Where to Go When Renting a Boat in Ayvalık?

Ayvalık looks like no other popular spot in the Aegean. This is the capital of deep conversations in the shade of olive trees and the "Rakı-Fish-Ayvalık" trilogy, not loud music. Being geographically an archipelago consisting of 22 islands (Ayvalık Islands Nature Park) makes this place a natural labyrinth and exploration area for sailors.

As the Limancepte.com family, we know this delicate geography of the North Aegean very well. Chartering a boat in Ayvalık does not only mean swimming; it means setting sail to the history of population exchange, gourmet tastes, and the air with the highest oxygen rate in Turkey.

Here are those postcard-perfect 5 strategic stops that will fall into your Google Discover feed on your private boat tour departing from Ayvalık:

1. Ortunc Bay: Blue Flag Pine Forest

The undisputed star of the Ayvalık route is Ortunc. Since this place has National Park status, construction is prohibited; there is only the sea and pine trees. Ortunc's water is a few degrees below the Aegean average due to underground sources. Even in the scorching heat of summer, when you enter here, you come out "shivering" but feel that your body is renewed. Since the sea floor is rocky, the water does not get muddy; it is always glass-like.

2. Aquarium Bay (Karaada): Clarity of Depth

There is an "Aquarium" in almost every holiday resort, but the one in Ayvalık is different. This strait between Karaada and Yuvarlak Ada is constantly cleaned thanks to the current. Although the depth reaches 20 meters in places, you can count the sea urchins and schools of fish on the bottom from the surface of the water. Ayvalık sea is usually dark navy blue, but here the color turns into turquoise thanks to the white dunes on the bottom.

3. Pinar Island: Trust of Shallow Waters

If there are guests who are not very confident about swimming or if there are small children on the boat, the place where our captain will steer is Pinar Island. The shores of this island are quite shallow and the sea floor is soft sand. You can get off the boat and walk for meters, and the water still doesn't reach your waist. The pier ruins at the tip of the island create a great background for underwater photography.

4. Patrica Bay (Cunda's Back Garden)

Forget that crowded, touristic front face of Cunda Island (Alibey). The back side you will reach by boat, namely Patrica, is a completely different world. This is the place where the saying "You walk and walk, the water comes to your knees" is true. The sea is like a sheet. You swim accompanied by the silhouette of old Greek houses and monastery ruins. Since it is closed to northern winds (Meltem), it is the safest harbor to take shelter when the weather is harsh in Ayvalık.

5. Incirli Island: Natural and Wild

It is one of the points that preserves its naturalness the most among the Ayvalık archipelagos. The name of the island comes from the wild fig trees on it. It is quieter and more isolated compared to other bays in the region. Especially in the hours close to sunset, watching the sun set over Lesbos Island from here is fascinating.

Limancepte Guide: Sailboat or Motor Yacht?

Ayvalık is a region with plenty of wind but flat seas thanks to the islands. You should consider this table when making your choice: