Rhodes: Fishing Boat Trip, Kalithea Caves & BBQ Lunch

4.95

(833 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the smell — not just the sea (which was everywhere), but something sharper, like bait and sun-warmed wood. We met our guide, Yannis, at the dock in Rhodes town. He handed me a rod and grinned like we were old friends. I’d never fished before — honestly thought I’d just tangle the line — but he showed me how to bait the hook without making me feel dumb. The water out here is this impossible blue, almost fake-looking. There was a quiet moment when everyone was waiting for a bite; just waves slapping against the hull and someone’s phone playing Greek pop in the background.

I didn’t expect to actually catch anything, but somehow I did — a small fish that flopped around wildly in my hands while Yannis cheered and my partner took about fifty photos. After that, we motored over to these rocky beaches near Kalithea Springs. The cliffs are pale and dramatic up close, with little caves carved out by years of salt and wind. We anchored in this cove where you could see straight down to the sand. Snorkeling there felt like drifting through an aquarium: schools of silvery fish darting around my legs, bits of sunlight flickering on rocks below. My mask kept fogging up but I didn’t care much.

Lunch was grilled right on deck — fresh fish for some, chicken for others (I went for both because why not). There was Greek salad too, plus cold beer that tasted way better after swimming. The crew poured wine like it was water and joked with us about our “big catches.” At some point I realized my shoulders were already sunburned (should’ve listened when they offered extra sunscreen). Anyway, we sat there eating with our feet dangling off the side of the boat while the breeze dried us off. It felt simple and kind of perfect.