Zakynthos: Shipwreck & Blue Caves Private Boat Tour

What makes Shipwreck Beach worth the boat ride?

You board a private boat with up to 4 other passengers and spend the day moving between five swimming stops: Shipwreck Beach with its dramatic cliffs, the Blue Caves with their glowing turquoise water, Philippoi Beach, Xygia Beach with warm sulfur springs, and Pelagaki Beach. Snorkeling gear, towels, soft drinks and a shaded sitting area come with the booking. The boat returns to the harbor once you've had your time at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Zakynthos boat tour highlights

• Depart from boat dock
• Visit Shipwreck Beach
• Explore Philippoi Beach
• Relax at Saint Andrews Beach
• Discover Blue Caves by boat
• Swim at Xygia Beach
• Unwind at Pelagaki Beach
• Return to boat dock

The experience

You're wondering if a private boat tour around Zakynthos is worth the time and money, and the answer starts with access. The Shipwreck Beach, Navagio Beach, sits at the base of cliffs so steep that the only way in is by water. You can't hike there, can't drive there, can't see it from land except from above. The boat departs from the harbor and heads straight for it, and when you round the corner and see the actual wreck sitting in the sand with those white limestone walls rising up on both sides, you understand why people come back to Zakynthos just for this one cove.

After Shipwreck Beach, the route takes you to the Blue Caves: the real draw for most people on this tour. The caves sit along the northern coast near Cape Skinari, and the boat glides you right into them. The water inside is so clear and the limestone seabed so white that the sunlight bouncing off it turns everything an almost unreal shade of blue. You can swim in there, snorkel if you want, and the crew hands you the snorkeling gear as part of the package. It's not a quick stop either. You get real time in the water, not a five-minute photo moment. The captain knows the caves and knows where the light hits best, so you're not just floating around hoping for the right angle.

The tour also stops at Philippoi Beach on the northeastern coast (quieter, with turquoise water and cliffs around it), then Xygia Beach, which has natural sulfur springs that warm the water and give it a spa-like feel. That's the therapeutic part of the day. After that comes Pelagaki Beach, where the water is shallow and calm, better for just sitting and floating if you're tired from swimming. Five people max on the boat, so it never feels crowded, and the crew brings a coolbox with soft drinks and water, so you're not rationing what you drink in the heat. Towels are included, and if you want to film the whole thing, you can rent a GoPro from them. The boat has a sitting and dining area, so there's shade when you need it.

The whole day is structured around water and swimming, not around rushing between photo stops. You're in the boat maybe two hours total across the day, and the rest is in the sea. If you're thinking about whether to book this or try to piece together a land-based tour of the island, the difference is simple: you can't see half these places from shore, and you definitely can't swim in the Blue Caves from a beach. The private boat means you're not waiting for a group to assemble or following a schedule that doesn't match your pace.

What’s included

• Beach towels.
• snorkeling equipment.
• soft drinks and water in a coolbox.
• captain and crew.
• fuel costs.
• use of the boat's sitting and dining area.
• VAT and any additional costs are included in the price. A GoPro camera rental is available as an optional add-on.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDepartures at 10:00 and 14:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up toStart time

GroupPrivate

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Aqua Travel Zakynthos Boat Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the parts of Zakynthos that are only reachable by water (Shipwreck Beach, the Blue Caves, and four other swimming stops) without arranging your own boat or managing a larger group tour. The small group size and private boat mean you set the pace at each stop instead of following a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

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 swim at Shipwreck Beach?

Yes. The beach is accessible only by boat, and swimming in the cove is part of the tour. The water is warm and clear.

What's included in the tour?

Beach towels, snorkeling equipment, soft drinks and water in a coolbox, the captain and crew, fuel, and use of the boat's sitting and dining area. A GoPro camera rental is available as an add-on.

How many people go on the boat?

Up to 5 passengers maximum, which keeps the group small and the boat from feeling crowded.

Is the Blue Caves stop long enough to swim?

Yes. You have real time in the water to swim and snorkel, not just a quick photo stop. The crew provides snorkeling gear.

What is Xygia Beach known for?

Natural sulfur springs in the water that give it a distinctive turquoise color and warm, therapeutic feel.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear?

No. Snorkeling equipment is provided as part of the tour.

Is there shade on the boat?

Yes. The boat has a sitting and dining area where you can rest out of the sun between stops.