The most famous spot for giant tortoise sightings is Marathonisi (also called Turtle Island), which lies in the Gulf of Laganas about 3 km off the coast. You can take a look here with one of the travel agencies you can find in Laganas.

The popular Marathonisi expedition for about 15 euros is organised by each of the companies several times a day. The trip includes a cruise around the islet of Cameo and stops at the cave and Marathonisi beach.

When and where to see turtles on Marathonisi?

The southern part of the island of Zakynthos, with the Gulf of Laganas, is one of the last refuges of the giant carta in the Mediterranean.

The turtles migrate throughout the Mediterranean Sea during the year, returning to Zakynthos in the spring to lay their eggs around May to September.

And as southern Zakynthos gradually fills up with tourists, the largest concentration of turtles can be seen on the uninhabited, mostly forested rocky islet of Marathonisi about 2 km off the coast of Zakynthos. The turtles simply have more peace here.

During the day, turtles can be seen mainly in shallow waters, and in the evening they go to the beach to tend to their nests buried in the sand.

During nesting season, the protected beaches are guarded by rangers and you must not go within a few dozen metres of them.

Marathonisi Beach

The northern tip of the islet is dominated by a beautiful sandy beach where you can swim at will, except of course when turtles choose this beach for nesting. The remoteness from the main bustle makes the sea here crystal clear and the rugged bottom creates ideal conditions for snorkelling.

Sun umbrellas and any foreign objects are forbidden on the island. So expect no shade or refreshments on the beach.

Boats to Marathonisi - from where and for how much?

There are basically two ways to get to Marathonisi.

The cheapest option is a boat taxi from the beach in the resort of Laganas.

There are a large number of them running here, so there is no need to worry about not getting one. You can always arrange a return time with the boat captain. The price for the return trip is between 15 eur and 20 eur and can usually only be paid in cash.

The other more popular option is to take an organized cruise with an excursion. You will have a much better chance of seeing giant petrels up close and for a longer period of time, plus many of the excursions continue on to the beautiful Kerry coast.

Most cruises leave from the nearest resort, Laganas, and usually last 3 hours, or up to 5 hours if they continue further up the Keri coast. However, you will find excursions on offer in all the resorts across the island, as far as the other side of the coast.

Trips do not need to be booked in advance, so ideally you just need 1 day's notice the day before your planned trip.

Prices vary according to the length of the cruise and range between 30 eur and 40 eur.