Zakynthos (Zante Island) is almost triangular in shape, with two green mountainous promontories extending into the sea to form the huge bay of Laganas.

There are more pine-covered mountains and hills in the north, but the centre is gentle and lush, richly planted with currant vines, olive trees, almonds and seasonal vegetables. There are dozens of beaches to choose from, sandy and sheltered with invitingly sparkling water. Flowers of every kind fill every available space, filling the air with the scent that so enraptured visitors of old.
 
The Beaches
The superb beaches of Zakynthos are famous in Greece for their unspoiled beauty and their mirror-like emerald waters. The most famous beach of the island is the wonderful Navagio Beach (Shipwreck) which has fine white volcanic sand, turquoise waters and the remains of a ship which are emerging from its perfect sand.

There is also the Laganas beach also famous as it is a birthplace of the endangered specie of sea turtle Caretta-Caretta and therefore consists a part of the National Marine Park.

Watersports, endless sandy beaches, natural beaches within rocky formations, everything is available in a landscape as rich with many variations as this in Zakynthos sland.

Navagio beach (Shipwreck)
The beach of Navagio is the most famous of Zakynthos beaches and one of the most famous of all the Greek beaches. It is the trademark of the island and has been photographed millions of times.

This superb beach is located in the eastern part of the island, close to the Anafotiria village. It was initially called Agios Georgios but the beach owns its new name to the shipwreck (in 1983) of a boat that transported illegal cigarettes; with the years the sand has completely surrounded the ship which looks as if it was emerging of it.

The remains of the ships can be seen in the middle of the large white sandy beach which has amazing turquoise and crystalline waters.

Huge vertical cliffs of white rocks are surrounding the place creating a unique and wonderful image. To reach this paradise, one has to take a little boat from the small port of Porto Vromi. Those taxi-boats are leaving every hour and the trip is about 30 minutes.  

The History
Zakynthos was inhabited from the Neolithic Times as prove some archaeological excavations.

The famous poetic writer, Homer, first mentioned the island in his plays, the Iliad and the Odyssey, saying that the first inhabitants of Zakynthos were the son of the King Dardanos of Troy called Zakynthos and his men and that they came on the island around 1500-1600 BC. Then the island was conquered by the King Arkeisios of Kefalonia. The famous Ulysses (Odysseus in Greek) from Ithaca was the next King to conquest the island. Later a treaty was signed that made Zakynthos independent and a democracy, the first in the Hellenic area, was established which lasted more than 650 years.

Zakynthos Island hotels we recommend

	SUNRISE HOTEL ZAKYNTOS ISLAND *** The Sunrise Hotel in Tsilivi is a modern hotel in a charming rural setting surrounded by olive groves, hills and fields offering a warm and friendly atmosphere.
	GALAXY HOTEL ZAKYNTOS ISLAND *** The welcoming Galaxy Hotel is built right on the most beautiful beach of the Ionian Sea - Laganas - offering you the most scenic view and the ideal base from which to explore the island. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, leading to the golden sandy beach and the crystal revitalizing sea it will simpl...
	CARAVEL HOTEL ZANTE ZAKYNTOS ISLAND **** Caravel hotel stands on a beautiful sandy bay, sandwiched between the turquoise blue water and acres of olive groves; an absolute dream of a setting! A piece of heaven, 6 Km out of Zante town on the outskirts of Tsilivi.