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Alyko is a pretty beach on the southwest coast of Naxos. Lined with cedar trees and a nice chapel, it offers a typical setting appreciated by tourists and locals alike. The cove, sheltered and with translucent water, is ideal for exploring the island’s seabed. You will meet many fish underwater, such as wrasses, sars and rabbitfish.

Alyko Beach, Naxos
Alyko Beach.

How to get to Alyko Beach snorkeling spot?

Alyko is a small beach on the west coast of the island of Naxos, in the Cyclades. The site is easily accessible by car, following the road which ends in a cul-de-sac near the ruins of a hotel. 250m before the car park, you will see a road on the left which leads to the beach.

Alyko Beach snorkeling map, Naxos

Water entrance for snorkeling Alyko Beach

Get in the water from the beach, preferably on the right (on the side where the small white and blue chapel is) to be closer to the recommended snorkeling area.

Alyko Beach snorkeling exploration tips

In the recommended snorkeling area, the water depth does not exceed 10ft/3meters. The seabed is mostly sandy and rocky, with small seagrass beds. Some areas offer spectacular underwater landscapes, in which large slabs of rocks intertwine.

Underwater Alyko Beach
Alyko Beach boasts a dramatic rocky seabed.

On the rocks, yellow sponges and black sponges can be seen here and there, while many sea cucumbers are lying on the sand. The seabed is visited by many fish: ornate wrasse, salema porgy, and several species of seabream are particularly common.

Squaretail rabbitfish in Alyko
The dusky spinefoot is an invasive species that is very common in Alyko.

The warm waters of Greece have been colonized by several exotic species. This is also the case in Alyko, where two species of spinefoot, the dusky spinefoot and the marbled spinefoot, abound.

Ornate wrasse in Alyko
A bright-colored ornate wrasse photographed in Alyko’s shallows.

Alyko snorkeling spot generally offers a calm and translucent sea, and is well suited for kids and beginners.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

There are a few restaurants along the neighboring Pyrgaki Beach, the first being located about 500m by foot from Alyko.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth3m/20ft
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersMedium
  • Access costsFree

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.