Paros, Greece

About Paros

Paros sits in the middle of the Cyclades and takes the Meltemi — strong, dry and northerly across the Aegean — through the summer. The season runs May to September, but the true high season is compact: roughly eight weeks in July and August when the wind is at its most dependable.

Pounta is the main spot, on the channel facing Antiparos. The beach is sandy and the water flat and shallow for the first five to ten metres before dropping away quite deep. Wind comes side-shore to side-onshore, mainly from the north-north-west, reaching up to 20 knots and more and strengthening through the afternoon; above 20 knots the water gets choppy. There is no significant shorebreak. Two schools operate here. Santa Maria, on the north-east of the island, is the other established beach.

It works at every level, and even in peak season an independent rider can find space. Getting here is easy by Cycladic standards — forty minutes from Athens by air, or three to four hours by ferry from Piraeus.

When to go

Best months: May, June, July, August, September.

Kite areas

2 distinct riding areas documented within this destination.

• Pounta

  Best months: May, June, July, August, September.

• Santa Maria

  Best months: May, June, July, August, September.