Location: Koufonisia is located south of Naxos and north of Amorgos .
Identity card: It brings together several islets, the three main ones of which are:
Pano Koufonissi , circular in shape, with a diameter of 2.5 km, an area of 5.7 km², a coastal perimeter of 14.45 km and a population of 300 inhabitants.
There is only one village: Chora located in the South-East of the island.
Kato Koufonissi , oval in shape, with an area of 4.5 km² and a coastal perimeter of 15.6 km. It is separated from Pano Koufonissi by a 250m channel with a depth of 5.5 to 8m.
Keros with an area of 15.2 km² and a coastal perimeter of 26,650 km.
Characteristics: Koufonisia is part of the “ Small Cyclades ”, a string of islets, the main ones of which are: Iraklia , Schinoussa and Donoussa , and administratively depends on Naxos .
Koufonisia takes its name from two Greek words: “Koufos” which means “hollow” and “Nisi” island.
Flat islands, sandy islands, arid and dry with limestone rocks hollowed out with cavities, they owe their reputation to the extraordinary color of their clear waters. Water being a rare commodity, vegetation is limited to a few bushes.
There we find, to the south and east, a succession of strips of ultra-fine sand and heavenly coves where sometimes the rock forms shaded excavations, arches and natural “swimming pools” in water that comes in shades of turquoise.
Known since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the excavations which made it possible to discover important vestiges of the Cycladic civilization, notably at Keros , they were uninhabited for a long time, with the exception of a few shepherds, and thanks to their excellent anchorages, were used of pirate dens until the last century. For a long time they lived isolated from the world, due to difficult and restricted maritime connections. In summer the inhabitants devoted themselves to fishing, and in winter to repairing caiques, therefore Koufonisia has the largest fleet of caiques (fishing boats). But for around twenty years, at the same time, they have turned to tourism which is growing year after year. Many Athenians built beautiful second homes there.
Strong points: Koufonisia is aimed at fans of scuba diving and those looking for “laziness” in a magical setting. People come there for the unforgettable color of its waters and also enjoy the beauty of its beaches. You have to take the time to soak up the magic of these islands and live on local time: go on foot or by bike on the trails to discover deserted beaches and coves. There is undoubtedly an atmosphere of a little paradise. Due to its small size, the island can be explored on foot. There are also a multitude of small caiques that take you to the most remote beaches. To appreciate it, avoid the month of August .
Activities :
To help you find your way around the island, we have indicated in ORANGE the places where you can stay.
