Strategy//Greece Zakynthos Island Tourism Zone Strategy 1 (Shipwreck Bay and Western Coast Attractions Strategy))

——Extraordinary natural landscape

The most beautiful bay in Greece "Navagio beach", the wonderful blue sea caves (Blue caves), the sunset scenery on the cliff coast...

——Play at the beach

Zakynthos has dozens of kilometers of beaches, the main feature of which is the diversity of landscapes. There are fine or thick sand beaches, pebbly and rocky beaches, and slender fjord beaches. On various beaches, you can enjoy the scenery, sunbathe, swim, snorkel, and do water sports.

-Visit towns, traditional villages, monasteries, farms and wineries

——Looking for turtles

- Various activities (water recreation, kayaking, hiking, diving, snorkeling, sailing or speedboat cruises, etc.)

——Go to nightclubs, cafes, and try Greek food in landscape restaurants

1.Geographical overview

The total land area of ​​Zha Island is 410 square kilometers, including rocky steep mountains in the west and fertile plains in the southeast. The coastline length is about 123 kilometers. The highest mountain in Zakynthos is Vrachionas, 758 meters high. The island's western and northern mountainous areas have remained unspoilt and feature extraordinary natural landscapes. The vast plain area in the southeast composed of dense vegetation is the well-equipped resort area of ​​Zakynthos Island, where tourists enjoy sun, beaches, water sports, and has the largest number of resort hotels, restaurants, bars, and nightlife venues. There are also national marine parks in the south established to protect rare sea turtles and other animals.

2. Tourism divisions of Zakynthos Island

Most of the scenic spots and resort towns on Zha Island are located near the coastline. We can make a simple tourism zone for Zha Island - three areas: the east coast, the west coast, and the southern Turtle Bay (National Marine Park). The picture below comes from

HTTPS://wuwuwu.zanteisland.com/en/zacanNdayhouOS-beaches.PHP

I divided Zakynthos into eight regions. The picture below is the key points I summarized for each tourist area.

Regional Highlights: Navagio Beach/Shipwreck Beach (Chinese: Shipwreck Bay), the most beautiful bay in Greece, traditional villages and monasteries, beaches and bays under cliffs

My choice: Watch the side panoramic view from the top observation deck of Shipwreck Bay once in the day and evening, watch the frontal panorama from the cliff at the top of Shipwreck Bay once in the evening, take a boat to the Shipwreck Bay beach at noon; stay in Anafonitria Village.

Area map (made by Anny on Google Earth): The red mark "Navagio" is Shipwreck Bay, the yellow marks are the beaches and caves on the northwest coast, and the blue marks are the villages in the northwest.

1. Rating and Introduction

My rating: 4.9 (highly recommended, a must visit in Zhadao) Google rating: 4.9

Recommended length of stay: It takes at least 1 hour to see the panoramic view from the mountaintop observation deck, about 2.5-3 hours by boat to the beach (departing from the Blue Grotto or Porto Vromi). For more in-depth tours, you can choose different time periods to view the beautiful scenery from different angles , need to arrange another 2 to 5 hours.

Introduction to the attraction: Shipwreck Bay is one of the most photographed attractions in the world, the most beautiful bay in Greece, attracting thousands of tourists every year. It is located on the northwest coast of the island of Za, close to the village of Anafotiria. It was originally called Agios Georgios and later renamed Navagio Beach/Shipwreck Beach because it was named after a ship that was said to have been illegally transporting cigarettes in 1980. The shipwreck was washed ashore and stranded on this beach. White limestone cliffs, rusty boats, and azure waters combine to create stunning images.

Beautiful image: from Google Images

2. Detailed explanation of how to play "Shipwreck Cove" in depth

During the tourist season from May to October, many travel agencies offer one-day tours that combine the two famous attractions Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Bay in one day: take a boat trip to the Blue Grotto in the northeast corner in the morning, and take a boat to Shipwreck Bay at noon. , take the bus to the observation deck on the top of Shipwreck Bay at 2-3 pm to see the panoramic view.

The beauty of Shipwreck Bay is undoubtedly breathtaking. The above one-day tour is too rushed in my opinion. How can I see enough at one time? I saw the beautiful scenery of Shipwreck Bay from the top of the mountain three times, landed at Shipwreck Bay once, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Shipwreck Bay from different locations at noon and sunset in total 4 times.

(1) Important reminder: At what time of the day should we arrange the panoramic view of Shipwreck Bay from the mountaintop observation deck?

**It is not recommended to go to the top of the mountain to view the panoramic view of Shipwreck Bay in the early morning~~10 am. Shipwreck Bay faces west. The bay is surrounded by cliffs. Only when the sun rises and shines on the bay does the water appear incredible blue. So Shipwreck Bay is not a place to watch the sunrise. Pictured below: The sun doesn’t rise high enough, and the bay is obscured by the shadow of the mountains, making the scenery less impressive.

**The peak tourist season from July to August is the best time to see the panoramic view of Shipwreck Bay from the top of the mountain:

It is sunny almost every day in July and August in Zhadao, and it is easy to see the most beautiful colors of Shipwreck Bay.

＞＞The sun shines on Shipwreck Bay without any shadows, and the time when the sea water is the most vivid is about 11:00~~17:30;

>>The sunset dyes the cliffs warm red and the sea water is the deepest blue, about one hour before sunset to sunset, 20:00~~21:00.

(2) Beautiful pictures: See the "side panoramic view" of Shipwreck Bay from the "Mountaintop Observation Deck"

——Beautiful pictures at noon (my real shot, taken at 15:30 on June 30)

——Beautiful pictures of sunset, my real shots (taken at 20:40 on July 2)

The image below is from Google Images

(3) Two viewing platforms for "side panoramic views" on Google Maps.

**"Navagio Beach View" observation deck (official construction)

Location: Search "Navagio Beach View" on Google Maps

Coordinates: 37.861841, 20.625721

Google Rating: 4.7

This observation deck has iron railings and is very safe. It's close to the parking lot, and all tour groups come here to check in. There may be long lines from 11am to 2pm. Because it is close to the beach side of the bay, if you use a mobile phone to take pictures, you cannot capture the panoramic view and the shooting angle is not the best (lower right corner of the picture below).

**"View from Cliff" observation deck (best view)

Location: Search "View from Cliff" on Google Maps

Coordinates: 37.866423, 20.623478

Google Rating: 4.9

This viewing platform is located at the northernmost end of the cliff and has no railings. There is a flagpole with a Greek flag flying here, and a tombstone (the tombstone of a young man who loves the scenery here most, he did not fall from here). This location is the best location to take a panoramic view of Shipwreck Bay, and you can use a wide angle to capture the panoramic view.

The picture below is my real shot.

**The cliff-top path between the two observation decks is a good location to take a panoramic view of Shipwreck Bay.

Both Google Maps and maps.me show this trail. To the right of the "Navagio Beach View" viewing platform in the parking lot is the entrance to this path.

This is a wild road about 400 meters long. It is not a trail built by the local tourism department, but a bumpy stone dirt path trampled by tourists, with bushes growing along the way. Visitors walk along the cliff tops to find better angles, stopping to admire the panoramic views and take photos.

Special reminder, there are no protective facilities, so be sure to pay attention to safety. The website of a local travel agency stated that someone had died while trying to take pictures.

I think you must take this path to see the scenery and take photos to make your trip to Zakynthos Island worthwhile. You see my 73-year-old mother walked this trail with me twice and took photos on the edge of the cliff. The photo of my mother and I looks very thrilling, but in reality where we were sitting, the stone had a slight slope, which hindered our body from moving forward. So as long as you are not afraid of heights, pay attention to safety at all times and choose a flat open space on the edge of the cliff to take pictures. If you are afraid of heights, you can choose a position more than one meter away from the cliff edge to take good photos. This trail is a popular photo spot on Instagram.

Google Maps and maps.me route maps

My real shots of cliff paths and tourists. The bushes can hurt your legs and the paths are bumpy, so it is recommended to wear sneakers and long pants.

My mother and I

Popular pictures on Instagram

If you are a photography enthusiast and want to capture more details, I suggest you, like me, bring a bath towel and lay it on the stone, lie on it and stick your head out to take pictures. It is safe and you can get the picture you want.

**How ​​to get to the summit observation deck

＞＞Self-driving. There are two parking lots here and parking is free. Type "Navagio Beach View" into Google Maps and navigate there. If the parking lot is full, you can park along the mountain road.

＞＞Taxi. Expensive, a taxi from the capital Zakynthos town to the parking lot is about 45 euros. If you ask the driver to wait for you and return after playing at the observation deck for an hour, the round-trip price is about 100 euros (about 780 yuan). Taxi charter in Zhadao costs 40 euros/hour (approximately 310 yuan/hour).

＞＞Bus. The bus frequency is infrequent, and the bus station closest to the observation deck is Anafotiria Village, which is 4 kilometers away from the observation deck on a mountain road.

＞＞Participate in a one-day bus tour provided by a travel agency . Local travel agencies have a variety of one-day tours, which are not expensive and are suitable for tourists who cannot drive by themselves. For example: a travel agency offers a one-day bus tour with a price of only 30 euros. It first visits the villages in the interior of Zha Island and reaches the observation deck on the top of Shipwreck Bay. The biggest problem with joining a tour group is that each tourist is only allowed 15 seconds to take photos at the observation deck, and may have to queue for 10 minutes to take photos. For safety reasons, the tour group does not reserve time for tourists to walk on the path on the top of the cliff to get the best shooting angle. The following is a Western blog sharing the experience of participating in a bus tour

HTTPS://wuwuwu.adventurous-travels.com/posts/on-himand-island-of-zacanN天后OS-Greece-beyond-himand-Paradise-beaches

Of course, there are many travel agencies on Zha Island, which provide various day tours. You may be able to find VIP private groups to allow tourists to stay at the observation deck for a longer period of time.

Regarding transportation, the previous guide has already introduced it in detail. Please check "Guide//Intra-island Transportation on Zakynthos Island, Greece"

**Other tips for the mountaintop observation deck

＞＞Free! No tickets are required and parking is free.

＞＞There are two parking lots. There are some stalls selling local products such as honey in the parking lot, but there are no toilets.

＞＞A local website reported that in 2019, the road was closed to prevent fires and it was prohibited to go to the observation deck. I hope this is just an occasional incident.

https://zakynthosinformer.com/shipwreck-viewpoint-off-limits/ .

>>The path at the top of the cliff takes about 15-20 minutes to walk one way. In addition to taking photos and viewing the scenery, it is recommended to reserve 1-1.5 hours.

＞＞Every day around noon during the peak tourist season, people line up to take photos at the observation deck, mainly tourists from group tours. After 3 o'clock, there are fewer people queuing up on the officially built observation deck.

>>The mountain road to the observation deck is steep and winding, and there are many cars. Please pay attention to driving safety.

(4) From the top of the cliff behind Shipwreck Bay Beach, look at the "frontal panorama" of Shipwreck Bay.

This is a secret location with no sign on Google Maps.

——Beautiful pictures at noon (from Google Images)

——Beautiful pictures of sunset (my real shots)

The image below is from Google Images

——How to get to the cliff shooting point directly above the beach?

Google Maps and maps.me show this route.

The round trip is 1.4 kilometers with a height difference of 139 meters. The hiking route information comes from

HTTPS://wuwuwu.all trails.com/explore/trail/Greece/zacanNtianhouos/shipwreck-beach?Mobile map=false&热风=sidebar-static-flattering

On the left side of the parking lot is the entrance to the path, as shown in the picture below.

This road is wilder, steeper and somewhat dangerous. You need to be more careful when approaching the cliff. Below are screenshots of the video I took .

——Tips

>The round trip takes about 30-45 minutes, and it is recommended to reserve at least 1 hour for taking photos.

>Wear sports or hiking shoes as mud and gravel are prone to slipping.

>Pay attention to sun protection during the day, there are no trees along the road to block the sun.

(5) Take a boat to Landing at Shipwreck Bay Beach

—— Beautiful pictures (The following are my actual photos, taken at 12 noon on July 1st)

——In which months can you take a boat to Shipwreck Bay Beach?

According to regulations, regular cruise ships are allowed to land on the beach during the tourist season from May to October every year. All boat trips are subject to weather conditions. Bad weather or too strong winds and waves may prevent landing or even stop sailing. Why can’t we land on the beach on Zadao Island from November to April? Because the winter in Zhadao is rainy and cold. To land at Shipwreck Bay in the off-season, you need to make a reservation with the cruise company (which may not be successful).

From May to October, June to August, when the precipitation is the least, is sunny almost every day; July to August is the most suitable for water activities with high temperatures; May to June and September to October are the quietest months, but October There is a lot of precipitation every month, but there is also a small amount of precipitation in May and September.

If you want to avoid crowds and have good weather to land on the beach, I recommend late June. There are regular boats, sunny days and little rainfall, and the temperature in early summer allows you to go into the water. July to August is the peak tourist season, and the weather is sunny every day. As long as the wind and waves are not too big, you can land in Shipwreck Bay, but there are many tourists.

If you want to visit Zha Island in the off-season, refer to this blog by a foreigner. There are almost no tourists on Zha Island in October, and the cost is low, but the weather is cloudy (October enters the rainy season), and the scenery is greatly reduced.

HTTPS://wuwuwu.freedom wanderers.com/blog/zacanNdayhouOS-shipwreck-cove

——During the peak tourist season, what time of day should you choose to visit Shipwreck Bay Beach?

**If you want to see the most beautiful sea water colors, swim in the sea, and feel the lively atmosphere, you can choose to go to the beach between 10:00-16:00.

From June to August, the beach at Shipwreck Bay is usually busiest between 11 a.m. and 2 noon, with large and small cruise ships docked and tourists crowding the beach. During this time, the sun completely shines on the bay, the water emits a special blue color, and the water temperature is suitable for going to the sea. Westerners who like liveliness specially choose this time to come.

Although I don’t like crowds, in order to see the most beautiful color of the sea water, I also chose this time period and stayed at the beach for an hour to take pictures from 12:00 to 13:00 noon on July 1st. (The following are my real shots)

The picture below is my actual shot. On July 1st, Zakynthos Island had not yet entered its busiest peak season, and the beach was crowded with people at noon.

If it’s noon in August when most tourists are there, it’s said that there are as many as 2,500 people on the beach (pictured below). It is recommended that you land at Shipwreck Bay after three o'clock. The sun still shines on the bay and the color of the water is equally gorgeous, but there are fewer tourists than at noon.

**If you want to avoid crowds, you can land on the beach before 10:00 and after 16:00.

I think that although the panoramic view from the top of the mountain before 10 o'clock is not good, when we land on the beach before 10 o'clock, the picture has a unique charm. Some netizens said that when they arrived at 8:50 in the morning, there were less than 20 people on the beach.

——Land into Shipwreck Bay before sunset (need to rent a boat)

Sunset time in summer is around 21:00-21:30. Land at Shipwreck Bay at 20:00 one hour before sunset. There are no regular boats at this time, so you need to rent a boat to go there. (For boat rental guide, please check my previous article on island transportation guide. It is not too expensive to afford.) The picture below is from Google Images, which shows the beautiful view of Shipwreck Bay Beach before sunset.

Summary: If you want to see Shipwreck Bay with very few people, you can rent a boat and arrive at 9:00 in the morning or 20:00 in the evening. You can also take the first (9:00) and last (18:00 or 19:00) scheduled boats to the beach.

——Where can I take a boat trip to Shipwreck Bay?

The following three major ports have scheduled cruises to Shipwreck Bay every 15-30 minutes. The round trip usually takes 2.5-3 hours, including an hour's stay at Shipwreck Bay Beach. There will also be arrangements for swimming in several caves or beaches along the way. You can drive to the port to buy a ticket and take a boat. There are many departures, and one boat departs in 15 or 30 minutes on average.

Other starting points for cruise ships are: Zakynthos Island Town, Laganas, Alikes and other major tourist towns’ ports. Travel agencies organize one-day and half-day tours, and take a large ship to Shipwreck Bay. In addition, the local travel agency in Zadao offers various half-day and one-day tours by bus + cruise ship.

＞＞Porto Vromi and Porto Vromi Maries ( is located on the west coast, near Shipwreck Bay Beach)

Porto Vromi and Porto Vromi Maries are two beautiful bays. Each has a cruise company that organizes regular boats to the Shipwreck Bay every 20-30 minutes. There are also several boat rental companies on both beaches.

Porto Vromi's cruise company official website: https://goldenstar-shipwreck.com/en/

Porto Vromi Maries’ cruise company official website: http://shipwreck-zakynthos.com/

Cruise information: from http://shipwreck-zakynthos.com/en-shipwreck-beach-tour.php

Time: May to October (daily), November to April (on request), duration: 3 hours, business hours: 9:00~19:00, price: about 20 to 25 euros (not noted on the website) Tomorrow’s price in 2021)

Itinerary details: Boats depart from Porto Vromi Maries every 30 to 40 minutes to Shipwreck Bay Beach, arriving at the destination in approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The first stop is a 1 hour stay at the beach. On the way back, you can stop to take photos and swim at the beautiful blue caves and beaches along the route. The entire journey takes about 3 hours, with 3 stops for swimming and many stops for photos!

To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend that you contact us on the day of your intended travel to find out the weather conditions (phone number +306973247390, +306970499758 (whatsapp)

Upon request, we can arrange your transportation to and from the hotel (additional charge).

>>Skinari Cap (Potamitisbros Boat Trips Three Brothers Pier) (located at the northernmost tip of Zha Island, close to the Blue Grotto)

The cruise ship terminal at Skinari Cape is operated by the Three Brothers Company. It is the closest terminal to the Blue Grotto, and it only takes 15 minutes to get to the Blue Grotto.

Official website of the cruise company: https://potamitisbros.gr/index.php (netizen calls the company Three Brothers)

Cruise information: https://potamitisbros.gr/en_boat.trips.php

Three Brothers offers glass-bottom boat rides to the Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Cove.

Time: Weather permitting, the boat runs every 15 minutes from 9:00 to 18:00, even if there are only a small number of people.

Price: Blue Grotto, 10 euros per person; Shipwreck Bay and Blue Grotto, 20 euros per person

Trip Details: The boat trip to the Shipwreck and Blue Grotto lasts 2.5 hours. It includes a stop in the Blue Grotto, a swim, and a 1-hour stay in Shipwreck Cove.

My experience on a Three Brothers cruise:

The Blue Cave faces east, and the seawater in the cave emits blue fluorescence in the morning. I chose to arrive at the pier before 11 a.m., first visit the Blue Grotto, and then go to Shipwreck Bay, which happened to be the time when the water was at its most beautiful at noon.

Arrive at the pier at 10:40 by car, parking is free. Buy tickets on site for 20 euros/person (156 yuan/person) to go to the Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Bay;

10:50 Boarded a glass boat, which can accommodate 10 people. It takes ten minutes to reach the Blue Cave, so the boat can enter the interior of the Blue Cave and watch the blue-glowing sea water. The captain suggested we swim, but no one on this boat got into the water. The tour of the Blue Grotto takes a total of 40 minutes.

Back at the pier at 11:30, all tourists disembarked and waited for the boat to Shipwreck Bay.

At 11:40 we boarded a larger boat with about 20-25 tourists and arrived at Shipwreck Bay Beach 25 minutes later.

12:05~13:05 Take photos at Shipwreck Bay Beach.

13:05~13:35 Return to San Brothers Pier.

Visit the Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Bay, the whole journey takes 2 hours and 40 minutes. It includes a 30-minute tour of the Blue Grotto, a 1-hour stay at Shipwreck Bay Beach, and a 1-hour sailing time.

My rating: 4.7 points. The arrangements of Three Brothers Company are very reasonable and everything is standardized.

>>Agios Nikolaos Port, located in the north of Zha Island, close to the Blue Cave

Cruise company official website:

http://AC tipis cruises.com/

The cruise information is similar to the itinerary of Three Brothers. You can visit the Blue Grotto alone, or you can visit both the Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Cove.

https://theodosicruisesay.personal/index

This hotel is located in The company in Port Nikolaos organizes private trips to the Blue Cave and Shipwreck Bay.

>>Other departure ports

Other departure points on the island include half-day and full-day boat tours from Laganas, Alikes and the Port of Zakynthos. Because these locations are far away from the Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Bay, large boats are usually used. Large ships cannot go deep into the Blue Grotto, and it would be a waste of time if there are so many people getting on and off the ship after docking at the beach. If you book a day cruise in these popular resort towns, it is suitable for tourists who do not drive themselves.

>> Join the travel agency’s itinerary and take the bus to the above ports to participate in the boat tour.

For example, the following product can be picked up from hotels in various tourist towns in the south and sent to Porto Vromi by bus to visit the Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Bay. The whole journey takes 5 hours.

HTTPS://wuwuwu.Individuals have cinnamon's .com/za can N days after OS-come to 32286/private-invest-to-n Ava IO-shipwreck-beach-stable-him and-blue-caves-him 152523 /

——Things to note when staying at Shipwreck Bay Beach

＞＞Check the weather before going to the dock. If necessary, call the cruise company to check whether the boat is allowed to go to Shipwreck Bay.

＞＞If you rent a car and drive yourself, it is recommended to choose a closer departure port from the above three ports instead of choosing a large double-decker ship departing from a popular town.

>>Wreck Bay was temporarily closed due to landslides in 2018. The cliff collapsed and falling rocks overturned some boats and injured some people. New safety rules have been introduced following the reopening to ensure the safety of visitors to and from the bay. Anchors can now only be anchored in the water in front of Shipwreck Cove rather than in the water at the edge. To ensure safety precautions are followed, personnel are on the beach and on boats at all times.

＞＞Shipwreck Bay is a pebble beach, not sandy, so wear thick-soled beach shoes to avoid scratching your feet.

>>There are no facilities on the beach, no toilets.

＞＞Be sure to bring water, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, etc. as you will be very exposed to the sun during the day.

＞＞The waves are large, so be careful when swimming.

＞＞It is not recommended for girls to wear red and long skirts to take photos (except in the early morning and evening when there are few people). Go and take a look. Westerners on the beach all wear bikinis. It’s very inappropriate to take photos in red dresses.

>>Some people say that one hour is not enough to take pictures on Shipwreck Bay Beach, but I think one hour is enough. Unless you are super passionate about photography, you can tell the captain in advance to stay 1-2 hours longer and take the next boat back with the same company.

>>There are many boats docked at Shipwreck Bay. Be sure to take a photo of the boat you came on. The company name is on the hull of the boat, and take a photo of where the boat is docked.

North of Shipwreck Bay, there is a series of bays, most of which have no place names, but there is a beautiful and secluded Filippoi Beach that can be reached by car.

South of Shipwreck Bay to Porto Vromi, there are beaches and caves that need to be entered by boat. Porto Vromi is both the boat port to Shipwreck Bay and a beautiful beach spot. (Picture below, made by Anny on Google Earth)

My choice: Neither went. If I have the opportunity to go to Zhadao again, I will choose to charter a speedboat and play along this line in depth and freedom. In addition, I recommend filippoi beach and Sfogio beach, these two places have excellent scenery. Among them, Filippoi Beach can be reached by yourself. Sfogio beach requires a boat ride. Most cruises departing from Porto Vromi port include this point. If you want to spend more time, you can charter a private boat or join a VIP group.

1. Filippoi Beach Google rating 4.8 (accessible by car or by boat)

A rocky beach with crystal clear turquoise water, deep water, no amenities, great sunset views, and few tourists arriving. The last part of the drive is steep and narrow, with very few parking spaces. Accessed from the sea, you can rent a boat to come to this bay. There are also a few travel agencies that include this beach in their half-day tour of Shipwreck Bay.

2. Hidden Treasure Cave Google rating 4.6 (can only be entered by boat) A hidden blue cave that can only be entered by boat.

3.Sfogio Beach Google rating 4.8 (accessible only by boat)

Sand and pebble beach, deep water, the best private beach in the northwest, no amenities, great sunsets.

4. White Beach Google Rating 4.7 (Accessible by boat only)

Sandy beach (pebble and pebble beach), deep water area, best private beach, sunset view, risk of landslides.

5. Porto Vromi Beach and Porto Vromi Maries Beach Google rating 4.6/4.7 (can be reached by car or by boat)

Porto Vromi Port is the closest cruise terminal to Shipwreck Bay. From here you can take regular cruises, VIP private cruises, or rent boats. There are actually two bays here, and there is no connecting road between the two bays. The road from Porto Vromi Beach leads to the village of Anafonitria; the road from Porto Vromi Maries Beach leads to the village of Maries.

They have fine white sand and pebble beaches, and transparent turquoise water. Most people come here to take a boat to Shipwreck Bay. In fact, the scenery here is beautiful and you can swim. Be aware that it is busy and crowded during the tourist season. There are parasols, a small bar, toilets and other facilities.

Beautiful picture of Porto Vromi Beach (the bay on the left in the picture above)

Porto Vromi Maries Beach (bay on the right)

6. Face of Poseidon Google rating 4.7

A rock shaped like the face of Poseidon, located near Porto Vromi.

7.Porto Steniti Google rating: 4.7 (accessible by car or by boat)

A bay south of Porto Vromi can be reached by car, but the road conditions are poor. It is recommended to stop at a higher location and walk down. A rocky beach with no amenities and few tourists. The scenery is beautiful and you can watch the sunset.

8. How to visit the northwest coastline?

Most of the above beaches (bays) need to be reached by boat. Cruise ships departing from Porto Vromi will arrange photography and swimming, and most of them include several scenic spots south of Shipwreck Bay. It is recommended that you drive to Porto Vromi Maries first.

The most comfortable way to visit is to charter a boat (with a captain) and you can visit all the above bays and caves for half a day or a full day.

The most economical way is to take a scheduled cruise, which departs every half hour to Shipwreck Bay and stops for swimming in some of the bays above when returning.

In addition, you can also join a VIP group from a local travel agency. From popular towns in the east, take a bus to Porto Vromi and take a boat trip to the northwest coast. Most of them include the above beaches (you may not go to the northernmost Filippoi Beach).

If you are looking for a more niche itinerary, there are customized tours on the island, which not only include the above bays, but also some hidden bays not marked on Google Maps.

The following two links are the travel agency’s tour itinerary along Shipwreck Bay (northwestern coastline) for your reference.

VIP boat tour to the Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Bay from Porto Vromi Maries (includes the Blue Grotto, Shipwreck Bay and various bays on the northwest coast)

HTTPS://wuwuwu.Individuals have cinnamon's .com/za can N days after OS-come to 32286/Porto-v RO fans-n Ava a IO-beach-blue-caves-private-Boateng-put-him 332816/

Private boat tour from Porto Vromi Maries. (Including Shipwreck Bay and various bays on the northwest coast)

HTTPS://wuwuwu.Zantehotels4U.com/English/show off/hotels/details/boat-trips-at-Zante/294

In the northwest there are several villages such as Volimes and Anfonitria, as well as the oldest monastery on the island.

My choice: Stayed at Anfonitria Village B&B for two nights, drove several times through Volimes Village without stopping. The two monasteries wanted to take artistic photos, but did not arrange time.

My evaluation: The villages in the northern part of Zhadao are a bit messy and not very photogenic. You can just drive by and take pictures without having to arrange them separately. The two monasteries are quite good. When driving to the Shipwreck Bay Observation Deck, choose one of the monasteries to visit on the way and reserve 20 minutes. There are many vendors and small shops along the roadside in several villages, where you can buy traditional goods from the estate.

1.Volimes

Volimes is located in the north of the island and contains three villages. The local handicrafts produced here are well known throughout Greece. Lace, embroidery, carpets and ceramics, as well as wine, honey and cheese, are still handmade using traditional methods. Some of the houses in the area survived the devastating earthquake of 1953, and they offer a glimpse into a pre-Japanese era.

2. Anfonitria Village

Anfonitria Village, the closest village to the Shipwreck Bay Observation Deck. The village has preserved traditional architecture, including charming old houses with whitewashed walls and local shops selling agricultural and other products, especially honey, olive oil and traditional handicrafts. The village is famous for its monastery Panagia Anafonitria.

My mother and I stayed in a B&B in Anfonitria village for 2 nights. This village is small and quiet, but not very beautiful and a bit messy. The most famous attraction is the monastery, which is suitable for taking literary photos. The picture below is my real shot of a house in the village of Anfonitria.

3.Anafonitria monastery, Google rating 4.4

Located in the village of Anafonitria, the oldest monastery on the island was built in the distant 1400s and at its entrance is a medieval tower.

4. Monastery of St. George Kremnon Monastery of St. George Kremnon Google rating 4.5

Agios Georgios is very close to the Shipwreck Bay Observation Deck, and the nearest village is Anfonitria. The monastery was largely destroyed by war and pirates, and at its center is a stone watchtower where the monks gathered to protect themselves from pirate attacks. It was destroyed by pirates in 1553 but was later rebuilt.

Aeras taverna Google rating 4.8 (recommended). Located in the village of Maries, this restaurant overlooks Porto Vromi. If you come to Vromi to take a boat trip to Shipwreck Bay, it is a good choice to add this restaurant to your itinerary.

Regional Highlights: A string of beaches (bays) that retain their wild beauty, beautiful traditional villages

my choice:

I have always been fascinated by the wild and pristine beauty, and I loved every bay on the west coast. Traveling with an elderly person, I chose Porto Limnionas Beach, which has the best facilities and is the most popular, to rest for 3 hours and have lunch. In the afternoon, I went to the particularly remote Korakonissi to see the scenery of the Blue Groove and take photos for 40 minutes. Plakaki Beach, which I particularly liked, was abandoned because of a relatively steep hiking trail. I also wanted to go to Kampi to watch the sunset, but because the sunset landscapes in Kampi and Keri are similar, I finally chose to go to Keri. If you have enough time, you can also go to Korakonissi to watch the sunset. (The image below was created by Anny on Google Earth)

Regional map (made by Anny on Google Maps): The yellow marks are the 4 beautiful beaches on the west coast that have retained their original style, and the blue marks are the villages on the west coast.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is highly recommended for travelers who love the beauty of wilderness to explore the west coast of Zha Island. The west coast shows the most beautiful sea views of Zakynthos Island. However, due to its remote location, far away from the popular resort towns in the east, and the fact that there are few convenient facilities, there are very few tourists going to the west coast, and there are no tour groups. Although the following beaches are accessible by road, most of them are winding and narrow. Some of the final sections may be bumpy and potholed dirt roads that can only be passed by one vehicle. Some beaches on the West Coast do not have any facilities and are in a primitive state of wilderness, so driving safety, swimming and snorkeling safety, and hiking safety should be taken into consideration as key factors.

1. Porto Limnionas Beach Google rating 4.7 (accessible by car or by boat)

My rating: 4.7 (recommended)

Porto Limnionas Beach is one of the most beautiful bays on the island. This remote beach is a hidden gem, famous for its peacock blue waters. There is actually no beach here. It is shaped like a slender fjord that goes deep into the land, with caves on the cliff. Posidonia grass provides shelter for a variety of fish, making it an ideal place for snorkeling and diving. This site is popular with Westerners who come here to swim, snorkel, dive, and cave. Adventurous tourists come here to jump off cliffs, swim across the bay and explore more secret caves. Be careful, the water is deep and cold, and undercurrents can be a challenge for some swimmers. Scuba diving is available here.

Amenities include a restaurant and bar with sun loungers and sun umbrellas available for a fee. It is crowded after 11 o'clock during the tourist season and parking is difficult.

My field experience:

** It is recommended to come after 10 am. The color of the sea water is particularly beautiful and the water temperature is suitable for swimming.

** The parking lot is free, but there are few parking spaces after 11 o'clock in the peak season.

** The fjord is long and slender, so the water is calm and suitable for swimming. Bring snorkeling equipment to swim through the cave, and there is a fjord beyond the cave.

** Pay for lounge chairs + sun umbrellas, 4 Euros per person (price in 2018); there are fewer seats after 11 o'clock; you can order drinks and snacks, the prices are as follows.

** The restaurant Porto Limnionas Tavern has a Google rating of 4.4 and is open from 9:00-21:00. My mother and I spent 21.1 euros (approximately 165 yuan) for lunch. The menu and prices are as follows (2018 menu).

2.Porto Roxa Beach Google rating 4.6 (accessible by car or by boat)

Porto Roxa beach is 2 km from Porto Limnionas beach and has fewer tourists. This is a very small fjord and only accessible by small boats. Amenities include a coffee and snack bar, lounge chairs and umbrellas and a four-meter diving platform. There is no beach here and the shore is rocky. The color of the sea water is very beautiful, suitable for swimming, snorkeling, etc.

3. Korakonissi Google rating 4.8 (can be reached by car or by boat)

My rating: 4.8 (recommended, suitable for adventurous travelers)

Korakonissi is one of the most remote and beautiful beaches on the island. A mini rocky island is connected to the mainland by an arch, forming a small blue fjord with crystal clear water that can easily be seen five meters deep. Fish swim among the rocks and colorful marine plants grow. Westerners like to climb up the rocks and swim, snorkel and sunbathe here. This is a beautiful sunset spot.

The road to here is steep and winding, in poor condition, and the last section is a potholed dirt road. There is a small bar selling drinks and snacks only during the peak season.

my experience:

Arriving here at 3:30 in the afternoon, there were only very few Western tourists lying on the rocks on the shore to sunbathe and swim. The scenery of the Blue Trench is very beautiful. The disadvantage is that the light is hard and it is difficult to take photos. It is also very sunny in the afternoon and there is no sunshade. We were afraid of the sun and couldn't bear it. We only stayed for less than an hour and left.

If you like photography, I recommend watching the sunset in the evening. If you like swimming and diving, it is very wild here and the water is relatively deep, so be careful. As shown in the picture below, walk along the path to reach the water's edge. The fenced path is very safe. I saw foreigners climbing up that arch without any protective facilities. In fact, I also want to climb up to find out what's going on, but I can't be so wild when traveling with my mother.

4.Plakaki Beach Google rating 4.9 (recommended)

This is a place I really love but haven’t been able to visit because I’m traveling with an elderly person. It is one of the most remote and beautiful beaches on the island and can be reached by hiking a steep trail.

Detailed introduction to the beach:

HTTPS://wuwuwu.cave大面OS Zante.com/EN-parakaki.HTML

Parking lot coordinates: 37.685514, 20.772287. The trail to the north on the right side of the parking lot leads to the shooting point below. Image from

HTTPS://Johnny Africa.com/zacanNdayhouOS-travel-gui/

Google satellite maps and maps.me, showing hiking trails. The path length is 400 meters and the height difference is 97 meters.

The trail is steep.

The beach scenery, foreigners like to snorkel and swim here.

In the villages on the west coast, travel agencies usually take tourists to see the Tree 2000 year old olive tree, or watch the sunset from Kampi.

My choice: Driving through the village of Agios Leon, I was attracted to take pictures by several houses with bougainvillea and oleander in front.

1. Exo Hora Village (with a 2000-year-old olive tree)

Exo Hora is one of the very few villages that retains its traditional style and layout. It is not affected by tourism, there are no large hotels and only a few taverns. The central square is home to one of the oldest olive trees in all of Greece, dating back 2,000 years. There are also some old stone wells near the square. The 17th-century church Agios Nikolaos is filled with ancient religious icons and is worth a look.

This rugby tree in the village of Exo Hora is one of the oldest olive trees in Greece.

2.Kampi Village (Watch the sunset)

The village of Kampi is very beautiful and traditional. It is located 30 kilometers north of the town of Zakynthos and has only 60 residents engaged in agriculture. The village is famous for its breathtaking sunset views. The village has some nice rooms and cafes. The village itself is beautiful.

There is a huge Shiza Cross (Kambi) built in the village to commemorate those who lost their lives in the war. The cliff line where the cross is located is a good place to watch the sunset. There are 3 landscape restaurants and pubs.

If you don’t want to eat and just watch the sunset, you can go to these two locations and search for Shiza Cross (Kambi) (the point of the cross) and “Porto Schiza Attraction” on Google Maps.

If you want to dine and watch the sunset, search the restaurant names "Taverna Panorama" and "Taverna Stavros Kampi" and "restaurant Chaikalis" on Google Maps

sunset view of kampi

Daytime view of Kampi

3. Agios Leon Village (This village is beautiful)

With its narrow streets and red-tiled roofs, Agios Leon has preserved its traditional architecture.

This village is quite beautiful. The picture below is a photo I took while driving through this village.

4. Koiliomenos Village (with unique Venetian tower)

The village of Koiliomenos is one of the tallest villages on the island, with some houses dating back to the 16th century. In the village of Koiliomenos, what is sure to impress you is the mysterious bell tower, separate from the church itself. The unique bell tower symbolizes good and evil in life and death. Built in 1893, it is one of the few churches in Greece with Gothic elements. The coordinates of this tower: 37.747538, 20.773902

1. Cave Damianos Restaurant Google rating 4.7

Located in the village of Agalas, Plakaki beach is near this village.

Official website: https://www.cavedamianoszante.com/

2.Cross Taverna Restaurant Google rating: 4.6 Located in Kami, a restaurant to watch the sunset