Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
What is there
The main cove is developed: beach bars, loungers, watersports operations and a campsite behind. It is lively in season and it is where the boats from Naoussa arrive.
Walk north or south along the shore and the coves get smaller and quieter, with rock between them and space to put a towel down. That gradient is the beach’s main advantage over the island’s single long strips.
Wind and watersports
This corner catches the meltemi, which is why windsurfing and other watersports run from here through the summer. The same wind makes the water choppier and blows sand on strong days, so calm mornings are the swimming hours.
For a fully sheltered alternative, the bays inside Naoussa’s harbour arm and Kolymbithres across the bay are the answer.
Getting there
By road from Naoussa in about ten minutes, with parking behind the main cove, or by the small boats from Naoussa harbour in season, which is the pleasant way and avoids the parking.
Buses run in summer from Naoussa and Parikia. For where to base yourself, where to stay in Paros sets out the trade between the harbour towns and the beaches.
Last checked August 2026. Boats, buses and seasonal facilities change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Is Santa Maria one beach?
No. It is a series of sandy coves separated by rock, which is why the busy part and the quiet part are a few minutes apart on foot.
Is Santa Maria good for watersports?
Yes. The north-east corner catches the summer meltemi, and watersports operations run from the main cove through the season.
How do you get to Santa Maria from Naoussa?
About ten minutes by road with parking behind the main cove, or by the seasonal boats from Naoussa harbour.
Is the water calm at Santa Maria?
Calmest in the morning. The afternoon wind that suits the boards makes it choppier for swimming.
Are there facilities at Santa Maria?
Beach bars, loungers and watersports at the main cove, with far less as you walk along the smaller coves.
Next
Read best beaches in Paros, Kolymbithres, or Naoussa.