Private Navagio Shipwreck and Blue Caves Land and Sea Tour

Navagio clifftop viewpoint (Shipwreck Beach)

Navagio is a small cove on the wild north-west coast of Zakynthos, enclosed by limestone cliffs about 200 metres high. On its white sand lies the rusting hull of a coaster that ran aground there in the early 1980s, and the cove has been known as Shipwreck Beach ever since. The best way to understand its scale is from above: a short rocky path of about five minutes leads to the viewing platform at the cliff edge, where the bright turquoise water and the wreck appear far below.

On this private Navagio tour we time the viewpoint so you can take your photos without rushing, and our guide explains how the cove was formed and why the cliffs are fragile. Is Navagio worth visiting? From this angle, absolutely. On extremely hot summer days the civil protection authorities may close the access road for a few hours because of wildfire risk; when that happens we adapt the order of the day.

Navagio bay by private boat

Seeing the cove from the sea is a completely different experience. Our private boat leaves from a small harbour on the north-west coast and follows the cliffs, where caves and arches open in the white rock, until the bay of Navagio appears with the wreck sitting on the beach. Because of falling rocks, current local regulations do not allow boats to land passengers on the sand, so the boat stops in the bay for photos and views of the cliffs towering above you.

Many people ask how to get to Navagio beach: there is no road down to the cove, so the only ways to see it are from the clifftop and from the water, and this land and sea tour combines both. With your own boat there is no crowd at the rail and no fixed schedule, so the skipper can hold position for the shot you want, sea conditions permitting.

The Blue Caves at Cape Skinari

At the northern tip of Zakynthos, near the lighthouse of Cape Skinari, the sea has carved a chain of caves and arches into the limestone. Sunlight passing through the clear water reflects off the white sea floor and turns the inside of the caves an intense electric blue, while anything under the surface, including swimmers, seems to glow. The boat slips into the larger openings so you see the colour from inside.

The best time to visit the Blue Caves is the morning to early afternoon, when the sun is high and the water is calm; in the late afternoon the north-west summer wind can make the sea choppy, and the skipper may then shorten or reorder the route for safety. When conditions allow, you can jump from the boat for a swim in the caves, one of the most memorable moments of the day.

White Beach and the northern coast

Between the caves and the cliffs, the north coast hides small beaches of white pebbles and pale stone that can only be reached by sea. The boat drops you at one of them, known simply as White Beach, for a swim and some time to relax in water so clear you can see the bottom several metres down. Bring swimwear and a towel; sea shoes help on the pebbles.

On the way north our guide also stops along the coast road: Xigia, a small cove where natural sulphur springs mix with the sea and you can try the mildly warm water if you wish, and Makris Gialos, a pretty bay with rocks and fishing boats near Agios Nikolaos. These quieter stops show a calmer side of the island beyond its famous postcards.

Bochali hill above Zakynthos Town

Bochali is a small hillside quarter just above Zakynthos Town, crowned by the walls of a Venetian fortress. From its terraces you look down over the red roofs of the town, the long harbour with its ferries and, on a clear day, across the sea to the mountains of the Peloponnese on the Greek mainland.

It is usually the first stop of the day and the perfect place for a panoramic photo before heading north. Our guide gives you a short introduction to Zakynthos here: the Venetian period, the earthquake of 1953 that destroyed most of the old town, and how the island rebuilt itself while keeping its traditional character.

Mountain villages and the ancient olive tree

On the return journey the road climbs into the green hills of western Zakynthos, through traditional villages such as Maries, Loucha and Exo Hora with their stone houses, bell towers and small squares. Life here moves slowly, far from the beach resorts, and the views stretch over olive groves down to the sea.

In Exo Hora stands an olive tree said to be more than 2,000 years old, its trunk twisted into extraordinary shapes; it is one of the most photographed trees in Greece. A short stop for local products tasting is also part of the day, a good chance to try island specialities before our driver takes you back to your accommodation.