A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well in the hull and runs Laganas bay for loggerhead turtles or the Keri caves for the rock arches, with the sea floor visible through the glass while the boat is under way. Plan the rest of the island with Greece Tours.
This guide covers the trip: where the boats leave from, whether you see turtles and on what terms, what the short and long formats cost, the southern and western routes, the boats themselves, what the glass shows and what it does not, who the day suits, and when to book.
What is a Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip?
A half-day cruise on a boat with a viewing well set into the hull, running Laganas bay for turtles and the Keri caves for the rock formations, with the sea floor visible through the glass while the boat is under way.
A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. The well is a rectangular window of thick glass in the centre of the deck, lit by daylight through four to eight metres of water. Over sand it shows the bottom plainly; over the weed beds of Laganas bay it shows the turtles that graze there. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat.
A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Two routes dominate. The southern trip works Marathonisi, the Keri caves and the turtle grounds; the western trip runs the coast from Porto Vromi to the shipwreck cove and the White Beach with the glass over the shallows. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass.
Where do the boats leave from?
Agios Sostis, Laganas and Limni Keriou in the south, Porto Vromi and Alykes on the west and north coasts, and Zakynthos Town for the longer combined cruises.
Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. The harbour sits at the western end of Laganas bay, minutes from the marine-park water, and the fleet there is built around the glass-bottom hulls rather than converted to them. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules.
Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. Limni Keriou runs the caves side. The boats leave the same quay as the hire fleet and turn west under the Keri cliffs, where the water is deeper and the glass shows rock and drop-offs rather than weed beds. The caves sit at Keri caves. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises.
Do you actually see turtles?
Through the summer, frequently. Loggerheads feed on the seagrass in Laganas bay from May to October, surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes, and are seen from the deck as well as through the glass.
Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. No operator guarantees a sighting and the honest ones say so in the listing. The odds are best in the morning before the bay fills with traffic, and in June and September when the water is clear and the boat count is lower. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships.
Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. The turtles are wild animals in a national marine park. Feeding, chasing and swimming with them are prohibited, boats give way and cut engines when one surfaces, and the rules sit at Zakynthos sea turtles. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves.
What does a Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip cost?
From about 15 to 25 euros for a one-hour turtle spotting trip, 25 to 45 euros for a half day with the caves and a swim stop, and 45 to 70 euros for a full day combining Marathonisi, the caves and Mizithres.
Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. The short trips cover the sailing and nothing else. The half and full days add swim stops, soft drinks and sometimes a meal, and the fare states which. Children pay roughly half and toddlers travel free on most boats. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass.
Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. Hotel transfer from Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi is bundled into part of the fleet and charged at five to eight euros on the rest, which is the line that decides two otherwise identical prices. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay.
What does the southern route cover?
Marathonisi island with its two beaches, the Keri caves and arches, the Mizithres stacks on the longer trips, and the turtle water in between, all within an hour of Agios Sostis.
Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves. Marathonisi is the turtle island of the brochures: a low green hump with a sand beach on one side and a pebble cove on the other. The boats anchor off rather than landing on the nesting side, and it sits at Marathonisi. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on.
Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. The caves west of Limni Keriou are arches and tunnels cut into the cliff, with water that runs from turquoise in the shallows to deep blue at the mouths. The glass boats stand off the entrances where the smaller hire boats go inside, and the Mizithres stand further west again. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove.
What does the western route cover?
Porto Vromi north to the shipwreck cove, the sea caves along the same shore, and the White Beach with its milky turquoise water, on a three to four-hour circuit.
Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay. Navagio is the destination that fills these boats. The cove sits under a 200-metre cliff, the wreck lies on the sand, and the glass shows the shallow bar on the approach. Landing depends on the safety rules in force that season, and the beach sits at Navagio beach. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats.
Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. The caves and White Beach south of the cove are the quieter half. No cruise itinerary from the resorts reaches them, and the glass boats out of Porto Vromi stop at both. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore.
What are the boats like?
Wooden and steel day boats of thirty to eighty passengers with a viewing well amidships, a canopy over most of the deck, a ladder for the swim stops and a small bar. The newer clear-hull boats replace the well with a transparent floor section.
Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove. The well is a fixed rectangle, so the view is shared rather than personal and children crowd it first. Standing back for the first ten minutes gets a better look than pressing in at the rail. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves.
A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. The clear-boat versions are smaller, take twelve to twenty and cost more. They give a wider view of the bottom and a shallower draft, which matters over the seagrass rather than in the caves. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes.
Does the glass actually work?
In calm water over a light bottom, yes. Chop on the surface breaks the view, and depth beyond about eight metres turns the picture blue. The morning trips see more than the afternoon ones for both reasons.
White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore. What the glass shows best is the seagrass of Laganas bay, the sand bars off Marathonisi and the rock ledges near the cave mouths. What it shows poorly is open water and anything below ten metres. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay.
June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Anyone booking primarily to see turtles does better watching the surface from the deck. The glass is a second angle rather than the main one, and the crews say so. Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park.
Who does the trip suit?
Families with young children, non-swimmers, and anyone who wants the marine park without a mask. It is the gentlest boat day on the island and the shortest.
Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Children take to the well and lose interest after twenty minutes, which is why the one-hour trips exist. The half-day version with a swim stop holds them longer and costs little more. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove.
August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Snorkellers get more from a small-boat trip or a hire boat. The glass boat is for looking rather than swimming. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours.
When does the season run and how do you book?
May to October, running four to six times a day in July and August from Agios Sostis and Laganas. Book on the day outside high summer and a day ahead in August.
Feeding or chasing a turtle is prohibited in the marine park. June and September are the months for it: clear water, fewer boats in the bay and turtles still feeding. The middle of August puts twenty boats on the same water and the sightings drop with the traffic. The bar and the ladder come with the larger day boats. Hotel transfer covers Laganas, Kalamaki, Argassi and Tsilivi. Daylight reaches four to eight metres through the glass. Alykes sends glass boats along the northern shore. Turtles surface to breathe every twenty to forty minutes. Sand bars off Marathonisi read clearest in the morning. Children crowd the viewing well first on every sailing. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat carries a viewing well amidships. Booking a day ahead is enough outside high summer. Porto Vromi runs the western route to the shipwreck cove. The Keri caves cut arches into the cliff west of the harbour. Morning trips see more than the afternoon ones. The marine park runs three sea zones with different rules. Seagrass beds show plainly through the viewing well. Cancellation for weather is decided in the morning and refunded. White Beach sits south of Navagio on the same shore.
Children pay roughly half on a Zakynthos glass bottom boat. Booking online holds the seat and the transfer. Cancellation for weather is free and decided in the morning. The island as a whole sits at Zakynthos. Marathonisi island lies in the middle of the bay. A 200-metre cliff closes the shipwreck cove. Chop on the surface breaks the view through the glass. Engines are cut when a turtle surfaces beside the boat. August puts twenty boats on the same stretch of water. Limni Keriou sends a Zakynthos glass bottom boat west to the caves. The wreck of the Panagiotis lies on the sand at Navagio. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip runs one to four hours. Toddlers travel free on most sailings. A Zakynthos glass bottom boat suits families and non-swimmers. Laganas bay holds the seagrass the loggerheads feed on. Zakynthos Town runs the longer combined cruises. June and September give the clearest water in the bay. Agios Sostis is the base for the turtle boats. Swim stops break the half-day and full-day trips. The clear-hull boats take twelve to twenty passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Zakynthos glass bottom boat trip cost?
From about 15 to 25 euros for a one-hour turtle spotting trip, 25 to 45 euros for a half day with the caves and a swim stop, and 45 to 70 euros for a full day taking in Marathonisi and the Mizithres.
Do you see turtles from a glass bottom boat on Zakynthos?
Frequently between May and October, when loggerheads feed on the seagrass in Laganas bay. No operator guarantees a sighting, and the odds are best on a morning trip in June or September.
Where do the glass bottom boats leave from?
Agios Sostis, Laganas and Limni Keriou in the south, Porto Vromi and Alykes on the west and north coasts, and Zakynthos Town for the longer combined cruises.