"Zakynthos" Top 5 Page for this destination Zante by denise16

Zante Travel Guide: 151 reviews and 321 photos

Unbelievable tourquoise Sea

Will take me a couple of days to load all my stuff (24/09/05)
This picture was taken from the day cruise boat, near one of the sets of blue caves. The sea is unbelievable, it looks like someone has tipped blue & tourquoise paint, yet it is cristal clear, and also very warm. Great to swim off the cruise boats, in the small coves that you can only visit by boat. See tips on tourist traps (when I do them)

Clear water

gone fishing!

This photograph was taken seconds after lots of fish had been swimming around my feet. I wanted to show just how clear the water is. I was dangling my feet in the quay at St. Nicholas Port.

Beaches

don't climb the cliffs!

The beaches around the tourist resorts are Ok, but nothing compared with those that can only be reached by boat. Tsilivi beach is a little crowded with sun beds etc. but if you walk right along the beach it gets better. The sea (in Sept) was very warm, it shelves very gently and hardly any tide or currents, so safe for bathing. There are the usual peddlos hire places and a daily visit from a tourist speed boat that annoyingly sounds it's horn all the way across the bay and the passengers wave like idiots, I think the idea was for those on the beach to wave back (sod off more like). There are plenty of beach bars and generally the sand is clean. If you turn left and head towards the small quayside there is another very small beach around the headland, plus many small coves along the eastern side.
Only had a brief visit to the beach at Laganas Bay. Similar to the Tsilivi beach but with added attraction of the turtle nesting site (a protected area) between Laganas & Kalamaki. No parasols, or holes to be dug in certain areas, or visitors after dark, although unfortunately people break the rules. We saw about 12 nest sites marked up, which surprised us, being Septemebr. We saw no turtles on the whole island cruise, althoguh the larger cruise boats are not allowd to enter the main protection area. There are smaller boats that do turtle spotting trips but we thought they defeat the object of protection by disturbing the turtles and decided against going. There was also a strong smell of diesel as we entered the protected marine park.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Very beautiful island and very friendly locals
Cons:Far too touristy, resorts noisy at night
In a nutshell:It must have been perfect 20 years ago, but not bad now!

Last visit to Zante: Sep 2005
Intro Updated Sep 28, 2005
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Reviews (9)

looking back out of teh blue cave - Zante

the whole island cruise Tourist Traps (2)

Don't believe the tour guides that tell you your boat leaves early to get to the shipwreck bay first, they all leave at... more travel advice

Day Trip to Olympia Things to Do (2)

Every tour company on island offers this trip, its a long day but really worth doing. A coach picks up from resorts... more travel advice

ceramic workshop Shopping (1)

Beautiful display of locally inspired work by ZAkyntheon Dionysia. A very warm welcome complete with a free lemon jiuce... more travel advice

Go for a walk through the Olive Groves Things to Do (2)

We often left the bustle of the resort and walked through the Olive groves. We felt we got to see the real Zakynthos.... more travel advice

Hotels (1)
simple style apartments but very clean

Restaurants (3)
See All Quiet friendly bar

Travelogues (2)

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Comments (5)

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nickandchris Jun 21, 2007 at 7:15 AM

Good tips here, especially the tourist trap ones. Many, many years since we were on Zakynthos.
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loopylin Feb 25, 2007 at 8:10 AM

Will take advice on small boat thnx 4 warning
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ettenaj Nov 9, 2006 at 2:39 PM

My sentiments entirely re the ship wreck
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whitecliff62 Nov 26, 2005 at 12:59 PM

Well this brings the memories flooding back, we also stayed in Tsilavi, fantastic quiet holiday, your right about ship wreck cove and the boats
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bijo69 Sep 30, 2005 at 5:14 PM

You're absolutely right, that wrech spoils the beach... Your restaurant tips made me hungry :)