3 nights in an amazing hotel. Went out each night to the very small town center on the west side of the island. We missed the high-season by a matter of a few days and so the alleyways were passable. Kristen and I made our way between several of the bars each night, and each night, we wound up at our favorite of the Greek food stands. Chocolate crepes were the call at 5 am!

The days were spent doing various activities. The first day, I rant for a run and explored the western tip of the island. The next day, Kristen took a spa afternoon. I walked a couple miles away and played guitar for nearly 5 hours as the sun set over the small mountain to my back and lit the hillside where our hotel was situated. I found a dilapidated cement pier and played for the fish in the clear green water. It was a magical place and very secluded. 100 meters from the pure was an incredible beach, only about 50 meters long. We would swim there as our last bit of fun on Ios.

The third day, before catching a 4:30 pm super-jet boat to Santorini, we rented a scooter and headed out to a nearly detached bluff at the farthest west point of Ios. Kristen and I hiked out to the very end, about a 40-minute hike with all the stops we made. We were surrounded by green water for 300 degrees at all times. It was an amazing hike with a small climb and a couple small false summits. It was Kristen’s first hike ever and one of my favorites. The end of the bluff allowed us hiking access to the water. We found a rocky, rocky beach and took turns wearing my shoes while swimming. It was truly a magical little cove. We have lots of pictures and I’ll post some soon.

Kristin on the way out to the point and swimming in the clear water at the amazing swim-hole at the point.

The return hike was only 15 minutes. It was off to the aforementioned beach for a quick swim in the calmer water and off to Santorini.

The verdict: much apart from the party scene for which Ios has gained notoriety is the peaceful serenity of the place and its complete affordability. This was an island full of magical spots that can be reached by hiking and exploring. These rugged parts are not to be missed when going to Ios.