A special villa off the beaten tracks

Personal Review

Koufonisi is a small island between Mykonos and Santorini still waiting to be discovered. Its 350 inhabitants, most of which are fishermen, live in the only town there is, thus intensifying the impression of a totally uninhabited island that you can actually walk easily in a day (island's area is only 3.5 m2). I had been told by various people that Koufonisi is also considered "The Maldives of Greece" but having travelled Greece extensively, I was very skeptical about the statement. What should Koufonisi boast that world famous islands like Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos and Amorgos don't offer? Well, the moment the ferry got close to Koufonisi, I was taught otherwise. The fine, creamy white sand and the turquoise colored sea was just mind-blowing! I couldn't believe that right next to the port lies such a fantastic beach that makes you ask yourself why you should even bother to discover the others.

Another suggestion, I very often hear when traveling, is to try the fresh fish on the island. Most of the times I find the same quality everywhere. Not so on Koufonisi! The freshest red snapper and other prime quality fish, as well as sea food, are caught by the local fishermen and prepared by talented cooks, resulting in simple but super tasty local dishes.

Being such a small island, Koufonisi doesn't boast intense nightlife and wild parties but peacefully flowing life on mesmerizing beaches, serenity and exceptionally good food. Accommodation is basic. No luxurious hotels, no fancy resorts, no luxury villas - well, no luxury villas apart from one! 

From the very beginning of our stay we started getting spoiled. The owner greeted us at the port and took us to this amazing property, just far enough away from town to enjoy privacy and serenity but without sacrificing on the walking distance to the shops and taverns all too much. Despite the fact that everything was in a walking distance, a van and a jeep were available for us to use, if needed.

The moment we saw the spacious and well designed pool area with various options to relax, party and outdoor dining, it was clear to us that we would spend most of our time there! The children also enjoyed the ping pong and the basketball in the pool. A small water cascade separated the children’s pool from the big one which featured a hydro massage. 

A 5000 m2 garden, fully integrated in the Cycladic landscape, provided us with a few fresh organic vegetables and offered many spots for relaxation. In the garden there was also a small terrain for mini soccer, volleyball, a place for youga-pilates and a playground for small children.

Everyone was so unwilling to leave the spoiling comfort, even for a tempting dip in the alluring sea, and upon our return everyone spread out to enjoy the property again.

At night we really had to force ourselves to go to bed even though our eyes were closing. Too beautiful was the moonlit night offering mesmerizing views over the sea with all the islands in the distance.  The uninhabited island Keros, Kato Koufonisi and Glaronisi worked like magnets, glueing our eyes to the stunning colors of the sea, the plethora of little beaches and bays around us and untouched nature in the distance.