Ferry from Paros to Koufonisia.

Koufonisia is the small-island escape many Paros visitors dream about: a flat, walkable island of pale sand and very clear water, with one harbour village and beaches you can reach on foot or by bike. Paros, with its airport and its links to Athens and the rest of the Cyclades, is one of the easiest places to set off from.

There are two very different ways to make the trip. Blue Star Ferries runs big conventional ships all year, calling at other islands on the way, so the crossing takes around three hours. From April to October, Seajets adds high-speed boats, and the quickest of them do it in 1 hr 10 min. Not every Seajets departure is the fast one, though: on the day we sampled, the three Seajets boats took 1 hr 10 min, 2 hr 40 min and 3 hr 50 min.

Prices were close at the bottom end when we checked, with one adult from €30.50, but the fast boats cost more in high summer: in last year's monthly table, Seajets fares ranged from €47.70 to €64.10, while Blue Star stayed around €25 to €31.

Koufonisia is tiny, so plan your arrival before you book: in July and August its rooms and the boats to it both fill up. Book the ferry once your accommodation is confirmed, and ask your host how to get from the quay to your room with luggage.

This route runs east from Paros across open water towards the Small Cyclades, and in July and August the meltemi, the strong summer north wind, can make it rough. The Seajets high-speed boats are the most likely to be delayed, and the port authority can keep them in port on windy days. The Blue Star ships are sturdier but can run late. If your boat is cancelled, the operator will rebook or refund you. With Blue Star sailing only three to five days a week, the realistic fallback on a bad day is often to go via Naxos, which has a sailing to Koufonisia every day of the year, and to leave a spare day before any flight home.