Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on May 19, 2022
Mikri Vigla, a small seaside village famous for its beaches, is one of the most popular destinations on the island of Naxos. Built on a rocky cape, it offers great snorkeling, particularly along its southern coast. Seabream, damselfish, wrasse, rabbitfish and dozens of other Mediterranean fish live in its translucent waters.
Mikri Vigla is a small village on a rocky point on the west coast of the island of Naxos. It is located just 20km south of Chóra, the island’s main town.
The spot is located in Mikri Vigla southern bay, at the north end of Kastraki Beach (Paralia Kastraki). It is easily reached by car, either from the south at the end of a paved road, or from the north on a sandy and stony track after Plaka. Park near the beachside tavern (Mikri Vigla Restaurant). Once on the beach, walk to the first rocks.
Water entrance is easy, either from the gently sloping beach or from the first rocks.
Once in the water, we advise you to snorkel along the rocks, following the coast. This is where most of the marine life shelters. The rocks create a varied underwater landscape, including small drop-offs, rock scree, and tiny coves with translucent water.
About 200m from the beach, you will reach a rocky islet whose surroundings you can explore. Snorkeling away from the shore, the seabed is mostly sandy, with rare posidonia patches. In the area, depths vary from 1 to 10ft/40cm to 3m.
Many fish species can be seen on this spot. You’ll probably note first the abundant sargo and saddled bream, as well as the colorful ornate wrasse. In the sand, red mullets and sea cucumber are pretty common. You will also encounter at Mikri Vigla two species of exotic rabbitfish, mullets, and, in deeper areas, hundreds of damselfish.
This spot is rather sheltered from the meltem, the north wind which blows in the Cyclades mainly during summer. However, if the wind is turning and the sea is rough, go to a north-facing spot instead.
A tavern, Mikri Vigla Restaurant, is located on the beach, facing the 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.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
