Naxos Itinerary & Beach Club suggestions

If you took a tour for the Zas mountain hike I guess it's because you can't or don't know how to get to the starting point on your own, but know that either way (the short or the long hike) you can get there by bus if you don't have a car.

As for the hike itself, there is no particular difficulty that would require a guide. There are some steep sections with rocks, but otherwise it is well marked and easy for anyone with basic fitness.

As for what you call "beach clubs", I guess you mean those places where there is a beach bar where sunbeds & umbrellas are rented. Although I find the concept of charging for shade for people who want to spend their holidays in the sun very interesting, I don't go to these places but I think the rates vary from a few euros to over 20€ for a few hours. It can be "free" if you consume drinks.

If you go down the west coast, south of Kastraki (roughly from Cedar Forest) you will find miles of sandy beach without the crowds of Ag Georgios and Ag Prokopios beaches, with a few restaurants / bars where you can stay "free" for hours on sunbeds as long as you have a drink or two.
And the natural shade is kindly provided free of charge by the tamarisk trees :))

About Cedar Forest, it is not a forest, it is a few trees with some sandy paths. What is interesting to see there are the beautiful paintings on the walls of the abandoned hotel. It can be a short one hour walk. but nothing more.

If it is for a real excursion try kayaking instead. By taking an excursion that leaves from Eastern Naxos you will go to secluded beaches.

I made this map about Naxos where you can find some additional information:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1d7GZMjFODUlB8lf7EPSXQRwu-YXaKxw&usp=sharing

Any particular recommendations of restaurants in the area south of Kastraki you mention?

Thank you for the map link.

There is a smalish beach at Aggia Anna fairly close to where you are staying. You can walk or take the bus.
About a half kilometre further you will come to Plaka beach. Its about 3km long. There are hotels on the other side of the road from the sand beach. Many of them have umbrellas and chairs for rent. Last June we rented and it was 20 euros for two chairs and umbrella. These were the property of a nearby hotel and they had a special on if we purchased a drink and had some food they forgave the rental price and just had us pay for the food and drink. The beach was busy but not crowded and there were lots of places where you could just throw down a towel and tan on the sand.

There are a number of bars (beach clubs) on the other side of the road along Plaka beach.
This is an old album of Plaka beach the beach is the same but now there are significantly more bars and hotel across the road.
Plaka Beach Naxos https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157655106193251

JoLui -- your map is Fabulous! copying Link for a friend who's going in May.

Santana Beach Club is great. True club atmosphere with great drinks, food and loungers.

Any particular recommendations of restaurants in the area south of
Kastraki

The Apolafsi restaurant in Kastraki. Excellent typical Naxos cuisine. (reservation recommended)
Not to be confused with the Axiotissa tavern which is next door.

http://www.apolafsinaxos.gr/

There is a rather pleasant tavern on Pyrgaki beach

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JzWNQvmVtuoM9Jik7

It was run until 2020 by two elderly sisters, but since then they have unfortunately died (I think from Covid).

I don't know what the food is like now, probably nothing exceptional, but the area is very nice. You can swim right in front.

I was going to forget the "Blue Lagoon", not especially for the dishes but for the cocktails to drink facing the sunset.
The bartender was a real mixology champion at the time, I can't guarantee he's still here. Sunset will be there anyway. :))

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6d3fedLeq1kQKHw36

We did the Mt Zas hike on our own. We did have a car to get to the beginning but it is not difficult to follow. You might save your guided tour for a different hike where the likelihood of getting lost is higher.

We spent an afternoon with a rental car checking out the different beaches from Naxos town (it was too windy for the beach that day) which was fun and you might try doing that. I think different things appeal to different people. Plaka has the widest beach as I recall.

Santana’s beach club is easy walk for you - Aggia Anna - however not sure you want to take a 12 yr old there .

There are many places on Aggia Prokopios where you can rent chairs and many offer food and drink service for restaurants across the street from beach .

Two years ago we did a kayaking day trip with Oceanus Kayaking, now called Sea Kayak Naxos which we really enjoyed. I believe we did their Kampos day trip. At the time, they would transport you to/from the launch site for an extra fee if you don't have a car. Full disclosure, I will always pick kayaking over hiking as it is something I really enjoy and don't usually do at home.