Zakynthos (Zante) – the most beautiful places, viewpoints and sea turtles

Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is one of the most popular Greek islands in the Ionian Sea. It is famous for its white cliffs, turquoise waters, sea caves and for being one of the key nesting areas of the Caretta caretta sea turtles. Below you’ll find a selection of the most interesting places to visit.

Navagio – viewpoint over the shipwreck beach

Access to the famous Navagio viewpoint was seriously restricted in 2022 due to the risk of landslides. Currently:

only a small section with a high metal railing is open,
the area is secured with tapes, fences and constant supervision,
in high season queues form and taking photos is quite limited.

These changes were introduced for safety reasons, but they significantly reduced the comfort of visiting.

Laganas Bay & the National Marine Park of Zakynthos

Laganas Bay is part of the protected National Marine Park of Zakynthos, where Caretta caretta turtles can be observed.

the water is extremely clear,
turtles often swim close to boats,
it is recommended to turn off the engine when they appear so as not to disturb them.

Some turtles are shy, while others are curious and approach people.

Mizithres & Keri Caves

Mizithres – monumental white cliffs visible from viewpoints or from the sea.
Keri Caves – sea caves with incredibly intense water colours, mainly accessible by boat.

This is the Mizithres cliff – it’s almost impossible to capture its scale in a photo. Here you can see a drone video; it was a challenge because of the strong wind:

Cameo Islet

Cameo is connected to the mainland by a wooden bridge. During the day it is open to visitors and lies within the marine park area.

Karakonissi

Karakonissi is not a classic beach, but a group of rocky formations with a characteristic “window to the sea”. A perfect spot for photos and swimming among the rocks.

Plakaki Beach

The drive to Plakaki Beach is long and demanding, especially in summer. However, the effort pays off – the beach is much less crowded than most other places on the island.

Porto Roxa

A small, pebbly bay with intensely turquoise water. You can sit on the rocks and swim in a sheltered mini-cove.

Filippoi – viewpoint

Harder to reach, but offering some of the most spectacular views over the island’s western coast.

Porto Limnionas

One of the most photogenic bays on Zakynthos – bright cliffs, turquoise water and perfect conditions for swimming and snorkeling.

Exploring Zakynthos by boat – no licence required

In many places on Zakynthos you can rent a small motorboat without a licence. It’s one of the best ways to explore the island, especially the southern and western coasts.

boats depart from places such as Laganas, Keri and Porto Limnionas,
before departure you receive basic instructions and safety guidelines,
you can reach sea caves, rocky bays and places inaccessible from land,
it allows calm observation of turtles in their natural habitat – always respecting protection rules.

This way of exploring lets you see Zakynthos from a completely different perspective.

Gerakas Beach – the Caretta caretta nesting site

Gerakas is one of the most important nesting beaches for Caretta caretta in the entire Mediterranean. It is located on the south-eastern tip of Zakynthos and is strictly protected as part of the National Marine Park.

parts of the beach are fenced off with ropes and special constructions,
in summer the beach closes around 8 p.m. so turtles can come ashore undisturbed to lay their eggs,
you can often see the characteristic tracks of females, and with a bit of luck – freshly hatched baby turtles.

Sun umbrellas stuck into the sand, loud music and water sports are forbidden. Thanks to these rules, Gerakas remains one of the best protected turtle nesting sites in Greece.

A turtle on the way to Marathonisi island:

Marathonisi – Turtle Island

Marathonisi is a small uninhabited island in Laganas Bay, often called “Turtle Island”. It can be reached by water taxi from the beaches of Laganas, Kalamaki and Agios Sostis.

the boat trip takes about 10–15 minutes,
the island has two small beaches – one sandy and one pebbly,
although the area is famous for turtles, they are harder to spot around Marathonisi than closer to the Zakynthos coast.

A trip to Marathonisi is a great addition to a stay in the south of the island.

Exploring the island by quad / ATV

Zakynthos is best explored by renting a quad or ATV. Many roads lead to remote viewpoints and wild parts of the island that organised tours never reach.

Zakynthos is an island of contrasts – from busy tourist resorts to wild cliffs and places where nature still rules. It is also one of the few places in Europe where you can observe sea turtles in their natural environment.