Happily, there are plenty of ways to see Zantes turtles in a green and low impact way. 1. This small island in the bay makes the shape of a turtle. Everything you need to find and book a trip in one place, We use necessary cookies to ensure Orbzii works. You should be aware that their numbers are dwindling. 15 Best Things to Do in Zakynthos (Zante), Greece Read more about Heather, Contact Work With Me Policies Privacy, Visit the Blue caves and Shipwreck beach on a Zante boat trip, Visit the Blue caves and Shipwreck beach on a Zakynthos boat trip, Visit Turtle Island in Laganas bay and swim in the Keri caves, Click to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, news and reader offers, Paxos Villas for luxury lovers staying at Villa Glaros in Greece, Windmill Bay Hotel in Zakynthos a 4-star seaside hotel in Greece, 20 of the best beaches in Zakynthos Greece, Get in your car and drive! Many, many visitors head for this small museum and rescue centre hoping to see a turtle resting up before being re-released. Huge fish numbers, shallow calm waters and youre diving right by Turtle 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. Look for one of the Zakynthos boat trips that take you through Laganas Bay and around to the Keri caves. Lets get you turtle-spotting in Zante. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. from. Thank you !! Although Zantes turtle figures are impressive, you wont. The sp_t cookie is set by Spotify to implement audio content from Spotify on the website and also registers information on user interaction related to the audio content. This beach is very famous, not only for its nesting turtle population, but also for its pink sand! I love your blog and the tips! If you want to sunbathe here, stay clear of the wooden frames and only use the umbrellas provided. The team at Divers Paradise can take you to a selection of Zante dive sites, with options to suit all abilities. 5. 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. 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. Where in the World to Swim with Wild Sea Turtles This is one of the best places for snorkelling in Zakynthos and the perfect place to jump in and cool off after feeling the salty spray on your skin and the wind in your hair. Just open the camera app on your smartphone or use a QR scanning app to start downloading Orbzii, By clicking "Submit", you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy. Blue Caves - Amazing scenery. Travel to Marathonisi (Turtle Island) aboard a glass-bottom boat on this half-day excursion. More on how to responsibly interact with these animals later in this post. The first occasion was a half-day trip on a catamaran. Baby sea turtles tend to hatch around 45 days after their egg has been laid and then they make their way into the ocean to begin their life. Head off on a kayak in search of the turtles in zante! The sp_landing is set by Spotify to implement audio content from Spotify on the website and also registers information on user interaction related to the audio content. 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. Come along with me to taste the food, explore the culture, go hiking and cycling, experience a luxury cruise or boutique hotel. Book a Tour: There are some really highly recommended and sustainable turtle tours available on Viator and GetYourGuide. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The most popular place to see them is at Kefalonia, where there is a turtle nesting beach. Suitable for all levels of diving experience, this easy dive is known. @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. The Best Places To See Sea Turtles In Greece - Planet Love Life The 13 Best Places to Swim and Dive with Sea Turtles Guest Blogger Updated by Alina Myers on June 20, 2023 Sea turtles are among the cutest animals populating our seas. Porto Limnionas is not an obvious place to find and yet when you get there youll probably find the car park full with Greeks and Italians who love this kind of rocky sea swimming. 12. Yep, you read that right this beach is pink. This stretch of sand has tell-tale signs of turtle action right on the beach. Perched on the coast, just south of the airport, this might seem an unlikely spot for a serene swim. 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. Zante turtles is the name and protecting them is the "game'. Tucson, Arizona is nestled in a valley between four mountain ranges. Find out about the island's best places to visit with our list of the top things to do in Zakynthos. Over the course of 3.5 hours, youll paddle and snorkel around 4 nautical miles of Zantes waters. 8. If we wanted to get ashore, wed have to jump in and swim through the surf. These are turtle nests, full of unhatched eggs left by adult loggerhead turtles earlier in the year. Which isnt necessarily a good thing for the turtles or the people paying to spot them. However on the last visit we did find that the beach was so covered with sun lounger that you could barely walk by which I found rather annoying. Blue Caves: This is a must, The Blue Caves are just one of the many sights you'll explore. 9. Many, many visitors head for this small museum and rescue. Go either from Laganas resort, from the small marina at Agios Sostis or from the harbour at Keri. If you want more gentle boat trip for your holiday in Greece, Id suggest that you head for the southern end of the island. 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. This article may contain affiliate links that provide commission on purchases you make at no extra cost to you. $218.00. 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. This is the main place you can see turtles swimming in the water. Copyright 2023 Goats On The Road | GOTR Media LLC. The boat trips in Zante to see the blue caves, turtles or Shipwreck beach are well worth doing. They take you to see the turtles, plus to some other cool sights and they include lunch and drinks. While exploring rocky locations like this be sure to check out the beach shoes I recommend in this beach trip packing list. This town is also a hotspot for turtles as its a known breeding ground so seeing turtles here is almost guaranteed. 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. This is fun if theres a large group of you and you feel confident handling the boat. The staff will explain the operation of the boat and the safety measures. Weve made a few suggestions below. If you are interested in taking a Zante turtle spotting boat trip, there are many boats that offer it. 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. A company on the island that provides a detailed presentation of the famous Caretta Caretta turtle while you cruise out towards the National Marine Park and Turtle Island Zakynthos. The atmosphere can be somewhat party-like with many boats and floating food trucks. There is a parking area at the top of the cliff path down to the beach and a couple of nice bars and tavernas nearby where weve had pleasant lunches in the shade. These kinds of trips can be booked from numerous providers in every resort. Theres a taverna where you can have a lovely lunch in the shade and theyll bring you drinks down to your sun lounger. If you can hold still, chances are the turtle may well swim by for a closer look. Catalina Foothills, AZ. By Nickiki. The shorter 2-3 hour trips typically cost 20-25 per person. 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. 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. 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. 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. Every 2-4 years, between May and September, the female turtle comes to the shores of Crete to give birth, only to deliver her babies. Luckily, you can swim with sea turtles all over the globe as they're some of the most widespread marine life. 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. So, if you do see a turtle resist the urge to paddle straight at it. You do need a hire car to get here and the steep and winding dirt road down to the beach can be daunting. Check whether the sea is rough or calm as this will affect your experience. 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. There are some sea arches and caves that the boats will take you through to admire the intensely turquoise water that looks like glass and then the boats normally drop anchor and let you swim for a while. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi Heather! Between May and October is turtle nesting season in Greece so this is when mother turtles come to Greece to lay their eggs. 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. In attesa dei nostri clienti mentre, Welcome To Zante On our first turtle boat trip, we went with local naturalist Yannis Vardakastanis, who runs the Earth Sea and Sky volunteer and information programme. There are several different places in Greece where sea turtles regularly come to hatch. per adult (price varies by group size) Tour to Copalitilla Magical Waterfalls from Huatulco with admission included. These natural arches have been carved out by erosion, and are famous for the vivid color of blue water in its deepest hollows. Swimming around the islet, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, it is quite likely that you will encounter a couple of specimens. Weve taken these Laganas boat trips twice. Zakynthos snorkeling spots Zakynthos is great for snorkeling. ee a turtle resist the urge to paddle straight at it. Snorkeling in Zakynthos Greece | Best Snorkel Spots In Zante Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. ted waters, theres no need to worry about watersports here but a. buoy is still recommended. Adults can grow up to 114 cm (45 inches) in length and way as much as 160 kg (352 lbs). There are two parts to Agios Sostis and we enjoyed stopping at the Agios Sostis Limanaki or port which has a small beach to one side and a marina on the other from where many of the boat trips go. I wish one of my sisters lived in Greece!! Around 40 minutes after leaving the beach we were all feeling a bit seasick. It is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece. Gerakas Beach on Zakynthos, Greece 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. Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. This miniature harbour is ideal for all ages and there is a grassy area and sunbeds adjoining the traditional taverna called Astepia where you can get drinks and meals. [] 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! With two very different coastlines and marine reserves filled with sea turtles, Zante is in contention for one of the best Greek islands for snorkeling. To find the turtles you have to follow the excursion boats, as soon as you see them stationary in one point it means that they have identified the turtle and you just have to wait for them to leave. Turtles On Kalamaki Beach Greece | Thomas Cook When the boat anchors, this is a lovely place to jump off into the clear water and swim or snorkel. Things to do in Zakynthos, Greece - An Insiders Guide to Zante Its a really pretty spot although somewhat crowded when a few boats are moored up all at once. If you get up before dawn you'll be able to watch hundreds of baby turtles shuffling to the water from the beach. This stretch of sand has tell-tale signs of turtle action right on the beach. Here there are some sea arches and caves, although not as deep as the Blue Caves on the north-east coast. That said, th. Over the course of 3.5 hours, youll paddle and snorkel around 4 nautical miles of Zantes waters. Call The Sea Turtle Conservation Center:When in doubt, call an expert. You can also see them at Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Kythira. By accepting and continuing to use our website, you consent to our cookies. Zakynthos' top 10 best places to visit - Zanteisland.com 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. Keep reading to find out exactly where you can see sea turtles in Greece including both the Greek Islands and mainland Greece. 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. Are you a secret pirate or a nature loving mermaid? The Turtles of Zante Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) 7,976. You can also rent small boats that you can drive yourself to explore the shore line from Agios Sostis, Keri or Laganas. When & Where to Swim with Sea Turtles: Ultimate Travel Guide To make things super easy for you, you can join an Elafonissi Beach full-day trip which will take you to the beach. Make sure you head out with a mask and a snorkel whenever you go swimming if you want to see the turtles, but make sure to keep your distance and respect the animals. Viator has a well-recommended tour that is put on by the Sea Turtle Protection Society. We're planning to spend 5 nights. app on your phone to plan and book your Zante wildlife adventure today. It is very small but worth visiting if you want to experience local customs. One of the best things to do in Zakynthos is to visit the Blue Caves. On the second occasion we went on a much smaller, glass bottomed boat from Agios Sostis close to Laganas. Do not miss: San Dionysios Festival on August 24th. This is where you'll find travel inspiration for the 50+ traveller looking for an authentic travel experience with a little luxury. Turn Off The Lights:Loggerhead Sea Turtles eyes are actually extremely sensitive and their babies use the moon to guide them to the sea when they hatch. Keep your eye out for signs and make sure you dont get too close to known nests. That said, this small but determined effort is all down to local resident, Yiannis Vardakastanis. Id recommend joining this half day tour to Turtle Island as it includes a stop at both Turtle Island and Kalamaki so theres almost no way you dont see and swim with turtles. It gives you the best possible chance of meeting turtles as the expert guides know where to find them. Concrete paths and steps have been laid out to take you down to the sea and you can jump into the clear water, although its not quite as easy to hoist yourself out if theres any swell. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Head out on your own. 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. Although Zantes turtle figures are impressive, you wont necessarily see a turtle every time you hop in the ocean. To help ensure that their young have a safe passage to the sea, and to keep their delicate digestive systems free of toxic debris, clean up after yourself at the beach, or better yet, take a garbage bag and do some beach clean-ups while youre in Zakynthos. Their nesting grounds are incredibly vulnerable and while the numbers of Mediterranean Loggerhead turtles is growing in recent years, the Loggerhead Turtle is still considered endangered globally. Need a guide book for Zakynthos? The loggerhead turtles and the hatchlings can be seen right up until the end. I'm heading for Zakynthos on Tuesday for a family holiday, and was last there 21 years ago on honeymoon. This tour is unique in that they abide strictly to eco-friendly behaviour and dont simply drop boatloads of tourists off right next to the turtles. I was there with guests earlier this week and the fare to visit both attractions was just 15 Euros. This makes it more likely that the few that are around will be chased and tracked down just to give you your sighting. The Best Beaches In Zakynthos That You Wont Want To Miss, Loggerhead Turtle is still considered endangered globally, contact the Sea Turtle Conservation Center, 15 Best Things to Do in Naxos, Greece, in 2023, Top 15 Beaches in Zakynthos You Cant Miss in 2023, Visiting Crete in 2023: Complete Travel Guide. Youll hop in the water at a specific spot and if you get to see them, great! Pop the Orbzii app on your phone to plan and book your Zante wildlife adventure today. Zakynthos is a small island in the Ionian Sea of western Greece 249 kilometres west of the Capital of Athens, and about 20 kilometres off the westernmost point of the Greek Mainland. The Caretta-Caretta (loggerhead turtle) breeding season begins in April and continues through until August. Youre likely to spook it or distress it. Boats can pass through but the speed is restricted. A favoured nesting site in the breeding grounds of the local loggerhead turtle population, the undeveloped beach is a gorgeous spot to do a little wildlife watching on. Home | Zante Turtle Center Protecting Sea Turtles on Zakynthos Mediterranean Marine Life Center Donate here About the Rescue Center The mission of the Zante Turtle Center is to protect Caretta Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtles) and other marine life in and around the island of Zakynthos. ARGASSI Argassi 4 Km from the town of Zakynthos (ideal for families, couples and teenagers). Kayaking. We were relieved when the Shipwreck beach came into sight. I dont think I have to explain why this is a horrible idea. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. If you do not want to let the turtle escape, approach it slowly, approaching it from the side, and do not touch it to avoid being bitten. 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! In nesting season, youll spot many wooden frames protecting sections of shore. The Loggerhead turtle is the most common turtle species found in Greece. There are endless places to visit, things to do, and dishes to eat youll never be bored on this Greek island. The beaches near Kalamaki and Laganas are the best for spotting but it's not unheard of to find them near the other resorts. The island is known for having beautiful beaches (like the famous Navagio Beach), as well as some great restaurants, some all-night party spots and a wide variety of accommodation options. The second part of the boat trip takes you to the far side of Laganas bay and under the high limestone cliffs at Keri. Another low impact way to swim with Zantes turtles and avoid the boat jam in the waters above. 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. ZANTE MARINE PARK (MARATHONISI ISLAND, TURTLES, KERI CAVES AND MARATHIAN CAVES). This gives you a chance to get out onto the water and see the turtles up close! The western side of Zakynthos is dry and rocky and you can drive your car through traditional mountain villages through scrub and low pine trees until you come down again the other side and spot the cliffs and sea before you. But with a few early mornings and a fair bit of, it is still possible to see turtles in Zante. Ive been to Greece many times and explored more of its island than I can count. is small but determined effort is all down to local resident, s seen the turtles struggle with the rise of tourism and Yiannis hopes his free information, will go some way to help educate visitors to the turtles plight. 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. On our recent trip to the Greek island of Zakynthos or Zante we took a boat trip through Laganas bay, famed as a nesting area for the Loggerhead or Caretta Caretta turtles. We anchored for a while and had a chance to swim and snorkel around the boat before returning to Makris Gialos. Things improved once we rounded the headland and entered sheltered waters again, returning to explore the sea caves. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello Heather, I've never been to Zakynthos. Escursione ai faraglioni Mizithr, ZANTE Youre likely to spook it or distress it. (2-6 hour day excursions by boat, not ferries). YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. More details on Excursion to the Marine Park. Here are 4 ways to see them swimming in the clear waters of the Gulf of Laganas and some tips to be able to see the hatching of the eggs. Be sure to do your research to make sure you go with a reputable, eco-minded company. In fact its one long beach and you can park in one place then walk along to a different spot. Its also one of the nesting beaches for the turtles. Theres even an ice cream boat that is moored up and will sell you cold drinks and you can swim through into the sea cave through a small opening by the beach. Where to see turtles? Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is one of the most popular Greek islands to visit. This is the tour that I did recently when I was in Zakynthos and I can only say great things about it. More details on Boat Rental. This the summertime is likely the best time to visit Zakynthos if youre looking to see these turtles and learn about them from the experts who study them year-round.
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