Day trip to Angkistri island
In our search for an easy, quick, and cheap getaway from Athens, we found Angkistri island. Only one hour by boat from the city, the island is home to crystal clear waters, sealife, and a sweet escape from sedentary life. My parents dropped my friend Carolyn and me off at the subway station so we could proceed to Piraeus port. Our tickets had been booked online a few days before, and once we arrived at the port, we picked them up on the boat line's deck. Since this was Carolyn's first time visiting Greece and getting on a boat to explore a Greek island, I took the classic tourist picture of her in front of the boat that we were about to board.
The top level of the ship was all open, so we sat on it and enjoyed the sun and the sea waves as we sailed towards Angkistri island. While riding the boat for about an hour, we discussed our future business plans and enjoyed the view, the sea smell, the salt in the air, and the sun on our skin as we headed to our next adventure. After passing Aegina island, we reached Angkistri shortly afterwards. As soon as we saw the crystal clear water, we were blown away by it, which was a mixture of green, blue, and turquoise depending on how the water reflected, as well as the color of the rocks in the water. Our taxi ride was inevitable, as we realized. On the drive there, we saw people riding the bikes, and though it looked fun, a couple's bike ran out of battery and the other person had to return to the store to get a portable charger because they would have been stuck.
Angkistri is connected to Aponisos by a small man-made bridge that takes about 20 minutes to get there. Aponisos is the perfect little getaway that every person needs in their lives. It felt amazing being on this floating piece of land surrounded by the clearest waters. Since we went at the end of May, there were not many tourists. A lot of the sunbeds and umbrellas were not occupied, so it made us feel like we had uncovered a treasure. The first thing we did was explore. What made us the happiest was seeing peacocks wandering everywhere. Peacocks are my favorite animals after dolphins, and it was a wonderful experience for me. My mother and aunt had always told me that no matter where I go, no matter what I see and experience, Greece has it all. After seeing peacocks in Oahu, Hawaii two months ago, I was mesmerized by how such a beautiful animal is casually wandering among us. As I encountered this creature on the island in the country where I grew up, it made me understand and feel what my mom and aunt had always told me: Greece has everything I need.
Luckily for us, there were not many people around when we went swimming, so our photos and videos came out perfect. We decided to create some content for Astra Aesthete first. We asked some German tourists to take some polaroids of both of us and we enjoyed shooting our content while exploring the island. Getting super close to peacocks that roamed around was the highlight of the experience.
In search of a spot where we could leave our belongings, we walked all around the island. Since it was all rocks everywhere and there were some man-made access points at certain spots, we sat where the most people were, and it seemed the easiest access to the water. Having put our stuff on the sunbeds, we headed to the access point, where there was a woman who seemed reluctant to dive in. A woman told us that there were jellyfish everywhere. They migrate towards the Greek seas every few years. We noticed that no one had been swimming in those beautiful waters since we arrived. When I was very young, that had happened and my family and I were in the village where my mom comes from, and the beach shore was covered in jellyfish that people pulled out of the water so that they could swim freely. We were actually advised by my mom and aunt before we went swimming that day to take precautions and to remove any poison if we were stung. At the time, we did not think much of it, but after we got there, we were quite upset that we had to be extra cautious.
As we enjoyed the sun, we had wine and snacks. Before leaving, we took a shower at a barrel (see the photo), where we had to pay 50 cents for 30 seconds of water. It was the sweetest little day escape we could have hoped for. A local called us a taxi to the port. We had a quick dinner at a restaurant by the sea, and then watched the sunset on the boat back to Athens.
Quick Tips
Bring sport shoes to walk around, especially if you are interested in taking a hike
Ask for a map at the port so you can locate where the beaches you want to go to are
Talk to the locals for any help or directions, GPS is not reliable or phone service
In any restaurant you go, ask the waiters for the fish of day
Ask for a sea urchin salad
You need a drivers license as well as a motorcycle license to rent an ATV or motorcycle to move around the island. American driver’s licenses are usually not accepted
If you decide to get a taxi, keep in mind that there is a limited amount of drivers on the island. Ask a local shop or hotel once you arrive for taxi driver’s number and make sure to arrange with them exact times you will need them
It is much easier, cheaper and quicker to take subway in Athens to Piraeus port than taking a taxi, or driving and having to find parking
