Sivota, a day on the Greek mainland

Sivota lies in Epirus, in north-western Greece, right on the Ionian coast opposite Corfu. It is often called a jewel of the Greek Caribbean, and not without reason: green hills, small islands, rocky coves and the sea in improbable shades of turquoise.

The coast breaks into bays large and small, and in front of the harbour little green islets rise out of the water. Sailing between them feels like drifting into some far-off archipelago.

The heart of the town is its harbour, where brightly painted fishing boats, sailing boats and small yachts sit side by side. Tavernas, cafés, ice-cream parlours and gift shops line the waterfront.

This is the Mediterranean at its easiest: a walk under the palms, a Greek coffee, a cocktail or a gyros on a terrace over the water. Sivota has kept its small-town charm, yet in summer it becomes a lively resort.

The two best-known sights nearby. Bella Vraka beach is joined to the mainland by a shallow strip of sand, so you can wade across the water to a tiny island.

Pisina, also known as the Blue Lagoon, is famous for water so clear and bright it looks like a natural swimming pool. It is hard to resist jumping in.

A visit to Sivota is one of the favourite parts of the large-boat trips to the Blue Lagoon. That puts a cruise through the Ionian islands, a swim in turquoise water and an afternoon in a small Greek town into a single day.

We help organise the trip, and its price includes the transfer between the hotel and the port, there and back.