Zakynthos Turtle Tour Small Group Turtle Spotting & Turtle Island
Description
Avoid the crowded boats and enjoy a relaxed small-group turtle tour in Zakynthos. With just a few guests on board, there’s space to relax and enjoy a more personal experience with a friendly local skipper. We explore the Zakynthos Marine Park, where turtles are often seen close to the boat. If conditions allow and it’s safe, you may even have the chance to swim near them. You’ll also visit hidden beaches and sea caves, and thanks to the smaller boat, we can enter some caves to experience the stunning blue water up close. This tour is ideal for those looking for a smaller group, a relaxed pace, and a well-organised experience from start to finish, including guests visiting Zakynthos by cruise ship. Please note: Due to Greek maritime law, every passenger — including children and infants — must be counted as a full seat. This allows us to keep groups small and comfortable. To make the experience more accessible for families, we offer reduced rates for younger guests.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Every year hundreds of Caretta Caretta sea turtles emigrate to the shores of Zakynthos. This tour gives you the perfect opportunity to see them swimming in their natural habitat. Our small boat does not bother or overshadow the turtles. They often swim happily by the side of the boat oblivious to the fact that we are there. This gives you peace of mind knowing that we are not disturbing them. this also allows us the perfect view and holiday photographs. Plus If your captain thinks that it is safe for you and the turtles he will allow you to jump in and swim peacefully alongside them giving you an experience that you'll never forget.
You'll explore the large caves and coves of Keri, where you'll stop for a swim in the crystal-clear blue waters. One advantage of using a small boat is that you can actually enter the caves—something larger boats can't do. Inside, you’ll witness spectacular sunlight reflections off the deep waters, turning them bright blue. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even swim through a small connecting tunnel between the caves.
More commonly known as 'Turtle Island.' Not only is this an important nesting beach for the sea turtles, but the island is also shaped like a giant mother turtle! You'll sail around Turtle Island discovering its small caves and hidden beaches before stopping on its main beautiful beach for sunbathing, swimming, and maybe even a treat from one of the floating bars offering cold drinks and ice cream.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Return hotel transfers are included from resorts within a 6 km radius of Zakynthos Airport (Zakynthos Town, Argassi, Kalamaki and Laganas). We aim to collect guests directly from their accommodation; however, to minimise overall travel time, a convenient nearby pick-up point may occasionally be arranged. Tour departure and pick-up times may vary by up to 30 minutes either side of the stated departure time due to multiple pick-up locations, traffic conditions, and seasonal operational requirements. Guests will always be informed of their exact pick-up time in advance. Pickups from areas just outside this zone, such as Tsilivi, are available for a €5 return (round-trip) pickup fee per person. Pickups from all other areas of the island are available on request and subject to confirmation, and may incur an additional fee depending on distance. Unfortunately, we are unable to collect from Vasilikos. Argassi is the closest available pick-up point for Vasilikos guests. Guests may also request a preferred pick-up location within the included radius. We recommend contacting the supplier after booking and prior to the tour to confirm the exact pick-up point, time, and any applicable supplement.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The boat is easily accessible via the beach but not wheelchair accessible. It is a 100 meter walk from the car park. The captain will meet you at the carpark (official meeting point of tour) and show you to the boat. To enter the boat we must walk to the boat and enter via a small step onto the back of the boat. The captain and crew will assist you. To reach the boat we must walk through shallow water for ten meters.
- In accordance with local port authority regulations, we may require one valid photo ID (passport, national ID card or driving licence) from at least one member of each booking group before departure. The ID is only required to record the passenger details and will be returned immediately.
Reviews(176)
The experience was excellent from pick up to drop off. Our boat guide Dennis was really great and was very knowledgeable about the local area and best photo and swimming spots. Couldn’t have asked for a better day out.
😊 Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted you enjoyed the experience from pickup to drop-off and had such a great day exploring Zakynthos 🌊☀️ Dennis will be very happy to hear your kind words about his local knowledge and the swimming and photo spots. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back one day! 🇬🇷 Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷
An exceptional boat trip with Captain Thomas. Everything started out great with Debbie, who picked us up at our hotel right on time and warmly drove us to the departure beach. Once on the boat, the Captain took us on a 3-hour journey to discover the beauty of the Zakynthos coast, featuring turtles, swimming, and sunshine. The "small boat" format is truly ideal to fully enjoy this experience while being guided by a professional. It is a program perfectly suited for groups of 5 to 6 people with children. You can really feel Thomas's genuine commitment to keeping the area clean and respecting the local wildlife. Don't hesitate for a second—this is the exact getaway you need for this experience. A big thank you to Debbie for her valuable tips on how to enjoy our stay in Zakynthos even more. Aymeric and Letizia.
😊 A huge thank you to you, Aymeric and Letizia, for this wonderful review ⭐️ We’re delighted that your experience began so positively with Debbie and that you then had such an exceptional time with Captain Thomas 🚐⚓️ Small-group excursions are our speciality. We understand that guests are looking for a personal, relaxed and high-quality experience, and we truly believe a boat tour should be one of the best days of their holiday 🐢☀️🌊 That is why we carefully select passionate and attentive captains who genuinely care about their guests and respect the local marine wildlife 💙 We place great importance on every part of the experience, from hotel pickup through to the return journey after the tour. Thank you sincerely for choosing Boat Share Greece and for taking the time to share your experience 🙏 It was a real pleasure to welcome you, and we hope to see you again one day in Zakynthos! 🇬🇷 Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷
Since it is a service, it mostly depends on the people. Pantelis, the skipper/tour guide, was more than professional and attentive for our excursion. Great guy. Thank you very much for this beautiful experience
Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre wundervolle Bewertung und dafür, dass Sie sich für unsere Tour entschieden haben ⭐️ Es freut uns sehr, dass Sie einen so schönen Ausflug erleben konnten und sich bei Pantelis jederzeit gut aufgehoben gefühlt haben. Ihre freundlichen Worte über seine Professionalität, Aufmerksamkeit und persönliche Betreuung bedeuten Pantelis und unserem gesamten Team sehr viel. Genau solche Rückmeldungen motivieren uns, jedem Gast ein besonderes und unvergessliches Erlebnis zu bieten 🐢💙 Es war uns eine große Freude, Sie bei uns begrüßen zu dürfen. Vielen Dank, dass Sie diesen besonderen Tag mit uns verbracht und sich die Zeit genommen haben, Ihre Erfahrung zu teilen. Wir hoffen sehr, Sie eines Tages wieder auf Zakynthos willkommen heißen zu dürfen! Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷
Yesterday we did a tour here. During the tour we went to several beautiful places and saw turtles. Guide told us about the island in a nice way and we could snorkel beautifully. Definitely recommended!
Hartelijk dank voor uw mooie review ⭐️ We zijn blij dat u genoten heeft van de prachtige plekken, het snorkelen en natuurlijk het spotten van de schildpadden 🐢💙 Fijn om te horen dat u ook de uitleg van onze gids waardeerde. Bedankt dat u voor ons heeft gekozen en we hopen u ooit opnieuw op Zakynthos te mogen verwelkomen! Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷
Very nice afternoon where you come to beautiful places, which are sometimes not accessible to the larger boats. Highly recommended if you want to see the most beautiful places in a small group, where you will of course also spot turtles!
Hartelijk dank voor uw mooie review ⭐️ We zijn blij dat u genoten heeft van de kleine groep, de bijzondere plekjes die grotere boten niet kunnen bereiken en natuurlijk het spotten van de schildpadden 🐢💙 Bedankt dat u voor ons heeft gekozen. We hopen u ooit opnieuw op Zakynthos te mogen verwelkomen! Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷
All good saw a few turtles which was the whole point.It was evident that some small boats got too close to them but our captain was keeping his distance which we thought was good.Theyoung guys on the group enjoyed jumping from a very large rock at one swim stop and on the island stop you can do a bit of snorkeling but bring water shoes as its rocky near shore when you step of the boat.All in all a good few hours out or the hotel, pick up went to plan though roads are 'narrow' in parts but all part of the experience
include the name please Thank you very much for your detailed review, Tommy ⭐️ We’re delighted you enjoyed seeing the turtles, the swimming stops and the beautiful coastline. We’re especially pleased that you noticed our captain maintained a respectful distance from the turtles, as their protection is extremely important to us 🐢💙 We hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos one day! Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷
awesome guide, well balance trip, transport from pick-point and back, careful with nature... and yes, we saw some turtles :)
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 😊 We’re delighted you enjoyed the trip and that you appreciated our guide, the balanced itinerary, and our commitment to respecting Zakynthos’ beautiful marine environment. 🌿🐢 We’re especially happy you were able to spot turtles! Thank you for choosing Boat Share Greece, and we hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos again one day. 🇬🇷 Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷
The trip was brilliant from start to finish. Our guide was perfect, his knowledge was excellent and he was so proficient with both his driving of the boat and the transfer - he even helped rescue another boat that was in distress. We saw turtles, the beautiful beaches and caves and had such good fun. An experience we will always remember.
Thank you so much for your amazing 5-star review! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We’re thrilled you had such a fantastic experience from start to finish. 🐢💙 It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed seeing the turtles, exploring the beautiful beaches and caves, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for choosing Boat Share Greece, and we hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos again one day! ☀️🇬🇷⛵ Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷
The tour (they are all pretty much the same) itself is quite nice, especially along the coast, rocks, caves, etc. But anchoring at Turtle Island is really bad! Loud, dirty, no infrastructure (trash cans, which you can also see, or restrooms are not available). That should be strictly forbidden, it is simply terrible! I felt really sorry for the turtles, I have no idea what it is like when the little ones hatch 🤦🏼♀️
Thank you for your review. However, we must make an important distinction between our tour and your personal opinion of Turtle Island. Our captains follow all National Marine Park regulations and are consistently praised for treating the turtles and local wildlife with care and respect. There are hundreds of previous reviews confirming this, so it is disappointing to see our business rated down for conditions on an island that we do not own, manage or control. Turtle Island is a protected nesting area. Permanent buildings, toilets and other infrastructure are not permitted, and all visitors must leave before sunset so the beach remains undisturbed for the turtles overnight. The wider Marine Park also includes approximately six kilometres of fully protected nesting beach where buildings, beach bars and boats are not permitted at all. These strict protections are a major reason why turtle nesting numbers on Zakynthos have increased so significantly. According to official reports from ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, 2024 recorded the highest number of turtle nests on Zakynthos on record. Between 2015 and 2024, recorded nest numbers on Zakynthos increased by approximately 150%, meaning there were around two-and-a-half times as many nests. This is a very positive sign that the conservation measures are working and that the nesting population is moving in the right direction. We recognise that tourism must be managed responsibly, which is why our captains educate guests about turtle conservation and follow the Marine Park guidelines throughout every tour. You described the boat trip and coastline as beautiful, and your criticism does not concern the conduct of our captain or the quality of our service. For that reason, we do not believe it is fair to judge our tour and business based on matters outside our control. Best regards Ian & The Boat Share Greece Team
The excursion was a great experience from A to Z! We were picked up directly at the hotel and also brought back. Our guide was very understanding and almost caring.
Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre wunderbare Bewertung! 🐢💙 Es freut uns sehr, dass der Ausflug für Sie von Anfang bis Ende ein tolles Erlebnis war und Sie unseren Abhol- und Rücktransfer direkt vom Hotel als angenehm empfunden haben. 🚐☀️ Besonders schön ist es zu hören, dass Sie sich bei unserem Guide gut aufgehoben und fürsorglich betreut gefühlt haben. Uns ist sehr wichtig, dass sich alle Gäste während der gesamten Tour wohl und sicher fühlen und die wunderschöne Natur von Zakynthos entspannt genießen können. 🌊🇬🇷 Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit genommen haben, Ihre Erfahrung mit anderen Reisenden zu teilen. Wir würden uns sehr freuen, Sie eines Tages wieder bei uns begrüßen zu dürfen! 😊 Herzliche Grüße Ian & das Boat Share Greece Team 🇬🇷🐢
