It is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. To ensure the turtles remain safe, theres a few key things to bear in mind when swimming with them in Greece. Megan's travel tips been featured in numerous media outlets including Metro, Timeout, Thrillist and more. Which could see you booking up a stay and hoping to catch a glimpse of turtles hauling on to the beaches and tiny hatchlings emerging. During a swim or while you are snorkeling it can happen that you come across a Caretta-Caretta turtle. We started our boat trip in Zante at Makris Gialos. While the chances of seeing the turtles during your time snorkeling at this spot are high, we cannot guarantee that you'll spot them. Zanteisland. The Best Places To See Sea Turtles In Greece - Planet Love Life @Rob I suspect that you'll find the area around Kalamaki and Laganas a lot more built up and busy than when you were there last and I think the beaches where the turtles nest are closed at night to protect them. Costa Rica 1. 15 Best Things to Do in Zakynthos (Zante), Greece The captain showed no mercy to those of us feeling sick as he opened the throttle and the boat banged up and down on the waves. Theres a reason the meadows are known as the rainforests of the Med. By accepting and continuing to use our website, you consent to our cookies. Or, depart from Makris Gialos, a small beach that is just before St Nicholas port. This is a smaller beach with easy road access near Vassilikos and in past years weve been there we enjoyed the unspoiled aspect of the beach. Are you a secret pirate or a nature loving mermaid? This small island in Laganas Bay is the place to find Zantes turtles. I just thought I would mention that in my opinion, if you are touring Zakynthos by car or bike, the quickest, cheapest and most convenient way of seeing both the Blue Caves and Navagio Beach is to take the boats below the lighthouse at Cape Schinari, right in the middlwe of the caves, and the Shipwreck is just 12 minutes away. ee a turtle resist the urge to paddle straight at it. Sun loungers are kept close to the sea and well away from the turtle nests which are marked and sometimes roped off. Right in the heart of the Marine Park, getting to these protected waters is easy but there are a few dos and donts to navigate. @Rob Great to hear from you, I'll try and call in when I'm visiting my sis in August - thanks for that tip, I didn't realise that you could take a boat from that location, probably it's not much promoted as the boatmen don't make as much out of the trip. Personally Id avoid riding a motorbike down there because of the gritty and potholed roads. th of the airport, this might seem an unlikely spot for a serene swim. So it pays to combine your turtle watching exploits with the chance to see more of the islands impressive marine life. Theres no guarantee youll see a turtle but this trip is an eco-friendly, low impact way to access the loggerhead turtles habitat. The team at Divers Paradise can take you to a selection of Zante dive sites, with options to suit all abilities. We did a one-day boat tour that took us to some caves you couldn't get to by foot and had a great time swimming between colorful fish and jellyfish. Make sure you bring your snorkel and mask or rent one on the beach and enjoy your time interacting with these slow-moving sea creatures. These are turtle nests, full of unhatched eggs left by adult loggerhead turtles earlier in the year. like to walk around with kids? Over the course of 3.5 hours, youll paddle and snorkel around 4 nautical miles of Zantes waters. The first hour was spent travelling along the coast with views of the limestone cliffs. This boat had a cabin and plenty of space on deck at the back and front of the boat to spread out. This is the main place you can see turtles swimming in the water. Turtle island in Zante sits right at the heart of the most important loggerhead turtle breeding ground in the Mediterranean. Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) 7,976. I did this recently and loved it! If youre in one of the holiday resorts youll also come across plenty of people selling you this as a day trip with transport to and from the resort. Flatback Sea Turtle Fact: Only Found in Australia Hawksbill Sea Turtle Fact: Most Colourful Shell Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Fact: Smallest & Rarest Sea Turtle Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Fact: Most Numerous Sea Turtle How to Swim with Sea Turtles Sea turtles are calm and subdued marine animals. The pink color comes from the thousands of broken seashells which form part of the sand. Although the access is difficult, once youre down you can park and settle into a sun lounger in front of one of the beach bars. The staff will explain the operation of the boat and the safety measures. app on your phone to plan and book your Zante wildlife adventure today. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. Speed limits and a strict no anchoring policy means its easier to hop on an eco-minded tour. With its caves, turtles, and islands, Zante Marine Park is truly one of a kind and is in fact described more extensively in the " Marine Park " section of our website with its caves. While youre walking the beaches, if you see a volunteer or a scientist studying the animals, dont be afraid to walk over and ask some questions. Head off on a kayak in search of the turtles in zante! If you want watersports head to the far end at Banana Beach where you can hire jet skis or do paragliding or be dragged through the water on an inflatable. Nick's advice has been featured on the Lonely Planet, CNN Money, Business Insider, WiseBreadand Forbes and he spoke at the World Tourism Forum in Istanbul about the business of travel blogging. Hi, I'm Heather, an award winning travel blogger based in Bristol, UK. Around 40 minutes after leaving the beach we were all feeling a bit seasick. If you are not very experienced in maneuvers, we recommend that you keep a distance of at least 10 m from the turtle to avoid injuring it with the propeller. You may even get the chance to see baby sea turtles hatching too which is truly a once in a lifetime experience. During the summer, you can actually also swim with turtles in Greece. Welcome to Zakynthos, the majestic Greek island of the Ionian Sea.Zakynthos, the island of Ugo foscolo, home of poets and a privileged land for Caretta Caretta turtles. It is not without a reason that the Caretta-Caretta turtles have chosen some of its magnificent beaches to lay their eggs on. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Things to do in Zakynthos, Greece - An Insiders Guide to Zante He contributes to numerous other media sites regularly and shares his expert knowledge of travel, online entrepreneurship and blogging with the world whenever he can. Another low impact way to swim with Zantes turtles and avoid the boat jam in the waters above. If you take one of the Zakynthos boat trips that are a favourite with visitors to the island, youll have the chance to play at being both. By Lola Mendez, updated on July 27, 2022 Getty Images There's something otherworldly about swimming with sea turtles in the wild. Putting your own stakes, brollies or similar in the sand could damage an unrecorded nest. Snorkeling in Zante: The 9 Best Snorkel Spots in Zakynthos - Travel Snippet These Zante turtle boat trips are typically sold as an opportunity to see the loggerheads swimming in Laganas Bay. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. Its probably the best known turtle beach in Zakynthos and because of the turtle nesting sites, the beach has been protected from development and no building is allowed above it, making it undeveloped compared to many of the other beaches on Zante. You do need a hire car to get here and the steep and winding dirt road down to the beach can be daunting. The thing I particularly enjoy about Porto Zorro is the large rocks at one end that are an ideal place for snorkelling in Zakynthos. Upon entering the natural habitat of the turtle, guests can take photos of them swimming beneath the glass bottom boat and there are opportunities to snorkel around them as well. Weve made a few suggestions below. Dafni Beach If you seek out a secluded Zakynthos snorkeling beach where there is a high chance to see turtles, make sure to go to Dafni Beach. They are usually very happy to educate people on these prehistoric creatures. Ive been to Greece many times and explored more of its island than I can count. However, dont take my word for it and get in your car or catch the bus to explore a different beach or swimming place for every day of your holiday. Right in the heart of the Marine Park, getting to these protected waters is easy but there are a few dos and donts to navigate. Thank you !! Volunteers, can often be seen here, counting hatchlings, protecting, and gathering data. Come along with me to taste the food, explore the culture, go hiking and cycling, experience a luxury cruise or boutique hotel. If you head out into the water between May and October, you have a pretty good chance of coming face to face with a Loggerhead Turtle during these months. gets you to Turtle Beach before most people have taken a seat at their breakfast buffet. Weve taken these Laganas boat trips twice. So, if you do see a turtle resist the urge to paddle straight at it. You may also enjoy: 20 of the best beaches in Zakynthos Greece. Discover the best things to do in Zante | Discover Greece To see the hatching you have to go every day for a couple of hours, to one of the beaches of the Marine Park, the ones where it is more likely to see it are Kalamaki, Dafni and Gerakas, placing your towel near as many nests as possible (the towel can be placed only on the waters edge). Known locally as Caretta Caretta Turtles and by tourists as Zante Turtles or Zakynthos Turtles, Loggerheads are one of the worlds most frequently studied sea turtles. Zakynthos Based on firsthand experience, I'd say that the best place in Greece to find turtles is on the island of Zakynthos, also known as Zante. Greece is one of the best locations in the whole world for seeing the rare Loggerhead sea turtles (or caretta-caretta turtles) up close and personal. A guide to turtle spotting in Zante | Orbzii Zante turtles is the name and protecting them is the "game'. This stretch of sand has tell-tale signs of turtle action right on the beach. In we went, although I was knocked over by the force of the waves and ended up with sand in my bikini and water up my nose. One of my favorite activities in Navarino Bay is joining a sea kayaking tour. Between May and October is turtle nesting season in Greece so this is when mother turtles come to Greece to lay their eggs. To amp up your chances of seeing loggerhead turtles, join them on their Marathonissi dive. There are some really highly recommended turtle tours available on Viator and GetYourGuide. As you say you get the benefit of the caves and the beach without the long boat journey which isn't great if its rough. He has been travelling and working abroad since 2008 and has more than 10 years of experience in online business, finance, travel and entrepreneurship. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Fun Fact: Did you know that sea turtles live anywhere between 80 -100 years, making them some of the longest living creatures in the ocean. 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. Be sure to keep your distance and if you see anything out of the ordinary, like fishing line or injury, contact the Sea Turtle Conservation Center. Weve got the where, when, and how all sorted . [] www.heatheronhertravels.com/beaches-places-to-swim-zakynt [], Vassilikos beach on Zakynthos | ExploreGreece, Where Heather travelled in 2012 - a year in photos | Heather on her travels, [] More 10 gorgeous beaches and places to swim on Zakynthos Get in your car and drive! The beach has a rusty old wreck half buried in the sand of a ship that went aground in the 1980s, while supposedly smuggling cigarettes. The boat trips will typically take you into Laganas Bay where youll hope to see a loggerhead turtle, although they are getting increasingly rare. As a Zakynthos aficionado, what is the best port to stay close by for frequent boat trips to different beaches? There are several different places in Greece where sea turtles regularly come to hatch. Navagio or Smugglers Cove is the beach that makes it onto the cover of practically every book or postcard from Zante. Remember that all of the different turtle species are endangered so its important that we do all we can to help their chances. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Boats can pass through but the speed is restricted. Not surprisingly, given that this is one of the best places in Europe to see Loggerheads, there are plenty of tour operators offering experiences with these turtles. Snorkeling with Sea Turtles in Cameo Island, Zante | Snorkeling in Greece Our smallish boat took up to 20 people, had a shaded awning and a powerful motor. necessarily see a turtle every time you hop in the ocean. Theres a definite no-touch, watching from a reasonable distance will be a memory to treasure. Hotjar sets this cookie to detect the first pageview session of a user. The best Zante boat trips - on the Greek island of Zakynthos You can learn a lot about a company and their intentions by checking out their website or reading their reviews on Trip Advisor. Though, the small collection of terrapins and tortoises might be disappointing for anyone hoping to see turtles. Perched on the coast, just south of the airport, this might seem an unlikely spot for a serene swim. Its also one of the nesting beaches for the turtles. from. Home | Zante Turtle Center Two more advantages are that you get to see the most beautiful and rugged part of the island with picturesque old villages, wonderful vegetation and you can better evaluate sea conditions so that you avoid the rough ride that you referred to. The baby turtles start hatching from late July until October so if youre lucky you might even spot a baby sea turtle hatching from an egg! Zakynthos Island (Zante) Complete Guide | Welcometozante.com Gerakas beach is located on the south-east corner of the island and is particularly attractive because of its annual visitors, the loggerhead or Caretta Caretta turtles that nest here. This full day, tour includes swim stops and explores the caves along the shore. There are plenty more beautiful beaches on Zakynthos to the northern end of the island around Tsilivi and Alykes, but as I am normally visiting my sister in Argassi, I suppose weve tended to stick to the southern part of the island. The Red Sea Egypt is one of the best places to scuba dive with turtles Five of the seven extant species of marine turtle live in the Red Sea. You may occasionally find certain sections of the beaches closed off to protect the turtles as they hatch. It gives you the best possible chance of meeting turtles as the expert guides know where to find them. If you want to sunbathe here, stay clear of the wooden frames and only use the umbrellas provided. Different styles of boats give slightly different experiences although we went to the same locations on both trips. Zakynthos is one of the best places to visit in Greece, so if youre looking to get up close and personal with these beautiful animals, then perhaps theres no place better to do so in Greece than this tiny Ionian Island. Whether you end up seeing a Loggerhead turtle as part of a tour in Zakynthos, or you just stumble upon one unexpectedly, take a moment to admire these incredible creatures. Zakynthos' top 10 best places to visit - Zanteisland.com When & Where to Swim with Sea Turtles: Ultimate Travel Guide Its not to be confused with the excessive nightlife and busy strip around the bay at Laganas Agios Sostis Port is a much more traditional place with family run apartments, beach bars and restaurants such as the Sabbia Beach bar and Harbour House restaurant right on the beach. Things improved once we rounded the headland and entered sheltered waters again, returning to explore the sea caves. 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. Hire a couple of sea kayaks and explore the shoreline by yourselves or hop on the, Kayaking Zakynthos. The small islet of Marathonisi, located in Laganas Bay, is conveniently nicknamed turtle island as turtles can regularly be spotted swimming around and laying eggs there during the summer. More about tours later in this post. Weve made a few suggestions below. The loggerhead turtles and the hatchlings can be seen right up until the end. Here there are some sea arches and caves, although not as deep as the Blue Caves on the north-east coast. Another top turtle spot in Zakynthos is the resort town of Kalamaki which lies on the southern coast of the island, just 5 minutes down the road from Laganas. You can find lots of boat trips from Zante town, but I personally wouldn't stay there as you get a much more relaxed experience in one of the resort hotels with a swimming pool and close to the beach. :167164924000, ZANTE The bits of Zante that you wont see from your sunbedSwimming the turquoise blue at Porto Limnionas, This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com, 25 delicious food tips in Paris from top bloggers and Paris locals. Each summer sea turtles come to Kyparissia Bay to lay their eggs this is one of the best spots to see them. 16. On the second occasion we went on a much smaller, glass bottomed boat from Agios Sostis close to Laganas. ZANTE MARINE PARK (MARATHONISI ISLAND, TURTLES, KERI CAVES AND MARATHIAN CAVES). 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. This is when the mother turtles come onto the beaches to lay their eggs. This island is blessed with sunny weather, hidden coves, dramatic cliffs and powdery white sand, so if youre coming to Greece for a beach holiday, this might be the island to Crete is a destination thats bound to steal your heart. 2023. There were two beach bars when I was there last, one a more traditional taverns, the other a rather trendy beach bar that seemed to have taken over the far end of the beach. You can also often see turtles on Cameo Island which you can access via a footbridge from the main beach in Laganas. Eggs are often crushed by beach activities. For this reason, its the best time to see turtles in Greece. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Development on the beaches damage breeding grounds. Did you know you can also see turtles in the Maldives? 8. For 20 years hes seen the turtles struggle with the rise of tourism and Yiannis hopes his free information centre close to Gerakas Beach will go some way to help educate visitors to the turtles plight. Turtle Island This small island in Laganas Bay is the place to find Zante's turtles. You can also see them at Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Kythira. It doesn't come as a surprise that both divers and snorkelers are always very happy to spot them and swim with them. As soon as you notice the WWF volunteers near groups of people standing, its time to grab your camera to immortalize the little turtles heading towards the sea. They take you to see the turtles, plus to some other cool sights and they include lunch and drinks. On this trip, with my teenage daughter and several of her friends coming along, I had some willing companions to test out the sun loungers and find the best places to perfect your tan or cool off with a dip in the sea. Hi, my name is Meg and, you guessed it, I love to travel. Blue Caves - Amazing scenery. In 2018, a record number of the animals were found on the shores of Laganas Beach with more than 1,460 nests being counted by scientists. If we wanted to get ashore, wed have to jump in and swim through the surf. Just not guaranteed. What to see in Zante? The best beaches and places | Welcometozante The excursion is the best solution for turtle watching in Zakynthos. This means that while they are still very rare, the numbers are increasing and you have a better chance of spotting them now than in the past decade or so. It's No.1 in our list of things to do in Zante for a reason. Mario does also dive into the water to bring sea creatures (not turtle) to the boat for passengers to see and touch, taking a point or two off the low impact score for this otherwise mindful, s turtles is to skip the boat tours entirely and deploy some paddle power. On the opposite side of the island is another small beach and a sea cave where you are allowed to land. Putting your own stakes, brollies or similar in the sand could damage an unrecorded nest. Zakynthos snorkeling spots Zakynthos is great for snorkeling. Expect to see a lot of marine life, not just turtles. Kayaking. Over the course of 3.5 hours, youll paddle and snorkel around 4 nautical miles of Zantes waters. I'm looking to stay at a hotel close to a port where I could take advantage of daily boat trips. 12. WELCOME TO ZANTE Cameo Island is known as one of the best spots in Europe for swimming with turtles (together with Green Bay, Cyprus ). A company with good reviews that always treats the turtles with respect and never allows too many tourists to get close to the animals and stress them out is a must. The Best Things to Do in Zakynthos, Greece , stay clear of the wooden frames and only use the umbrellas provided. By londonqt. Be sure to do your research to make sure you go with a reputable, eco-minded company. The Loggerhead turtles Caretta-Caretta are the second attraction of Zakynthos Island, after obviously the famous Shipwreck Beach. Greece is a popular turtle breeding ground meaning that sea turtles return every single year to lay their eggs and baby sea turtles hatch on the beaches. It is possible to find them very easily in the bay of Laganas for two simple reasons: the first is because it is the place where they breed from April to August, the second is the shallow depth of the sea which allows them to be easily identified. 1. Holidays to Zante - This section is about the 10 places that make of Zakynthos a unique and unforgettable holidays to Zakynthos. If youve already seen other species of sea turtles while snorkelling or diving around the world, then youll likely notice the unique appearance of the loggerhead right away. The beach on Turtle Island is so beautiful that it even made our list of The Best Beaches In Zakynthos That You Wont Want To Miss. If you are interested in taking a Zante turtle spotting boat trip, there are many boats that offer it. Whether you want to see them laying eggs, hatching or you want to go for a swim with one of these majestic creatures, one of the best beaches in Greece to see the famous Zante turtles is Lagana Beach on Turtle Island Zakynthos (which is also one of the best beaches in Zakynthos). Here are some of the best beaches in Zakynthos, both favourites from previous visits and new discoveries from this trip. Sadly we didn't spot any turtles on this trip but we did have a great day out sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling around the little coves and sea caves along the coast. In my opinion, the best way to see turtles in the Red Sea is to join a liveaboard boat trip. 9. The Catalinas are home to Mount Lemmon. The seagrass strands are a stunning sight on their own gently undula. We are heading Zantes in August and we are very excited about! The most common species of turtle present in Greece is the rare Loggerhead turtle which are known locally as caretta-caretta sea turtles. I saw them here recently and all I can say is wow! Pop the Orbzii app on your phone to plan and book your Zante wildlife adventure today. The seagrass strands are a stunning sight on their own gently undulating in the clear waters, but the small fish and turtles that swing by make it a sight to remember. It is very small but worth visiting if you want to experience local customs. But with a few early mornings and a fair bit of snorkelling it is still possible to see turtles in Zante. This crescent of sand hosts a half-buried, rusty wreck and high cliffs on either side. This is a True/False flag set by the cookie. Hello Heather, long time no see. Their shell has a beautiful golden-brown clour and their reptilian skin is yellow and brown. If you want to be centrally located, my sister's hotels in Argassi (Windmill Hotel & Windmill Bay Hotel) are a good choice - you are a 15 min drive or bus ride from Zante town and can easily drive or get a bus to the other wonderful beaches at Vassilikos, Gerakas. We didnt stop but powered on around the northern tip of the island, at which point the sea started to become decidedly rough. Luckily, you can swim with sea turtles all over the globe as they're some of the most widespread marine life. Add in the glass-bottomed hull of Marios specially commissioned cruiser and you could get a very, view of a loggerhead turtle. One of Zantes best beaches for snorkelling, Kalamaki Beach also happens to be a prime turtle spotting location. The team at, can take you to a selection of Zante dive sites, with options to suit all abilities. protected waters here get pretty boat-logged once a turtle is spotted. Huge fish numbers, shallow calm waters and youre diving right by Turtle Island. Map. Which isnt necessarily a good thing for the turtles or the people paying to spot them. Facebook sets this cookie to show relevant advertisements to users by tracking user behaviour across the web, on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin.
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