If you like boating, you can join one of the many boat trips from Naxos town or from Ágia Ánna, mostly to the south coast of Naxos and to Koufonísi. We choose the boat Iason and the trip from Ágia Ánna to the bay of Rína, with four shorter stops for swimming and one longer break with barbecue in Kalandós.
Near Mikrí Vígla we pass these beautiful rocks on which some shags sit, drying in the sun after diving for fish.
The roundish rocks consist of granodiorite.
On a larger islet stands a small chapel.
After the cape of Alykó, where the boat anchors for some time so that the passengers can swim for a while, we pass the settlement of Agiassós. In the middle background you can see the steep mountain of Apalírou on which lie the ruins of a large Byzantine fortress, to which the bay of Agiassós served as a harbor. On the far right of the picture Mount Zeus, the highest mountain of Naxos, is visible.
After Agiassós the south coast is largely uninhabited. We pass this picturesque cliff.
The southwest end of Naxos is lonely, dry and barren. On the mountain slopes grows a loose maquis of Phoenicean juniper.
near the southern tip of Naxos
We first pass the large bay of Kalandós and continue to the bay of Rína. Several other yachts and excursion boats are already moored in the bay – no longer an insider tip.
view of the bay of Kalandós
rocky coast near Rína
during the swimming break in the bay of Rína
our boat
At the large, sheltered bay of Kalandós with a small port with pier, we have a two-hour break during which the crew prepares and serves food: Meat skewers, salad and tzatziki.
our boat Iason at the pier in Kalandós
The bay of Kalandós has a long, beautiful sand beach. Behind it lies a large wetland area with reeds and rushes.
In the reed (Phragmites australis) breed moorhens and reed warblers (common and great reed warbler). At this time of year, however, nothing can be seen of these species.
Despite the little rainfall in winter, the small stream that flows into the sea next to the pier has some water. We find a Balkan pond turtle.
The pond turtle is found on Naxos in several rivers that have water all year round and at some estuaries. It lives also in brackish water and can survive dry periods buried in the mud.
In the river we also find some individuals of the Atlantic blue crab, an invasive species coming from America. This species often lives in brackish water and even in the fresh water of estuaries. With a dorsal shield of up to 20 cm width the Atlantic blue crab ist quite large, and it is also aggressive: when we hold a twig within reach they snap at it with their pinces – accordingly, we refrain from trying to catch one.
On the sandy beach we find many tiger beetle of the species Calomera littoralis. These restless beetles fly up before us as we walk along the beach. They have dark brown, slightly coppery wing covers with characteristic white spots, the foremost of which is C-shaped. The beetles are predators feeding on small insects. The larvae live in holes they dig in the sand, waiting there for small prey to pass by.
a mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus) on the beach
At 5 pm we arrive back in Ágia Ánna tired and a bit sun-roasted, but satisfied.
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