compare different kinds of shoreline: wide sandy beaches, smaller coves, rocky edges, and places that seem to have little more than water and stone.

The tradeoff is predictable. More coastline means less time at any one place. If you want a long, unhurried beach stay, rent a car or arrange a beach day instead. If you want to see several parts of the island without working out every road connection, the boat earns its place.

Valmas, Kolitsani, and the coast near town

Near Ormos, the boat can reach Valmas Beach. Near Chora, it passes Kolitsani Beach. These stops bring the route closer to familiar parts of Ios, but the view from the sea changes your sense of distance and access.

Kolitsani is especially useful as a coastal reference point for anyone staying near Chora. You can see how the island’s main settlement relates to the water, rather than treating Chora and the beaches as separate parts of your holiday. Valmas offers another look at the shoreline near Ormos, the harbor area.

The route does not promise long shore visits at every named beach. In some places, the pleasure is simply seeing the bay from the boat, taking a swim if conditions allow, or adding another section of coast to your mental map of Ios.

Finishing at Koumpara in late-day light

The planned final swim is at Koumpara Beach. The water is described as taking on the color of the setting sun, making this a gentler ending than a final high-speed run back to Mylopotas.

Koumpara is a good place to wind down. After the movement of the boat and the activity at Kalamos, a last dip gives you time to enjoy the water without needing another major stop. Juice and water are included, so you have a simple refreshment on hand, though you should not expect a full meal.

The timing deserves a practical note. The experience is listed as 2.5 hours, while the general tour wording describes it as a three-hour trip. The difference may reflect a flexible schedule or a change in the operating day, but you should confirm the actual departure and return times when booking. Strong winds or bad weather can also alter the route or cancel the cruise. In that case, an alternative date or full refund is offered.

Crew, comfort, and what the price covers

The crew speaks English and Greek. Niko is the guide name most worth remembering from the available feedback, with one outing extended from 2.5 to 4 hours and still feeling short to the person who took it. That does not mean you should book expecting four hours, but it does show that the day can sometimes change in the boat’s favor.

Sam is also named as a guide connected with a good outing. More important than the names is the reported attitude of the staff: reassuring, organized, and attentive around someone anxious about the water. That matters on a small speedboat, where a calm crew can make swimming feel much easier.

The transport score is strong, with 86 percent of ratings giving it a perfect mark. The overall rating is 4.8 from 28 reviews. Those numbers point to a consistently well-liked boat operation, though the limited sample means you should still focus on the practical fit: short duration, active swimming, no hotel pickup, and exposure to wind and waves.

At $69, the value is strongest for you if you want several elements in one package:

• A speedboat ride along Ios’s coast
• Stops at beaches that are difficult to combine independently
• Snorkeling equipment
• Water and juice
• English or Greek crew support
• A late-day swim at Koumpara

Personal expenses and towels are extra. Dietary preferences should be shared at booking, even though the included refreshments are simple.

Who should book this Ios cruise?

I would recommend this outing to you if you have limited time on Ios and want more than one beach view. It is also a good fit if you enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and the feeling of moving quickly between coves rather than sitting in one place all afternoon.

It suits couples, families, and small groups who want a scenic break from road travel. The crew’s reassuring approach may also help if someone in your group is nervous around water, though you should still tell the team about that concern in advance.

You may want to skip it if you dislike speedboats, do not want to get wet, or need a long and predictable schedule. It is also not the right choice for luggage-heavy sightseeing, since large bags are not allowed. And if your heart is set on exploring every named beach on foot, the boat can only show you a selection from offshore.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat cruise depart from?

It departs from the Meltemi Watersports center at the end of Mylopotas Beach on Ios.

How long does the cruise last?

The activity is listed as 2.5 hours. The general description refers to a three-hour trip, so confirm the exact operating time when you book.

What is included in the price?

The $69 price includes the speedboat cruise, snorkeling equipment, water, and juice.

Are towels and hotel transfers included?

No. Towels, personal expenses, and hotel transfer are not included.

Which languages does the crew speak?

The host or greeter speaks English and Greek.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Strong winds or other bad weather can change or cancel the route. If that happens, an alternative date or a full refund is offered.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want to see the breadth of Ios’s coast in a short afternoon, with real time for swimming and snorkeling along the way. Manganari’s five bays, Kalamos’s clear water, and the final stop at Koumpara give the trip a clear sense of place rather than making it only a fast boat ride.

Before paying, confirm the exact duration, check the wind forecast, and plan how you will reach Mylopotas. Bring a small bag, a towel, and sun protection. For $69, this is a sensible coastal outing for active beach lovers, but it is not a substitute for a full day at one quiet beach.