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Admittedly, the beaches of Naxos are far less crowded and a bit larger compared to those of Paros. However, the quantity of the soft sea sand, the quality of the soothing waters, and the uniqueness of a few truly exceptional Paros beaches more than make up for these shortcomings. The better beaches on the east coast—that is, beaches that aren't overcrowded and small—can be reached by the ever-reliable bus from both Naousa and Parikia.
Regrettably, you'll be going through an inland road, so there are no scenic routes and beautiful panoramas for you to scope out and marvel at. To be on the safe side, look around and ask the locals about crowd conditions before landing on the nearest beach. Of course, if you can take the crowd and the smallness of the beach you've found, then you can stay there if you'd like; after all, once you've reached a beach, it's several miles before you can find the next one. In any case, here are some of the most popular beaches of Paros:
Langeri: About one and a half miles
or two and a half kilometers north of Naousa via a dirt
road is the popular Langeri Beach. If you're feeling a
bit frolicsome, a ten-minute walk will get you to a nudist
beach filled with crowds of either sexual persuasion.
Santa Maria: You must take note that
before you get to Langeri Beach itself, the road forks
to the right and leads to Santa Maria Beach, which is
a great beach to stay at as well, and certainly one of
the most beautiful beaches on the face of Paros Island.
Santa Maria can sometimes be reached by caïque from several
Naousa ports as well, but the most common means of transportation
is by bus through the aforementioned undeveloped road.
Chrissi Akti and Nea Chrissi Akti: Another
major beach is Chrissi Akti, which literally means "Golden
Beach" and is a 700 meter long powdery coastline
that's famous for its perfect wind conditions for windsurfing.
There is another, newer Golden Beach situated next to
this one. Although the contemporary Nea Chrissi Akti is
smaller than the more established Chrissi Akti, it welcomes
every August since 1993 the Professional Windsurfing World
Cup that always draws many windsurfing celebrities and
champions. In any case, both beaches are fully organized
with windsurf rentals that anyone can avail of in all
the clubs and resorts there.
Kolimbithres: Kolimbithres, which literally
means "Fonts", is one of Paros's most well-known,
most picturesque, and most-loved beaches ever. It's just
a ten-minute moped ride west from Naousa and is filled
with smooth giant rocks that are evocative of baptismal
fonts—hence the name—and separate the golden-sanded beach
into many petite coves. You can either go by caïque that
are scattered throughout Naousa's ports or simply travel
by road in order to reach this slice of heaven.
Livadia: Livadia is the first beach
of the huge bay of Parikia, and it is located in the very
same town about seven-hundred meters from the port. It
is a wonderful beach for vacationers that want to be close
to their accommodations in town, which should enable them
to have both the conveniences of city-living and the peacefulness
of seaside relaxation at the same time.
Molos: At the tip of a nearby peninsula
stands Molos, a breathtakingly stunning and convenient
beach near the beautiful inland villages of Marpissa and
Marmara, where there are rooms to spare. Beware though,
because this beach does get crowded. Nevertheless, its
myriad of lodgings in the form of apartments, hotels,
and taverns are worth pushing through the rambunctious
crowd. In fact, this beach can be accessed by road as
well.
Loloantonis: South of Drios, there's
a 200 meter long beach called Loloantonis that's protected
from the Meltemi winds or Etesians—which are the strong,
dry winds of the Aegean sea that are dangerous to sailors
because they appear even during clear weather—by a headland
filled with rocks. The beaches are not usually crowded,
and the resort features a snack shop and a small tavern.
If you opt to go by bus, you'll have to walk one and a
half kilometers or one mile by foot along a gravel road
that's signposted from the Drios-Parikia road.
Faranga: Lastly, on the south of Aliki
is the wondrous and protected Faranga Beach, which is
situated on the south shore of Paros and is a short walk
in from the main road.
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