Marathonisi, Keri Caves & Olive Oil Museum Tour from Laganas Zakynthos

Agios Sostis and Cameo Island

The tour starts at Agios Sostis, a small fishing port on the southern shore of Zakynthos at the western end of Laganas Bay. Facing it is Cameo Island, a pine-covered islet linked to the coast by a long wooden bridge decked with white fabric. Local accounts say an earthquake in 1633 separated it from the mainland, and today it is a favourite backdrop for photographs, especially from the middle of the bridge with the turquoise water below.

You have about 30 minutes here for photos and, if you like, a swim in the clear water around the rocks. Walking onto the islet has a small separate entry charge paid on the spot, so it is entirely optional; the bridge and the views from the shore are free. If you are asking whether Cameo Island is worth visiting, it is best enjoyed exactly like this, as a short, scenic stop.

National Marine Park of Zakynthos

From the harbour you board a glass-bottom boat and head into the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, founded in 1999 to protect Laganas Bay, the most important nesting area in Greece for the endangered loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta. The females come ashore at night between late May and August to lay their eggs in the sand, and the tiny hatchlings make their way to the sea about two months later.

For about an hour the boat moves gently across the bay while the guide looks for turtles surfacing to breathe. Through the glass floor you see sea grass, fish and the sandy bottom; from the deck you can watch the turtles glide past without disturbing them. The crew keeps its distance and follows the park's rules, so that wildlife watching here stays respectful.

Marathonisi (Turtle Island)

Marathonisi is a small, green island in Laganas Bay that, by happy coincidence, is shaped like a turtle. Its beach of soft white-gold sand and warm, shallow water lies inside the protected zone and is one of the places where the loggerheads lay their eggs, so the nests are marked and visitors stay near the waterline. There are no toilets on the island, but several floating canteens anchor offshore selling snacks and refreshments.

You spend about an hour here to swim, snorkel over the sandy seabed or simply lie on the sand. Snorkelling gear and towels are not included, so bring your own. A Marathonisi Island tour like this is the easiest answer to how to get there, as the island has no regular ferry and can only be reached on a licensed boat.

The Keri Caves and the Kamara arch

Back on board, the boat follows the coastline south-west towards Cape Keri, passing white beaches, forested hills and enormous limestone cliffs that fall sheer into the sea. Time, tides and wind have carved this coast into sea caves and arches, and the boat passes through the most famous of them, the great rock arch known as Kamara, a highlight for photographers.

Just outside the entrance to a vast cave, the boat stops for a 20-minute swim in deep, brilliantly clear water. The pale rock reflects the sunlight, turning the sea an intense blue. This Keri Caves swim is often the moment guests remember most, so have your camera ready before you jump in and keep it dry on board.

Olive oil press museum in Lithakia

After the boat docks, the minibus drives about 20 minutes inland to the village of Lithakia, surrounded by the olive groves that cover much of southern Zakynthos. Here an ecological olive oil press museum tells the story of the island's oldest industry: heavy stone millstones once turned by animals, the woven mats used to press the olive paste, and the modern machinery that now extracts the oil during the winter harvest.

An expert guides you through the collection for about 30 minutes, explaining how good extra virgin olive oil is made and how to recognise it. At the end you sample local olives and traditional bread dipped in different extra virgin oils, often flavoured with lemon, orange or garlic. Bottled oil and olive products are sold on site if you want a souvenir to take away.