Yioura, is an islet with steep and rocky coasts that inspire feear to some visitors. It is uninhabited and has only two beaches, the Cyclopas Cave and caves that are formated by the rocks in the sea. You may approach it only by a small bay in the southwest. From there there is a small footpath that leads you to the Cyclopas cave and Evagelistria church. On the western coast there is one anchorage. Yioura is not a safe place to anchor and needs caution. Furthermore mobile phones' coverage is usually weak. It is noticed that cape Erimitis (northern part) is the only site with acceptable signal. You may have some weak signal also in Pnigmenos beach.
One (of the two) beaches is called Pnigmenos N39°24.132' E24°10.924'. It is impressive with white sand, turqioise waters and marble stones laying around. Because of the wild goats there are falling rocks frequently from the cliffs around. At the left side of the beach there is a small cave offering natural shadow almost all day. There is also water coming out from several holes in the cave. It offers nice views of the Psathoura islet!
The second beach is called Liadromitiko (N39°23.657' E24°09.662'). It is very small with white peebles but very nice to swim there. A boat trip to Yioura is recommended only to those that seek adventure and only if weather is calm, since it has no safe anchorage. You should always remember that in the whole area the sudden storms (bourinia) are often in the summer, therefore you should be very cautious and preferably use a fast boat to go there so that you will be able to returm fast as soon as you notice signs of a storm. There are no facilities and the whole landscape is wild.
Yioura's ancient name was Yerontia and seems like a large grey rock sticking out of the deep blue waters. It has an area of just 11 square km. It's highest point is 570m and most of the surface is covered with scrub oak and low, dry vegetation. The scrub-oak once constituted a large forest, but starting in 1945 local people cut the tallest trees to make charcoal.
In Yioura are found rare wild goats: there survives a supposedly wild variety of goat here with the scientific name Capra aegagrus f. hircus, but their origin is disputed among specialists. There are many varieties of flora, for example Fritillaria sporadum, a flower of the Rhinopetal family.
In the Cyclops' cave, was the cave where lived, according to the myth, the cyclop Polyphemus who was blinded by Oddyseas. The entrance to the cave was closed to visitors following an accident to a tourist some years ago, but it may be reopened under the auspices of the National Park, though no decision has yet been reached.
The island is now the property of the Greek state. Formerly it was inhabited by monks from Mount Athos. history relates that in the early nineteenth century the monks were attacked by pirates seeking refuge on the island. Only one monk managed to escape, living in the island's caves until 1840. During the Roman Empire Yioura was a place of exile for undesirables.
The area in the western coast (where the only anchorage is found), has a spring known as Platania and the ruins of a temple, possibly dedicated to the God Poseidon, have been found.