Zakynthos Boat Tour: Shipwreck Beach & Blue Caves Swimming

The Water Turns Blue Inside the Caves, Here's Why

You board a modern boat at Alykes port and spend 3.5 hours at three swimming stops: Shipwreck Beach with its rusted cargo ship, the Blue Caves where sunlight turns the water electric blue, and Xigia Caves with natural sulfur springs. The crew handles safety and navigation, and admission to each site is included. You're back by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour to Zakynthos highlights

• Depart from Alykes port
• Visit Shipwreck Beach for photos
• Swim at Shipwreck Beach
• Explore Blue Caves and swim
• Swim at Xigia Sulfur Caves

The experience

The boat leaves Alykes port at a time you'll arrange when you book, and the 3.5-hour Zakynthos boat tour moves at a pace that feels unhurried. You're not rushing between five stops or checking your watch. There's time to actually look at things. The first stop is Shipwreck Beach, where a rusted cargo ship sits half-buried in the sand below limestone cliffs, and the water around it is so clear you can see straight through to the seabed. You get time to photograph it, swim if you want, and just sit with the strangeness of the wreck being there at all.

Then the boat heads to the Blue Caves, and this is where the light does something you won't forget. Sunlight enters the cave openings, bounces off the white limestone and the pale sand underneath, and turns the water an electric blue, not a photo filter, actual blue. Everything in the water looks tinted: the boat, your arms, the rocks. It's surreal in a way that's hard to explain until you're floating in it. You stop here to swim, and the crew on the modern boat keeps an eye on everyone. They know these waters and they know what they're doing, which matters when you're in a cave with thirty other people.

The last stop is Xigia Caves on the northeast coast, where natural sulfur springs flow into the sea. It's a smaller, quieter spot than the others, and the water has a different character: warmer in places, mineral-tinged. You swim here too, and by this point in the day you've been in the water three times and seen three completely different pieces of the island. The boat brings you back to Alykes port in the late afternoon, and admission to all the stops is already included in what you paid.

What’s included

• Boat tour with experienced crew on a modern vessel.
• admission to Shipwreck Beach, Blue Caves, and Xigia Caves.
• three swimming stops with time to explore each location.
• safety equipment and professional guidance throughout the 3.5-hour tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 13:15

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 to 69 years) · Senior (70 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 60

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Golden Dolphin speedboats

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the three most famous swimming spots in Zakynthos without arranging your own boat or figuring out how to reach them: the fixed route and included admission mean you show up at the port and the rest is handled.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the boat tour from Alykes?

Approximately 3.5 hours, including all stops and swimming time.

What's included in the ticket price?

Admission to Shipwreck Beach, the Blue Caves, and Xigia Caves. The boat and crew are part of the tour.

Is swimming mandatory?

No. You can stay on the boat at each stop if you prefer, though swimming is the main activity at all three locations.

What should I bring?

Swimwear, sunscreen, a towel, and a camera. The boat has modern safety equipment and experienced staff.

Are there any health restrictions?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. Check with the operator if you have concerns.

Where does the boat depart from?

Alykes port in Zakynthos. Public transportation options are available nearby.

What if the weather is bad?

Tours may be rescheduled or cancelled in rough sea conditions. Confirm the departure time when you book.