Zakynthos: Shipwreck Beach & Blue Caves Boat Tour

The boat's already moving toward Navagio Beach when you realize why everyone calls it the most photographed wreck in Greece

You start at a hilltop overlook of Zakynthos town, then board a boat for a 3-hour cruise to Navagio Beach and the Blue Caves, with two swim stops and snorkel gear included. After lunch at a village tavern and a visit to a 2,000-year-old olive grove with free tastings, you finish at Xigia Beach's natural sulfur spa. Door-to-door pickup, water, and a local guide with a camera are part of the package.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Navagio Beach20m
2. Blue Caves20m

Explore Zakynthos highlights by boat

• Visit Bochali hill viewpoint
• See Navagio Shipwreck Beach from boat
• Stop at Sfogio Beach for snorkeling
• Swim at unique white sand beach
• Mini cruise to Shipwreck and Blue Caves
• Explore and swim near Blue Caves
• Visit Therianos Family Farm and taste products
• Lunch at Anafonitria mountain tavern
• See 2,000-year-old olive tree in Exo Chora
• Swim and relax at Xigia Beach

The experience

Bochali hill is where the day starts, and the guide will position you at the old neighborhood overlook so the town spreads out below you: port, water, the whole island tilted toward the Ionian. You're standing there taking the photo everyone takes, and then the boat's waiting. The captain navigates closer to the Shipwreck than most operators can get. The white hull sits on white pebbles in water so turquoise it doesn't look real, and you're shooting it without the usual crowd between you and the wreck. That's the difference here. The boat goes right up to the shoreline, which means the wreck itself is the subject, not the people posing in front of it.

After that first stop, you're heading out on a 3-hour mini cruise from either Porto Vromi or Agios Nikolaos. The captain picks the departure point based on the weather that morning. The boat carries swimming vests and snorkel gear, and the crew knows where the fish are. You'll stop to swim at Sfogio Beach, where the sand is coarse and the water drops off deep, then at the Blue Caves on the northwestern shore. The caves have that extraordinary blue (some spots so saturated they look photoshopped), and you can swim through a few of them, jump off the boat, and watch the fish move under the mask. One of the caves has a second chamber you can reach by climbing the rocks, but that's weather-dependent. The guide will tell you if it's safe that day.

Lunch is on your own at a traditional mountain tavern in Anafonitria, a village place with a family feel, and then the tour swings inland. The 2,000-year-old olive tree in Exo Chora is still producing olives, and you'll taste local oil, olives, wine, and liqueurs from the farmers there, all free samples. If you want to buy something, the products are there. The last stop is Xigia Beach, where natural springs feed sulfur and collagen into the seawater. It's a natural spa, and the clifftop view is the kind you'll photograph. The beach has a funny system for getting drinks down to the water (the locals have figured out an ingenious way), and there are restrooms at the port, at Xigia, and at the restaurant, so you're never stuck.

The pickup is door-to-door from your accommodation (free up to 12 kilometers from the office), and the driver is a local with photography skills, which means he knows the angles and the light. Bottled water is included, so is the liability insurance, and the guides and boat crew are certified. The whole day runs about eight hours, and you're back at your hotel with the kind of photos that make people ask where you went.

What’s included

• Your day includes door-to-door hotel pickup (free up to 12 kilometers), bottled water, swimming vests and snorkel gear, the 3-hour boat cruise to Navagio Beach and Blue Caves with two swim stops, free tastings of local oil, olives, wine and liqueurs at the olive grove, liability insurance, and a professional local driver and guide with photography skills.
• Lunch at the mountain tavern in Anafonitria is at your own expense.
• Restroom facilities are available at the port, at Xigia Beach, and at the restaurant.

Options for this experience

3 options

Group TourUp to 15 people · Guide in English, Arabic or Greek · 08:00Includes pickup

Semi-private tour for up to 10 guestsUp to 10 people · Guide in English, Arabic or Greek · 09:00This semi-private option accommodates a maximum of 10 guests, with a knowledgeable guide and transport in a new, comfortable mini-bus. Duration: 8 hours. Luxury mini bus. Pickup is included.

Exclusive Private TourUp to 6 people · Guide in 4 languages · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Select this option for an exclusive and relaxing private tour in a luxury van and boat, away from the crowds, for your group only. Duration: 8 hours. Luxury mini van. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, French, Arabic and Greek

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 75

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Dali Tours Zakynthos

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Zakynthos boat attractions (the Shipwreck, the Blue Caves, and the natural spa) in one day without arranging your own boat, timing the stops, or figuring out which beach to visit. The fixed itinerary and included pickup handle all of that.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Arabic and Greek.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): 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.

Can you actually land on Navagio Beach?

No, the area is prone to landslides, so the boat navigates close to the wreck but doesn't beach. You get photos of the shipwreck itself without crowds in the frame.

How long is the boat ride?

The mini cruise is 3 hours, departing from either Porto Vromi or Agios Nikolaos depending on weather conditions that day.

Is lunch included?

No, lunch is at your own expense at a traditional tavern in Anafonitria. The tour stops there but you pay for what you eat.

What if I don't swim?

Swimming is optional. The boat stops at swim sites, but you can stay on board. Snorkel gear and swimming vests are provided if you want them.

Is the pickup really free?

Door-to-door pickup is free up to 12 kilometers from the tour operator's office. Check your hotel distance when booking.

What's included in the price?

Pickup, bottled water, swimming vests, snorkel gear, liability insurance, and local product tastings at the olive grove. Lunch and any purchases are separate.

How long is the whole tour?

Around 8 hours from pickup to return to your accommodation.

What if the weather is bad?

The departure point (Porto Vromi or Agios Nikolaos) is chosen based on weather each morning. Some activities like entering the second cave chamber are weather-dependent.