Donousa is the island people describe when they talk about "the real Small Cyclades": one harbour village, a few hamlets, a string of beaches reached on foot and very little else. From Amorgos it is the obvious side trip or next stop, only a short hop across the water from Aegiali, the port in the north of Amorgos.
Where you start on Amorgos makes a big difference. From Aegiali, the crossing is short and runs on most days of the week, with two companies sharing the work. From Katapola, the main port on the west coast, the direct boat is the small Small Cyclades Lines ferry, which sails only about three days a week and takes over two hours. If you are based in Chora or Katapola, it can be worth the drive north to catch the Aegiali boat, provided the timing works.
Frequency is the thing to watch. Blue Star Ferries sails from Aegiali on 3 or 4 days a week and Small Cyclades Lines on another 3 or 4, according to last year's data on Ferryhopper, so between them most days are covered, but not always at a convenient hour. Donousa also has limited ways off the island, so book your onward boat when you book this one.
The fares are some of the lowest in the Cyclades: from €5 for one adult from Aegiali and €7 from Katapola when we checked. The bigger cost is the time you spend waiting for the right day, so plan this leg first and fit the rest of your trip around it.
