The east coast of Karpathos has no roads. It isn't a poetic exaggeration: literally, there's no asphalt running along it from north to south. The mountains drop down to the sea almost without mediation, and the beaches found in these inlets are reachable only on foot — along demanding trails — or by boat. That's why these beaches have stayed as they were.
Every summer morning the caïques — the traditional Greek motorboats — leave Pigadia loaded with tourists for the coastal tour. The route touches Apella, Kyra Panagia, Achata, Diakoftis, and a few nameless coves that exist only in the captain's mind. The trip lasts all day, with stops to swim at every beach.
The most beautiful thing about the boat trip isn't the beaches. It's the fact that none of us knew what would appear behind the next headland.
If you want something more private, some families in Pigadia rent boats you can drive without a licence for the day — dinghies and small craft suited to sailing close to shore. It's a slower way to explore, closer to the island. There are inlets that appear on no map and are only found if you have the time to look for them.