Lithakia: A Traditional Village above Laganas Bay on Zakynthos

Lithakia: A Traditional Village above Laganas Bay on Zakynthos

Lithakia is a traditional village in the south of the Ionian island of Zakynthos, set in the hills above Laganas Bay among vineyards and olive groves. It is one of the larger old villages of the south, with stone houses, churches, squares and tavernas, keeping a rural pace above the busy coast. The village overlooks … Read more

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos: Protecting the Turtles

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos: Protecting the Turtles

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos is a protected area covering the waters of Laganas Bay and the islets and coast of the southern Ionian island of Zakynthos. It was set up to guard the loggerhead sea turtles, known as Caretta caretta, that nest on the bay’s sandy beaches, along with monk seals and the … Read more

Kalamaki Beach: Turtles and Sand on Southern Zakynthos

Kalamaki Beach: Turtles and Sand on Southern Zakynthos

Kalamaki Beach sits at the eastern end of Laganas Bay on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, right next to the resort that shares its name. The long stretch of soft, golden sand slopes gently into shallow water, making it ideal for families and swimmers alike. This shoreline belongs to the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, … Read more

Dafni Beach: A Quiet Turtle Shore of Zakynthos

Dafni Beach: A Quiet Turtle Shore of Zakynthos

Dafni Beach sits quietly on the Vasilikos peninsula in the southeast of Zakynthos, reached by a winding road that descends through olive groves. This sandy stretch belongs to the National Marine Park of Zakynthos and serves as one of the island’s key loggerhead sea turtle nesting beaches. The sand is coarse and golden, the water … Read more

Marathonisi: The Turtle Island of Zakynthos

Marathonisi: The Turtle Island of Zakynthos

Marathonisi is a small uninhabited islet in Laganas Bay on the south coast of Zakynthos, and its low green profile and pale headland make it look exactly like a swimming turtle. The resemblance is so striking that the whole islet is called Turtle Island. Visitors reach it by boat from Keri, Agios Sostis or Laganas, … Read more

The Loggerhead Sea Turtles of Zakynthos and the Marine Park

The Loggerhead Sea Turtles of Zakynthos and the Marine Park

The Ionian island of Zakynthos ranks among the Mediterranean’s most important breeding grounds for the loggerhead sea turtle, known by its scientific name Caretta caretta. Every summer the females drag themselves from the sea at night onto the warm sands of Laganas Bay in the south, dig their nests above the tide line and bury … Read more

Laganas Beach: The Long Sandy Bay of Southern Zakynthos

Laganas Beach: The Long Sandy Bay of Southern Zakynthos

Laganas Beach is the longest beach on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, a broad strip of soft sand curving along the southern bay that shares its name. The resort town behind it serves as the main centre for nightlife and family tourism on the island, lined with hotels, tavernas, bars and shops. The water is … Read more