Leisure Pursuits In Zakynthos (Greece)
1. BLUE CAVES:
In one of the paradise corners of not only Greece, but the entire planet – on the island of Zakynthos – there is a real miracle of nature, which almost all tourists who come to the island want to see. We are talking about the Blue Caves. The area of the island where the caves were discovered is quite remote from civilization – you can get here only from the sea by boat or motorboat. However, this circumstance does not frighten tourists who come here every year from all over the world to see all this beauty with their own eyes. We invite you to get to know this man-made creation better.
Located in the northern part of the island, the caves are known for their azure waters and unusual shapes in the form of stone arches. Any object lowered into the water in this place acquires a bright blue hue. As usual, the appearance of the caves is associated with one of the legends that locals still tell tourists. According to legend, on the last day of the creation of the world, the Almighty threw a handful of bright blue stone onto the island, which resulted in the formation of the Blue Caves.
If we approach the formation of the caves from a scientific point of view, this is the result of long-term natural processes involving sea waves, winds and the sun for many millennia.It is thanks to such painstaking work of nature that today we can contemplate a number of geological formations that form an extraordinary and fabulous seascape. Kianun Spileo (Azure Cave) is the largest of the caves, especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset, when the sun’s rays, falling on it, produce an unforgettable picture of colors. The depth here is about 4 meters. This is an ideal place for diving enthusiasts.
Thanks to the crystal clear water and the amazing color of the sea, the bottom is visible to the smallest detail. One of the most beautiful and popular places in the Blue Caves, according to tourists, is the Blue Grotto, located above the lighthouse on Cape Skinari. Rays of light, getting inside, create reflections of a silvery-bluish hue. The grotto was discovered in 1897, and since then it has been incredibly popular among tourists. The caves are usually reached by excursion boat or motorboat. Everyone can dive and swim in the clear waters of the sea during the excursion.
2. MARATHONISI:
While on vacation on the island of Zakynthos, we suggest that you and your whole family take a short sea trip on a boat or ship to the Lagana Bay, where the unusual island of Marathonisi is located, or Turtle Island, as it is commonly called by the people. For children, this trip is exciting because they will be able to see large loggerhead turtles from a close distance. Every 15 minutes they rise from the bottom to the surface of the water to breathe, and, if you are lucky, you will be able to watch this process.
The Caretta Caretta is an endangered species, as its meat has long been considered a delicacy in many countries in Europe and the Far East. This is one of the most ancient animals: as studies show, these turtles have been living on Earth for about 95 million years. They reach a size of up to 150 cm, their weight can be up to 90 kilograms. Marathonisi is a miniature uninhabited Greek island, its outline resembling a turtle. It is unlikely that you will be able to see these animals during the day, but you are guaranteed to enjoy swimming in the purest azure water and sunbathing on the soft sandy beach. To avoid damaging the eggs that the turtles lay in the sand, there are a number of restrictions for visitors to the island.
For example, you are not allowed to use your own sun umbrellas, since installing them can cause damage to the turtle eggs that have already been laid. It is also not allowed to be on the beach at night. And there is a logical explanation for this ban. The female loggerhead turtle lays eggs, burying them in the sand, and after 70 days, small turtles hatch from them, which later begin to crawl towards the sea. They do this only at night, guided by the special nature of the illumination of the sky above the sea. And if at that moment another light is lit nearby, the small turtles will crawl towards it and get lost. Visitors to the island should note that there are no shops on Marathonisi, so it is advisable to take all the necessary things, including food and drinks, with you.
3. ASKOS STONE PARK:
Askos Stone Park is located in the north-east of the island, 5-7 minutes drive from Agios Nikolaos Bay. It first opened its doors to visitors in March 2002 and since then has become one of the most popular places to visit on the island of Zakynthos among tourists traveling with children. The mini-zoo is of great interest to young visitors, since the animals here live in an environment as close to natural conditions as possible, and only some of them are in enclosures or placed in specially equipped pens. Askos occupies an area of 500 thousand square meters, and more than 1,500 animals of 45 species live on its territory. The entire complex is simply immersed in greenery: more than 170 thousand different plants grow in the Stone Park.
The mini-zoo has about 400 structures, including old stables and warehouses, pools for collecting rainwater built about 600 years ago, as well as several structures made of wood and stone that fit perfectly into the design of the park. All visitors to Askos will be able to fully enjoy their stay in complete harmony with nature. Upon entering the park, you will be given a map of the location of all the objects and water. The map of the mini-zoo is translated into 25 languages for the convenience of visitors. Walking around the territory, you will meet almost tame deer and peacocks, and children will even be able to pet and feed the animals (the zoo staff gives out special food for such cases). Everyone is invited to take several photos with friendly raccoons, goats, deer, lambs and many other animals. The time of stay in Askos is not limited, so after buying a ticket and entering its territory, you can spend the whole day here. For the convenience of all visitors, there are gazebos for relaxation near the entrance to the park.
4. NAVAGIO BAY:
The main calling card of Zakynthos and the most visited place by tourists is Navagio Bay, located on the steep western side of the island. It attracts tourists with its unearthly beauty and solitude. Photos taken on Navagio Beach are inextricably associated with Zakynthos. A trip to Navagio Beach leads the list of excursion routes on the island, so we recommend including a short trip by sea and relaxation on the beach in your leisure program. The second name of the beach is “Wreck Bay” (“navagio” or “navaya” in Greek means “shipwreck”).
This is due to the fact that it was here that a ship carrying contraband was once wrecked. The crew, trying to hide from the Greek navy, got caught in a storm and, having run the ship aground, abandoned the ship. The uniqueness of the beach is that it is surrounded by steep cliffs and is accessible only from the sea. When you get here, you will see a beautiful view: the remains of a ship buried in white sand dunes, inaccessible cliffs surrounding the bay on all sides, and bright-bright-blue water.
It is always cool, regardless of the season. The beach is covered with very small white pebbles that look like sand. The ship itself has rusted and crumbled over time, tourists leave inscriptions on it as a keepsake, and it also serves as a mooring point for sailing ships. Snow-white pebbles, crystal clear sea water, and majestic cliffs surrounding the beach make an indelible impression on all tourists. There is also a platform from which you can admire the bay from a bird’s eye view. It is from here that world-famous photographs are taken for postcards and advertising brochures.
But even photos cannot convey the beauty of this place – you definitely need to see it with your own eyes! On the beach, except for the boat, there is no shade where you can hide from the sun. In order not to destroy the idyll and naturalness created by nature of the “Bay of the Wreck”, there are no taverns or any buildings on it. Navagio is one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, attracting thousands of tourists every year. When going on a boat excursion, do not forget to take with you motion sickness remedies, sunscreen sprays or creams, water and hats.
5. WATER VILLAGE AQUAPARK:
Compared to another water park on the island of Zakynthos – Tsilivi Water Park, the water park “Water Village” significantly wins in terms of area. Situated on an area of 40,000 square meters, it offers its visitors a large number of water attractions, aimed at both adults and children. Zante Water Village is ideal for families and people who want to enjoy their vacation and get unforgettable impressions. Extreme sports enthusiasts can try giant slides, “Boomerang”, “Black Hole”, “Kamikaze”, “Rafting”, “Whirlpool Bowl”.
For those who want to relax a little and soak in the water, we can offer the “Lazy River” attraction and a jacuzzi. For the little visitors of the Zakynthos water park, several slides are offered, including the indoor “Kamikaze” slide and the two-lane “Multislide”. There is a separate area for kids, which is equipped with funny mini-slides in the form of animals and fountains. A visit to the “Aqua Jungle” – an attraction with 50 different water special effects – will be a real adventure. In addition to water activities, the water park offers the opportunity to ride go-karts, play a game of mini-golf, and kids can ride mini-cars or jump on trampolines. Throughout the complex there are sun loungers, where you can lie down at any time to sunbathe or just relax.
Additional services in the water park:
- Food courts (fast food / restaurant)
- Cafeteria
- Pool bar
- Photo shop
- Photographer services
- Souvenir shop
- Storage rooms
- Toilet rooms equipped with showers
- First aid station
- Free parking for 600 cars
6. TSILIVI WATER PARK:
Due to the fact that there are not many purely children’s entertainments on Zakynthos, the water park “Tsilivi Splash Water Park”, which first opened its doors to visitors in 2010, immediately became a very popular place for family holidays on the island. Despite the fairly compact territory, there is no crowding, all the slides are well located in terms of zoning. The slides are not too extreme, their quality is good (during the descent, as often happens, the joints are not felt), lifeguards are near the pools who monitor the order and safety of vacationers. What can the Zakynthos water park please with? Water entertainment is represented by the following attractions:
“Turbolance”, “Black Hole”, “Cyclone”, “Rafting”, “Multislide”, an attraction for those who want to relax “Lazy River”, a pool with a jacuzzi. Most of the territory of the water park is intended for the entertainment of the youngest visitors. The children’s area is designed as a large pirate ship with several descents and a children’s pool, stylized as a jungle, as well as many slides in the form of animals and fountains. The park has a children’s “pirate” cafe, a playground where you can ride on swings and slides, as well as a small historical museum.
Additional services on the territory of the complex:
- Toilets,
- showers
- Storage rooms
- Free sun loungers and umbrellas
- Photographer services
- First aid station
- Photo shop
- Telephone pay phones
- Internet cafe
- Cafe-restaurant
- Pool bar
7. HELMIS NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM:
The halls of natural history museums always prepare a meeting with those of our neighbors on the planet that are difficult to meet in the wild: many animals and birds try to hide from human eyes, and the depths of the seas are accessible only to desperate divers. The Natural History Museum on the island of Zakynthos introduces its visitors to the diversity of the island’s flora and fauna, and also tells how the appearance of the planet has changed over time. For children, a trip here prepares many discoveries and interesting information.
The museum was opened in 2000 by Panagiotis Helmis. Thanks to his enthusiasm, an extensive collection was collected, located in a beautiful building surrounded by a garden. In the halls, not only are stuffed animals and birds exhibited, but an atmosphere has also been created that reminds of their life in nature. Deer hide between the trunks, birds compete in motley with the autumn forest, fish swim against the background of exotic coral labyrinths. Many exhibits are mind-blowing: for example, a stuffed hammerhead fish or huge shark jaws.
In addition to fish, other inhabitants of the waters are also presented here: crayfish, crabs, lobsters, shrimp. Large display cases are dedicated to a collection of sea shells found not only in the waters near the island, but also brought from different parts of the world. Huge shells are displayed side by side with tiny ones, creating a striking contrast. Much attention is also paid to the flora of Zakynthos, which is so rich due to the diversity of the island’s relief. Here you can see plants typical of the mountainous area, and children will be happy to recognize an olive branch among the exhibits – this plant is found everywhere in Greece. The museum halls have many information stands with information about the flora and fauna of Zakynthos.
The texts are accompanied by colorful photographs. Even the “tree” in the middle of the hall is informational: its crown contains interesting facts about the flora of the island. In addition, visitors can use interactive monitors that allow them to quickly find the information they need. And, of course, one cannot pass by the wonderful collection of butterflies: fluttering beauties with different shapes and colors of wings seem to compete with each other. A separate stand is reserved for other insects of the island. In addition, the museum presents a collection of rocks and minerals characteristic of the island. There are also paleontological finds: fossilized imprints of extinct mollusks and plants. There is a cafe on the top floor of the museum – it is a good place to relax after the excursion. As a souvenir of your visit to the museum, you can buy a small thing in the souvenir shop.