Sami: Ithaca Island Boat Trip with Swimming and Snacks

Ithaca is best seen from the water, and this trip makes that the whole point. You spend the day on Christina III, a traditional wooden boat, stopping at three beautiful swimming spots before reaching Vathi, the island’s small capital. I especially like the mix of quiet coves and village time, plus the chance to see Ithaca’s rocky coast without packing and unpacking for a new beach.

The crew earns strong marks for being friendly, careful, and well organized, including when wind made the return journey rougher. I also like that the price includes riganada, fruit, juice, and water. The catch is simple: the snacks are not a full lunch, and the boat has seats but no proper places to stretch out. That matters on a seven-hour day.

Key points at a glance

• Three swimming stops: Pera Pigadi, Filiatro Beach, and Gidaki give you nearly three and a half hours in the water.
• A traditional wooden boat: Christina III adds a more local Ionian feel than a basic ferry or modern speedboat.
• Seventy minutes in Vathi: You have enough time for a harbor walk, a coffee, small shops, and photographs.
• Simple food included: Riganada, watermelon, juice, and water take the edge off hunger, but do not expect a full meal.
• Strong crew service: The staff are praised for care, punctual departures, and handling changing weather sensibly.
• Bring your own snorkel gear: Equipment is not supplied, and comfortable shoes, a towel, hat, and sunscreen are essential.

Why Ithaca works so well from a boat

Ithaca is associated with Odysseus, but you do not need a mythology lesson to appreciate the island. Its appeal is physical: steep shores, small bays, clear water, and villages gathered around sheltered harbors.

From Sami, the boat gives you access to places that are awkward to connect by land in one day. You can swim in a quiet bay, cruise past cliffs and caves, and then step ashore in Vathi without arranging separate transport.

This is not a fast sightseeing ride. It is a full day built around swimming, sunshine, and slow coastal views. The boat moves between stops in short sections, so you spend much of the day either in the water, in port, or looking back at Ithaca from the sea.

The listed price is $76 per person. That is fair if you value several swimming stops, the boat ride, the included snacks, and the convenience of seeing multiple parts of Ithaca in one outing. It is less attractive if you mainly want a boat with loungers, a substantial lunch, or a quiet luxury cruise.

Starting at Sami Port on Christina III

You meet at Zaharatos Cruises in Sami Port at least 20 minutes before the 9:00 a.m. departure. Do not cut this close. The boat leaves in the morning, and arriving early gives you time to find the correct quay and settle aboard without a rushed start.

Christina III is a handcrafted wooden vessel. That detail shapes the mood of the day. You are not simply being transported from one port to another. The boat itself is part of the Ionian setting, with a traditional look that suits the old coastal villages and open-water route.

The vessel has enough space for passengers even when nearly full, according to one detailed account, but you should understand the seating arrangement. There are seats for everyone, yet there are no proper loungers for stretching out. If your ideal boat day involves lying flat in the sun, this may feel limiting.

The crew’s organization is one of the clearest strengths. The departure is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., and the full outing usually lasts about seven hours, sometimes closer to seven and a half. Staff speak English and are described as attentive with both food service and passenger comfort.

Pera Pigadi and Nisopoulo: an easy first swim

The first stop is Pera Pigadi, also referred to as Nisopoulo in the route details. You have about an hour here, which is enough time to get comfortable in the water rather than rushing through a quick photo stop.

This is a lesser-known swimming place, with clear water suited to a relaxed first swim. You can snorkel if you bring your own equipment, or simply enter the water and cool off. The schedule gives you time to enjoy the stop from the boat as well, which is useful if you do not want to swim continuously.

The first snack service comes into play here. You receive riganada, a rustic local preparation made with bread, tomato, olive oil, oregano, and stouba, along with seasonal fruit, juice, and water. Watermelon is specifically included in the food selection.

Think of this as a light island snack, not a buffet. One passenger found the portions too modest for the price, while another found the snacks simple but sufficient and said there was hardly a need for lunch during the free time in Vathi. Your appetite, and how much you swim, will make a difference.

Filiatro Beach and a longer stretch in the water

Filiatro Beach is scheduled for about an hour and a half, making it the longest swimming stop. It is framed by rock and known for turquoise water, so this is likely to be one of the most rewarding parts of the day if swimming is your main reason for booking.

The longer stop gives you a better chance to settle into the setting. You can swim, use your snorkel, sit on the boat, or enjoy the shore. The schedule is generous enough that you are not forced to choose between getting in the water and taking a proper break.

You should still expect a natural beach setting rather than a fully arranged resort beach. The provided details do not promise beach chairs, umbrellas, changing rooms, or water sports. Bring what you need for comfort, and remember that snorkeling equipment is not included.

Several high ratings focus on the swimming locations, and that praise makes sense. The value here is not in elaborate facilities. It is in reaching attractive water stops that are difficult to combine independently within a single day.

Vathi: 70 minutes in Ithaca’s capital

After the swimming stops, the boat reaches Vathi, the capital of Ithaca. You have 70 minutes, or one hour and 10 minutes, to explore independently.

Vathi sits around a scenic harbor, and the planned pause gives the day a useful change of pace. After hours in swimwear and salt water, you can walk through the small streets, browse boutique shops, stop for a coffee, or take harbor photographs.

Seventy minutes is enough for a taste, not a full town visit. You will not have time to explore every corner of Vathi or turn the stop into a long lunch. The point is to get your bearings, enjoy the harbor, and experience a little island town life between swims.

Food here is optional and at your own expense. Since the boat provides riganada, fruit, juice, and water, you may not need a full meal. Still, if you have a large appetite, budget for something in Vathi rather than assuming the included snacks will replace lunch.

This is also the only substantial time ashore, so keep an eye on the departure time. The boat’s schedule continues to Lazaretto and Gidaki after Vathi.

Lazaretto Island and the sea caves

The stop at Lazaretto is brief, about 10 minutes, and is mainly for sightseeing and photographs. The boat cruises around the small island in the middle of Vathi Bay, giving you views of its rugged edges and nearby sea caves.

Do not think of Lazaretto as another beach stop. You will not have an extended period to go ashore or swim here. Its value is visual, especially if you enjoy coastal rock formations and want photographs from the boat.

The short cruise segments around Lazaretto also keep the day moving. You are not spending the entire afternoon in one place, yet the route does not become a frantic checklist. The balance is mostly water time, with brief sightseeing sections between stops.

Gidaki Beach, the final swim

Gidaki Beach is the last major stop and one of Ithaca’s best-known beaches. You have about 50 minutes, enough for a final swim in emerald water and a short rest on the pebbled shore.

Because this comes late in the day, you may be ready for a quieter stop rather than a full afternoon of activity. Gidaki provides that slower finish. Swim if you still have energy, or stay aboard and enjoy the view if you have had enough sun.

The beach is pebbled, so water shoes may be useful if you are sensitive underfoot. The tour asks you to bring comfortable shoes, and this is one place where that advice matters. You also need a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, and a hat for the repeated transitions between boat, beach, and town.

With the final swim complete, the boat returns to Sami in about 25 minutes of cruising time listed for the route. Wind can affect the feel of this section. In stronger conditions, the return may be noticeably rough, even though the crew has been praised for managing difficult weather carefully.

What the included food really means

The food arrangement is practical but modest. Included items are:

• Traditional riganada
• Seasonal fruit, including watermelon
• Juice
• Water

Riganada gives you a taste of a simple local food rather than a generic packaged snack. The bread, tomato, olive oil, oregano, and stouba fit the informal character of a Greek boat day.

The word unlimited applies to the listed juice and water, not to a broad selection of meals. The snacks should help you stay comfortable between swims, but you should not book this expecting a catered lunch.

This is where the price question becomes personal. If you usually eat lightly in hot weather, the included food may be enough, especially with the Vathi break. If you need a substantial midday meal, bring suitable food if permitted or plan to buy something during the 70 minutes in town. Personal expenses and extra food or drinks are not included.

Comfort, weather, and the practical tradeoffs

The strongest service feedback centers on the crew. They are described as professional, friendly, attentive, and careful with passenger needs. That matters on a boat day because the quality of the staff affects everything from boarding to snack service to how secure you feel when the sea changes.

Weather is the main variable you cannot control. The route can feel smooth in calm conditions, but a strong northwesterly wind can make the return noticeably choppy. Even when the crew completes the route safely, passengers sensitive to motion should be prepared for a livelier ride.

The boat offers seating but no space designed for lying down. You may find this perfectly fine if you plan to swim often and spend the rest of the time looking out at the coast. If you need a sunbed, extra legroom, or a private quiet corner, adjust your expectations.

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people with mobility impairments. That restriction fits a day involving boat boarding, repeated swimming stops, pebbled beach access, and movement around a traditional vessel.

Who should book this Ithaca day trip

I would recommend this trip to you if you want water time first and sightseeing second. It works particularly well for people staying in or near Sami who want to see Ithaca without organizing several ferries, taxis, or beach transfers.

It also suits couples, friends, and active families who are comfortable with a full day outdoors. The mix of three swims and one town visit keeps the schedule varied, but the day remains centered on sea and sun.

You may want a different outing if you dislike boats, need a full meal included, or prefer land-based cultural touring. Vathi receives only 70 minutes, and the rest of the route is built around swimming and coastal views.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, comfortable shoes, and your own snorkeling equipment. Water and juice are provided, but personal expenses are not. Since the tour has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option, you have some flexibility when planning, though weather remains the practical concern.

Should you book it?

Book it if the idea of three clear-water swims, a wooden boat, a short visit to Vathi, and simple Greek snacks sounds like a good use of seven hours. The crew service, careful handling of changing conditions, and well-spaced stops give the trip real value at $76.

Skip it if you need a substantial lunch, a place to lie down, or extensive time exploring Ithaca on foot. For most people seeking a classic Ionian sea day from Sami, this is a well-organized choice, provided you pack for swimming and accept that the boat is comfortable rather than luxurious.

FAQ

Where does the Ithaca boat trip depart from?

The boat departs from Zaharatos Cruises at Sami Port in western Greece.

What time should I arrive?

You should arrive at least 20 minutes before the 9:00 a.m. departure.

How long does the boat trip last?

The activity lasts approximately seven hours. Some detailed timing places the return closer to seven to seven and a half hours.

Which swimming spots are included?

The route includes swimming at Pera Pigadi, Filiatro Beach, and Gidaki Beach.

How long do I have in Vathi?

You have 70 minutes, or one hour and 10 minutes, in Vathi for free time, shopping, photographs, sightseeing, or a coffee.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. Snorkeling equipment is not included, so you should bring your own if you want to snorkel.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes traditional riganada, seasonal fruit such as watermelon, juice, and water.

Is lunch included?

No full lunch is included. The provided food consists of simple snacks, fruit, juice, and water. You can use your free time in Vathi for additional food at your own expense.

Is the activity suitable for everyone?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or people with mobility impairments. You should also be prepared for boat seating rather than sun loungers and for the possibility of rougher conditions in strong wind.