Navagio, Smuggler’s cove, Zante

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VISIT THE BLUE CAVES AND SHIPWRECK BEACH ON A ZANTE BOAT TRIP

If you’ve seen any photos of Zakynthos, chances you’ll have seen the one of Shipwreck cove or Navagio, taken from the cliffs above. This crescent of sand, with a half-buried, rusty wreck and high cliffs on either side, is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece.

To reach Navagio, which is on the north-west coast of the island, you’ll typically take one of the many trips from St Nicholas port or from Makris Gialos, a small beach that is just before St Nicholas port. We started our boat trip in Zante at Makris Gialos on a smallish boat which took up to 20 people, had a shaded awning and a powerful motor.

The boat made good headway on relatively calm waters at first and we passed the sea caves, known locally as the ‘Blue Caves’ that the sea has cut into the limestone cliffs. We didn’t stop but powered on around the northern tip of the island, at which point the sea started to become decidedly rough. Around 40 minutes after leaving the beach we were all feeling a bit seasick and were relieved when the Shipwreck beach came into sight.

Navagio or Shipwreck beach on Zante, Greece

The metal hull of the ship on the sand is supposed to be a cigarette smuggler’s boat that went aground in the 1980’s, or perhaps that’s just a nice story to tell the tourists. In any case it adds some interest to a beautiful beach which is larger than it appears from above and can only be reached by sea, due to the sheer limestone cliffs.

On the day we visited the swell was high and although the captain skilfully moved the boat as close as he could, it wasn’t possible to get it right up on the beach. If we wanted to get ashore, we’d have to jump in and swim through the surf which is what we did, although I was knocked over by the force of the waves and ended up with sand in my bikini and water up my nose. We spent around 20 minutes on the beach and I took the opportunity to walk around the ship which was broken in half, making a shady area inside, with a hull that had rusted away into lacy holes.

Shipwreck cove, Navagio on Zante

VISIT THE BLUE CAVES AND SHIPWRECK BEACH ON A ZAKYNTHOS BOAT TRIP

We swam back to the boat and powered back the way we had come, with the captain showing no mercy to those of us feeling sick as he opened the throttle and the boat banged up and down on the waves. Things improved once we rounded the headland and entered sheltered waters again, returning to explore the sea caves. The captain nosed the boats into a few of the caves where the water below us was startlingly deep cobalt blue and turquoise. We anchored for a while and had a chance to swim and snorkel around the boat before returning to Makris Gialos.

Boat trip to the Blue Caves on Zante, Greece

This boat trip in Zakynthos takes around 2-3 hours and you need to check whether the sea is rough or calm as this will affect your experience. Bear in mind that even if it is calm at your resort, it may still be windy with rough seas in the north of the island. Also consider the size of the boat, as a larger boat may be more stable but a smaller boat will be able to get you closer into the beach. For those that don’t want to brave the choppy seas to the shipwreck beach, you can still do a very pleasant boat trip in a glass bottom boat to the sea caves, with plenty of opportunities for swimming, which will also make a shorter trip. Our boat trip cost around €20 per person and you may be able to negotiate a discount for larger groups.

Boat trip to the Blue Caves on Zante, Greece

ZANTE TURTLE BOAT TRIPS IN LAGANAS BAY

If you want more gentle boat trip for your holiday in Greece, I’d suggest that you head for the southern end of the island, for one of the Zakynthos boat trips that take you through Laganas Bay and around to the Keri caves. This end of the island is famed for the beautiful golden sandy beaches and the Loggerhead or Caretta Caretta turtles that nest on them. These Zante turtle boat trips are typically sold as an opportunity to see the loggerheads swimming in Laganas Bay, but you should be aware that their numbers are dwindling so you need to go with a reputable boat owner who will respect the laws of the National Marine Park and not harass the turtles.

Porto Roma, Zante

We’ve taken these Laganas boat trips twice on different styles of boats which gave a slightly different experience although we went to the same locations on both trips. The first occasion was a half-day trip on a catamaran which had a cabin and plenty of space on deck at the back and front of the boat to spread out. We left from the small beach at Porto Roma which meant that the first hour was spent travelling along the coast with views of the limestone cliffs, until we rounded the point and crossed Laganas Bay to swim in the Keri caves. On the second occasion we went on a much smaller, glass bottomed boat from Agios Sostis close to Laganas which meant that we had a shorter trip of around 2 hours, which was still plenty of time.

Loggerhead turtle in Laganas bay, Zakynthos

Either on the way out or the way back the boat is likely to take you into Laganas bay which is the main place you can see turtles swimming in the water. Beware of any boat owners who guarantee you’ll see the turtles as this makes it more likely that the few that are around will be chased and tracked down just to give you your sighting. There are also strict rules about the contact with the turtles, for instance you’re not allowed to swim close to the turtles or to pull them out of the water and a limited number of boats are allowed near a turtle at any one time.

All this means that you’ll probably be able to see the turtles for around 10 minutes before the boat needs to move away. On our first turtle boat trip, we went with local naturalist Yannis Vardakastanis, who runs the Earth Sea and Sky volunteer and information programme with a centre at Gerakas beach, one of the other turtle nesting sites, but on this occasion we didn’t actually see any turtles. On the second trip we did spot one and there were several boats close to it all homing in to take a look, so I felt a bit sorry for the turtle.

Boat trip to Keri caves, Zakynthos

VISIT TURTLE ISLAND IN LAGANAS BAY AND SWIM IN THE KERI CAVES

The second part of the boat trip takes you to the far side of Laganas bay and under the high limestone cliffs at Keri where there are some sea arches and caves, although not as deep as the Blue Caves on the north-east coast. When the boat anchors, this is a lovely place to jump off into the clear water and swim or snorkel. On the return trip, you are likely to stop at Marathonisi or Turtle island in Zante, a small island in the bay that makes the shape of a turtle and is also one of the nesting beaches for the turtles.

Marathonisi or Turtle island in Laganas bay, Zakythinos

You are not allowed to land on the small sandy beach where the turtles nest, and even if you have your own boat you should not do so. On the opposite side of the island is another small beach and a sea cave where you are allowed to land and this is where you can relax for a while and have a swim. There’s even a boat that comes around selling ice creams and drinks, just like an ice cream van.

If you are interested in taking a Zante turtle spotting boat trip, there are many boats that offer it going either from Laganas resort, from the small marina at Agios Sostis or from the harbour at Keri, and if you’re in one of the holiday resorts you’ll also come across plenty of people selling you this as a day trip with transport to and from the resort. The shorter 2-3 hour trips typically cost €20-25 per person and you can also rent small boats for 6-8 people to take out yourself into the bay, which would be fun if there’s a large group of you and you feel confident handling the boat.

The boat trips in Zante to see the blue caves, turtles or Shipwreck beach are well worth doing and there are plenty more things to see and do on the Greek island of Zakynthos. The boat trips are a lovely way to see the island and was certainly a highlight of our holiday.

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read the original article here

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Zakynthos is a wonderful Greek island in the Ionian Sea, famous for its exquisite beaches (Navagio beach is probably one of the most famous in the world) and also as one of the most important natural shelters for the sea turtle Caretta Caretta. During your stay in Zakynthos you could visit beaches, which would please all tastes. Most of them are easily accessible by car or public transport but some of the most beautiful and unique could be reached only or more easily by boat. This is the reason why there are numerous places along the island to either hire a private boat (which you will drive yourself) or to take a boat tour or excursion. The choices are many and price, duration, distance, visited places vary accordingly (here  is a good place to start in order to collect information)

Our favourite 5 beaches, reached by boat, during our stay in Zakynthos were :

1. Blue Caves (near Porto Vromi) : Blue Caves are one of the most famous attractions in Zakynthos. The caves are visited by thousands of tourists every year and owe their name to the extra blue and clear waters inside them. Objects below the water and people swimming appear to turn blue. The name Blue Caves usually refers to the caves that are located under Skinari Lighthouse near Agios Nikolaos Port, but there is also a second location with the same name between Porto Vromi and Navagio Beach. On the second location apart from the spectacular caves, there are also small beaches (as the one pictured above) which can be reached by smaller boats. They are a paradise of natural beauty and at the same time not very crowded.

2. Porto Stenitis : Porto Stenitis is still one of the most unspoiled places in Zakynthos. It is located south of Porto Vromi and it is quite difficult to be reached from the mainland. From the village Maries you have to follow a difficult 10 km road, where the last 3 km are unpaved and usually in bad condition. If you choose to do the last km on foot, your return will be a hard task. The beach is a quite deep natural fjord with clear turquoise waters, so narrow at some points that a boat just passes through. The fjord ends at a small beach just a few meters wide. This place is unique and you will feel like swimming in a natural pool.

3. Marathonisi : Marathonisi (aka Turtle Island) is a small uninhabited island in the gulf of Laganas, covered with dense vegetation. On the north side of the island there is a wonderful sandy beach about 150 meters long, which is protected as a place of egg-laying by the sea turtles Caretta Caretta and it is watched over all day by guardians of the National Sea Park. However, you can reach the beach by boat and swim in these magnificent crystal clear blue waters. The place is also ideal for snorkeling, with a huge variety of sea creatures and fish. If you are lucky you could come across a sea turtle.

4. Keri Caves : Keri Caves are rock formations and sea caves located on the southern and south-western part of the Keri peninsula near the village of Marathia. They are accessible only from the sea and they are smaller than the Blue Caves on the north side of the island. However the waters here are also clear blue, the landscape is spectacular and there are significantly fewer ships and boats that reach them. At the centre of the location there is a small beach (pictured above) with sand and small pebbles that could be reached only by smaller boats, where you can relax and enjoy the sun and the sea. The place is also perfect for snorkeling, due to the fact, that it is the habitat of many animals like the Monk seal, the Caretta-Caretta turtle and many kinds of fish.

5. Navagio (Shipwreck Beach) : Navagio Beach is certainly the most photographed and famous beach in Greece. This is the beach that made Zakynthos famous and an international tourist destination. The beach was named Agios Georgios, when on 2 October 1980, the freight-liner “Panayiotis” ran aground on this beach due to stormy weather and bad visibility. It has been rumored the ship was smuggling cigarettes and therefore was abandoned. It still rests buried in the beach, which since then bears the nickname Navagio (which means Shipwreck). During the summer season, the beach is reached daily by hundreds of boats (of all sizes), which carry thousands of visitors. But the landscape, the deep blue waters, the light on the white limestone and the ambience of the place, will still manage to amaze you and leave you breathless. Ideally, catch an early boat tour and be one of the first to set foot on the beach. Some days during summer, due to strong winds the beach cannot be reached, therefore ask for information from the local boat companies, the day before you plan your visit.  

Article Source: byfoodandtravel.com

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Navagio Beach… Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, you will have seen a picture, or hundreds of pictures of this place in your lifetime. Often used as tourist images, in brochures, by travel agents, computer screen savers, stock images… The image of Navagio Beach is used to inspire and entice those into the tropical holiday escape of their dreams.

Located in the Ionian Sea, on the Italy side of Greece, Navagio Beach can be found on the North-West of the island of Zakynthos. Both Zakynthos and Navagio Beach are known by other names – Zante and Shipwreck Beach respectively and these names are used interchangeably by companies, day-to-day conversation and online.

Despite Navagio Beach’s intense popularity all around the world, getting to this beach can actually be difficult, time consuming, expensive and take a lot of research. Navagio Beach and Zakynthos aren’t common spots on a regular tour across Europe but despite this I was determined to visit it this year come hell or high water. In order to do so, I spent a lot of time working out the most efficient, cost-effective way – but to save you the hassle of going through everything I went through (including but not limited to using Google Maps to check the terrain of the island to see if bicycle hire could be used as possible transport to the beach, FYI it can’t) I’ve written a guide of not only how to get to Navagio Beach but everything you need to know about Navagio Beach.

History: How Navagio Beach got its name.

Navagio Beach is instantly recognisable (in addition to its pristine cliff face and blue water) by the shipwreck lying perfectly down the middle of the beach. This ship was called Panagiotis and as legend has it was a smugglers ship working on behalf of the Italian Mafia. The ship was smuggling cigarettes from Turkey, when it was spotted and subsequently chased by the Greek Navy off the shores of Zakynthos. Unfortunately for the ship, during the pursuit Panagiotis ran shallow ground, the sailors were forced to abandon her and she ‘naturally’ ended up in the centre of Navagio.

While this story does add excitement to the location, any sceptic would be quick to point out how perfectly the ship fits into the beach and now a popular belief is that the shipwreck was planted there instead to promote tourism. Either way it certainly doesn’t detract from the area, making it one of the most beautiful places in Europe.

Getting to Zakynthos: By Air or By Sea?

There are two main ways to get to Zakynthos. Either flying (as the island is equipped with its own airport) or by ferry (which often is by bus then ferry).

Getting to Zakynthos by Air

Despite not being on the usual tourist route in Europe, Zakynthos is a popular summer holiday party island for the Brits and as such there are quite a few direct flights into Zakynthos Airport from other countries in Europe and this would be the most straightforward way to get to the island. British Airways, Ryan Air, and Thomson Airways all offer cheap fares to Zakynthos.

If you are already in Greece you can book a direct flight from Athens via Aegean Air or other Greek Airlines.

As mentioned above, Zakynthos is located on the Italy side of Greece, alongside other islands like Kefalonia and Corfu. However, the popular islands such as Santorini and Ios are located on the other side of the Greek mainland (the Turkey side of Greece). Currently there are no direct flights from these islands to Zakynthos, meaning if air travel is your preferred method of transport and you plan on visiting these other islands you will need to be making a transfer in Athens before continuing on.

I would strongly recommend checking Airline Ratings before booking any flight anywhere in the world as quite often a cheap fare can make people overlook safety.

Getting to Zakynthos by Sea

I travelled to Zakynthos from Athens and the process was quite straight forward, albeit a fairly long day of travel. While Athens is a direct port for the other popular Greek islands like Santorini, to get to Zakynthos you must leave from Port Killini, which isn’t near Athens. However, don’t worry, the Greek ferry transport is honestly the most efficient transport system I have seen (it really does put Australia and UK transport systems to shame) and your journey will run smoothly.

For this journey you need to book a bus ticket AND a ferry ticket (despite the actual ferry journey being inside the time frame of the bus journey). This is super simple by booking through the KTEL Bus Company website. Here you can find the schedule, prices and direct booking. When I went in high season August 2017 the buses were just under 30 euro each way and the ferry was just under 10 euro each way. Prices are subject to fluctuate with the season and popularity.

I booked ahead; however, when I got to the bus station, and the ferry port, people were booking as they got there. I wouldn’t necessarily rely on this though as our bus was full. The KTEL bus station is also located on the outskirts of the centre, meaning it is unlikely to be in walking distance from your accommodation and, in August 2017, I found the public transport was annoyingly quite difficult to connect to the bus station despite it being a very busy hub! A taxi to the station from Monastiraki (the centre of Athens/where most hostels are located) to the bus station cost about 5 euros but expect to be stung with 10 euros for the identical journey on return as due to being picked up from a bus station the taxis seem to have agreed (from my experience) on a set price to anywhere from there.

The bus journey was about 4 and a half hours and the ferry journey is a quick hour trip where you are able to walk around the deck, relax and buy refreshments and food, as you have to disembark the bus while transferring by ferry. When you dock in Zante you hop back on the bus and the bus drops you in Zakynthos Town about 5 minutes away from the harbour. 

Accommodation in Zakynthos

First things first, when I visited in August 2017, I found Zakynthos was not designed for budget travellers, backpackers or solo travellers. There are no hostels on the island (the first person to open up one would make a lot of money just saying…), only hotels and unfortunately for those travelling on budget they are at hotel prices. If you are going solo this may be a pain on your wallet, but had I had one or two friends with me when I went it would have worked out the equivalent of a typical hostel dorm bed in Greece each. It is one of the downsides of solo travelling when the area isn’t really set up for solo travellers.

I stayed in Zakynthos Town, right at the port where the boat comes in. I did this mostly for the convenience of getting on and off the ferry and because a lot of boat tours (see below about how to get to the actual Navagio Beach) leave from this area but I’m not necessarily sure I would recommend it. Laganas Beach on the south east of the island is where almost everyone stays and I think I would have enjoyed my time in Zakynthos, outside of visiting Navagio Beach, a lot more had I stayed there.

If you are going to Zakynthos in the high season (July and August) I would strongly recommend booking accommodation earlier rather than later as things will sell out.

Getting to Navagio Beach Lookout

Zakynthos is surprisingly a very large island. At 405.6km squared it is 5 times the size of Santorini and the third largest Ionian Island. As Navagio Beach is located on the north west of the island don’t assume you will be able to just walk there. However you do have a few options, but TLDR I’ll let you know the best option now is to look at hiring a car.

Getting to Navagio Beach: Public transport

Again, like I mentioned above, this island not being designed well for budget travellers and the public transport when I visited were quite poor. The public buses that do run tend to be between Zakynthos Town and Laganas Beach and some other beaches only.

Getting to Navagio Beach: Bicycle

When I was doing my research I found there were a fair few bicycle hire places in various locations in Zakynthos that made me think bicycle hire would be the money saving solution to the problem. Luckily, however, my accommodation told me ahead of time that bike riding to Navagio Beach lookout wouldn’t work out in my favour as there is a lot of mountain terrain, and it would be hours there and hours back. Unless you’re in training for the Tour de France, forgo the bike.

Getting to Navagio Beach: Tours

You will see on the island and online that there are numerous tours of the Zakynthos, that include stopping at Navagio Beach lookout. After reading online I found multiple sites that said the tours only stop at Navagio Beach lookout for 5-10 minutes, despite it being (what I would consider) the highlight of the tour and there are a lot of filler activities on the way. I saw this myself when I was at the Navagio Beach lookout with tour buses coming and going in fairly quick intervals. More so, as you will see in the photo below, there is an “official” lookout over Navagio Beach but it’s not exactly in a prime spot and just take a look at how many people (from tours) are lining up to get their quick 3 second snap surrounded by a million other tourists. As I’ve written below there are many other prime locations to view the beach than the sub-par lookout.

Getting to Navagio Beach: Taxi

Looking at all options I also stumbled across taxis and found the price estimate online was close to 100 euros. If you’re going with friends this could be an option as you could split the costs, but the price is equivalent to car hire where you can spend the day doing a lot more in addition to the lookout.

Getting to Navagio Beach: Quad Bike

As across all of the Greek islands there are numerous quad bikes for hire in Zante. If you choose this method make sure you check your travel insurance, take adequate care on the road and factor in additional driving time.

Getting to Navagio Beach: Car Hire

Car hire looked like the best option for efficiency and cost. Remembering that most accommodations are on the opposite side of the island from Navagio Beach Lookout the journey there will take about an hour. A few things to remember when hiring a car overseas:

• Always check your insurance! Don’t assume you are covered because some insurers can be tricky or require you get an international licence before you drive overseas.
• Look into an international drivers licence just in case – some car hire companies will only accept international drivers licences and some don’t really care as long as you have a licence in your own country.
• Booking a car while in Zakynthos may mean you will get a much cheaper price than anything you find online (I got half price booking on the island vs. what I would have paid online) but you may also miss out on obtaining car hire because it’s high season and everyone wants a car.
  I had initially booked car hire online but the company cancelled on me (through telling my accommodation not even me) when I arrived at the island. I had a stressful afternoon running from car hire place to car hire place until I found one that wasn’t sold out. However, again, stick to your guns about price. We agreed on a price, I came back 5 hours later to pick up the car, my car wasn’t available but a bigger car was…, which they tried to tell me I needed to pay more for as it was an upgrade. I told them we had already agreed on the original price and they agreed with me (rather reluctantly).
• Zakynthos roads are full of tourist drivers and from my experience they are not all very good (they could be like me – I had never driven on the right hand side of the road before). Be cautious.

The Navagio Beach lookout is actually very easy to find. You can use the maps function on your phone to get to the lookout. I was reliant on wi-fi without any data on my phone and 15 minutes into setting off I accidentally closed my maps and therefore lost the route. It was still very easy to find the lookout and having no map wasn’t a hindrance. If you roughly study the map before you hop in to drive you’ll know the basic area you need to head to. There are limited roads on the island outside the towns so head in the right direction and you’ll find it quite easily.

Driving to Navagio Beach also means you’ll also come across the Instagram-famous juice stall as well as numerous goats!

Best Time to Visit Navagio Beach

I found the ideal time to be at the Lookout was midday. The famous white walls that surround the beach cast shadows over the water when the sun is not at centre point in the sky. The water is definitely a more pristine blue at midday. The middle of the day does mean that more people will be there, but if you venture further than the “official” lookout you will have ample space to yourself.

Best Place to View Navagio Beach

A car park indicates your arrival at the lookout. Walk in the same direction as everyone else, or towards the drink and food stalls. You will come to the “official” lookout mentioned above and get your first real glimpse of Navagio Beach. However, the better views are definitely further along. Just continue walking along the same way, away from the car park/buses/food stalls and you’ll be walking along the cliffside where you’ll find photo opportunity after photo opportunity.

You will get fairly close to the edge as the path that has been created goes close so be careful. Please use your common sense and don’t put yourself in a position where you can fall. It may seem unlikely, but unfortunately a few tourists have died here this way.

How long to spend at Navagio Beach Lookout?

I spent a good 2 hours at the lookout area, which was much longer than anyone else that was there. However, this was in part due to coming just before midday and wanting to wait until the shadows had cleared the water below and also due to wanting to explore quite a lot. I headed back to the food stall/car park/main lookout area after exploring down the side and headed down a new path that would lead to views directly over the beach rather than the ocean.

One really great thing about the Navagio Beach Lookout is that it costs nothing to view. Unlike Croatia that charges entry fees to view waterfalls, this place, even with the odd food stall and buses, is still a highly un-commercialised beauty.

Getting to Navagio Beach – the Actual Beach

Navagio Beach is locked in by the ocean and there is no way to scale down the cliff face. While I do believe it is possible to hire a helicopter, the most efficient (and normal) transport there is by boat. As you can see in the photos the beach is immensely popular and very busy. However, it was well worth the visit over and I do recommend.

Don’t expect to spend the day at Navagio Beach as due to its popularity boats were only allowed to drop people at the beach for one hour, in order to avoid congestion.

Booking a boat tour after you have arrived on the island, rather than online beforehand, is likely to save you a lot of money. Most of the boat companies do not have online presences so the ones that do are charging at a premium. Just walk down the street and you’ll find a deal (boat companies are everywhere)

I chose an afternoon visit to the beach on the belief that it would be less crowded, and while it probably was it was still busy but it’s just something that comes with the territory of this beach. There was still room to spread out, relax and enjoy the beauty.

Most boat cruises to Navagio Beach offer a stop at Blue Caves on the way to or from the beach and this I definitely recommend. The Blue Caves are very pretty and most boats allow a swimming stop here, which was an added bonus! Some companies say their boats are small enough to enter the caves so if you find one that says this I would recommend going with them – mine unfortunately was too large so it just showed us the caves from the outside and allowed us a swim spot a little bit away. Jumping off the boat into the clear dark blue water near the Blue Caves is a very happy memory of mine, so would definitely recommend anyone wanting to do the same.

I would also recommend sitting on the edge of the boat – the left heading to the beach, the right leaving the beach – as you will get an awesome view of the Zakynthos coastline, cliff faces and many beautiful smaller beaches and coves along the way.

Other Things to do in Zakynthos / Zante

Parties!

Zante is known as party central island (especially to the Brits) and Laganas Beach is the area to stay to be right in the thick of it. Parties range from clubs to boats and everything in between and often visitors to Zante are there purely to drink, relax and party rather than sight-see.

Kefalonia Island

Kefalonia Island is right next door to Zakynthos and you can actually see it, especially when heading by boat to Navagio Beach. It’s the island that contains the famous Melissani Cave.

To get here you can take your rental car over by the island ferry (though always check you are allowed to take the rental car off the island) or there are day tours. If you are interested in a day tour make sure you do pre-book one as the tour companies to Kefalonia Island are surprisingly limited and only run on certain days. Unfortunately I was naïve here, waited until I got to the island and found everywhere was sold out. Suppose it’s just another reason to go back!

Zakynthos Coastline

If you have a car make sure you use it to the full capacity and take in the gorgeous Zante coastline. Don’t forget to treat yourself to some picturesque sunrises and sunsets

Food in Zakynthos

Gyros

I loved the ones made by Pita Pita Grill Room in Zakynthos Harbour. They had me going back the entire time I was there.

Frozen Greek Yoghurt

It’s heaven on earth. Forget any fro-yo you’ve had back home, frozen Greek yoghurt is the making of dreams and there is plenty of it in Greece and Zakynthos.

Remember to be wary of

Pick-Pocketers

Especially children. Children have been known to steal belongings so keep a close eye on your stuff. These children are acting for their parents as they are much more trustworthy and therefore can be a lot sneakier. Don’t get angry with them as they are still children and following what their parents want, just be cautious.

Fire

This is probably just down to my experience but the week before I was due to arrive Zakynthos was on fire. Due to its dry climate fires are common but the services are well equipped for them. On my last night another fire started on the hill just near where I was staying that alarmed me greatly. I went to the police to ask what was happening, and (through the aid of Google Translate), they said evacuation was unnecessary as the fire services were already there with helicopters to put the blaze out. I would hardly consider fire to be a legitimate daily threat to your trip, but given it was in my experience, I thought there was no harm in adding it here.

Timing

Also do remember that Zakynthos, like almost all of Greece, is only really ‘open’ between April to October and like the rest of Greece will shut down in winter for tourism hibernation.

Finally…

Despite the additional expenses involved in coming to this island standing at Navagio Beach was the highlight of my trip and my year. I also spent a lot less money than I originally had thought I would be shelling out due to pre-planning and keeping a more watchful eye on my spending when I arrived on the island.

I really hope this guide spares you a LOT of time and hassle in trying to find all this information across other pages, blogs and trip advisor question and answer forums! Navagio Beach will always be etched in my memory as one of the most surreal and beautiful days of my life.

Original Post & Pictures Source : sarahadventuring.com

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While most know Zakynthos, Greece for the famous Navagio Beach (also known as ‘Shipwreck Beach’), I was more drawn to the quiet swimming coves and small beaches that dot the coastline. Most beaches here are best seen by boat, unlike other Greek Islands. My biggest recommendation for this beautiful island is to spend at least one day on the water. The beaches only reachable by boat are what make for memorable swims with no one around, with your own private views of limestone cliffs and crystal clear water. So pack a Greek lunch, grab your hat, and let’s dive in!

4-7 DAYS

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BEST TIME TO VISIT – MAY THROUGH OCTOBER, LESS WIND & WARMER WATER LATER IN THE SUMMER

WEATHER – MILD, RAINY WINTERS & WARM, SUNNY SUMMERS

GETTING AROUND – MOTORCYCLE, ATV OR RENTAL CAR

CURRENCY – EUROS, MOST PLACES TAKE CREDIT CARDS

LANGUAGES – GREEK, MOST PEOPLE SPEAK ENGLISH

NEARBY AIRPORT – ZAKYNTHOS AIRPORT ‘DIONYSIOS SOLOMOS’ (ZTH)

WHAT TO DO IN ZAKYNTHOS

Rent a boat – if there’s only one activity you do on Zakynthos, make it going on a boat. The island shines most for its undiscovered coves and beaches, and off-the-beaten path swimming spots. We hired from Keri Beach to see the south shore and from Agios Nikolaos to explore the north shore (no boat license required). I much preferred the south shore departing from Keri Beach. The limestone cliffs and Keri Caves made for jaw-dropping backdrops. Plus, we spotted turtles and dolphins on the way to Mizithres, and it was less crowded and windy compared to the north side.

Stop for local products – a favorite stop was the ‘Fresh Orange Juice Bar’, a tiny stand for orange juice on the cliffside. We also pulled over to buy local honey, olive oil, and sundried tomatoes from farm stands around the island.

Explore little towns – the small towns of Keri and Volimes come to mind first. Keri is en route to Mizithres and worth a stop for lunch and exploring. Volimes shows up in a few recommended guides and is located near Shipwreck beach, but it’s not exactly lively. An earthquake in 1953 has rendered many buildings unusable and collapsed, which makes for interesting photos but a somewhat depressed feel.

Visit Navagio ‘Shipwreck’ Beach – both from the viewpoint above and by boat. Expect crowds here unless you’re willing to plan an early morning (think 8am or before) or late evening visit. As of 2020 the path to more uninterrupted views is closed due to it being a dangerous spot, as a few have fallen over the side. Venturing off on your own isn’t worth it; you’re likely to be yelled at by the local guards, who also track your license plate and will ticket you.

Watch the sunset – a few great spots to catch the sunset are Porto Limnionas, L’ete Sunset Bar, Keri Lighthouse, and Navagio Beach. You will get the best view of the sun over the water from the west side of Zakynthos island.

BEACHES TO VISIT IN ZAKYNTHOS

XIGIA SULFUR BEACH

The natural sulfur at this small beach makes for beautiful photos as the water takes on a milky turquoise hue. Go early, it fills up.
Food options nearby: yes, there’s one a short walk up from the beach and within a short drive away.

NAVAGIO BEACH

Easily the most famous beach on Zakynthos is Navagio. The best viewpoint is from above. As of 2021, there’s now a railed off platform for viewing. It’s crowded throughout the day and due to the sun’s path, you may not see it in full sun until after 11am. By boat your best chance of avoiding people is extra early (think 8am). You’re better off seeking out nearby beaches if you want a spot to yourself.
Food options nearby: no, but there are drinks for sale at the viewpoint.

MIZITHRES BEACH

This stunning beach evolved from a landslide a couple years back that connected it to a large nearby rock. Perhaps one of my favorite spots on the island as it’s so unique. Note it’s only accessible by boat.
Food options nearby: no, but if you only want a view of the beach then head to Keri Lighthouse Restaurant.

KORAKONISSI

Not so much a beach as a swimming hole, this spot is best visited earlier in the day when the water is calm. There are cliff diving spots, but use caution as they are not marked.
Food options nearby: one restaurant next to the beach (closed during our visit).

PORTO LIMNIONAS

A local’s favorite, this beach has it all: crystal clear blue water, places to sun, cliff diving, a lively restaurant with views, and parking. Great to combine when visiting Korakonissi (above).
Food options nearby: Porto Limnionas tavern overlooks this beach.

FILIPPOI BEACH

Towering cliffs surround this turquoise cove, with plenty of rocks to sun on. However, t’s not for the faint of heart! The drive down is steep, with one winding road that barely fits two cars. Best visited by boat if you’re not up for the task.
Food options nearby: no.

ST. NICHOLAS BEACH

A sandy beach at the very southern part of the island with sunbeds. Family-friendly, and there’s an option for water sports nearby.
Food options nearby: yes, there’s a bar on the beach.

NOBELOS BEACH

Not marked as this is the stone beach in front of Nobelos Restaurant. If you’re visiting for lunch or dinner, you can grab a sunbed here and easily spend the afternoon with a drink.
Food options nearby: Nobelos Restaurant.

My top 3 favorite Zakynthos photo spots

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Beaches near Mizithres by boat

Navagio Beach from above

Local restaurants

If you enjoyed this travel guide, I recommend checking out my Milos Travel Guide. Deciding on the best island to visit? I suggest taking a look at my Guide to Choosing the Best Greek Island.

Original post & pictures source : finduslost.com

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