Zakynthos Half Day Tour to the Turtle Island, Cameo & Keri Caves
Description
This half-day tour offers 5 hours of wandering in the South part of Zakynthos where you can discover the wonderful Cameo Island and its wooden bridge. Join us in the turquoise waters of Laganas Bay, and experience visiting the area of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos. Marathonisi Island is one of the nesting beaches for the famous Careta Careta turtles. Hop on a glass-bottom boat to explore the scenery around you and capture photos of these magnificent sea creatures. Snorkel, swim at the Keri caves, relax, and enjoy the sun at Turtle Island. The tour ends by visiting the Aristeon eco olive oil press museum to taste some local delicacies.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After a convenient pickup from your hotel, head to the small port of Agios Sostis on Zante's southern shores where you will pass and take some amazing photos of the famous wooden bridge of Cameo, and explore this small idyllic wedding island, for a short swim or refreshment (There is a small extra charge of 5€ if you want to enter the island). You can also visit the small church that is built inside this peculiar rock formation and from which this port took its name.
Next, board the glass-bottom boat sit comfortably, and enjoy the views around you. The captain will start immediately to look out for the turtles so get ready with your cameras. You will be informed when turtles are going to surface to breathe, or when they pass under the glass bottom of the boat.
We are heading to Marathonisi, known as Turtle Island, an exotic, green, and coincidentally turtle-shaped island. Enjoy an hour on the golden sandy beach where you can swim and snorkel.
Sailing towards Keri Caves, carved by time, tides, and wind. Follow the coastline, admiring the white beaches, rock arches, forested hills, and enormous limestone cliffs that fall into the sea. Pass through the famous rock arch, Kamara. We will stop for 20 minutes here, you can swim outside some amazing caves or snorkel admiring the sea life.
Our last stop is the Aristeon Olive Press Museum, where we will learn little things about olive trees and their products as we will enjoy a free tasting of local olives and traditional bread with different flavored extra virgin olive oils (most likely lemon, orange, and garlic). After five hours spent in the sea and full of images and new experiences, you will be dropped off back at your accommodation.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
*Note that our Free pickup radius is up to 10km from our office at Lomvardou 20, Zakynthos town, which is also a pick-up point. For accommodations outside of this radius, and up to around 20km, we charge 25 euros in total (including both, pick-up and drop-off). If it is further you have to contact us to arrange if you like a special shuttle service or if you have transportation please inform us that you will meet us at our office.// *Please wait outside your hotel 30 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.// *The van has a sign with the logo of Dali Tours on the front glass.// *We pick up people who come on Cruise ships from the cruise terminal, where they will be tendered. Also, we can adjust the pickup/drop-off times according to the cruise ship's schedule, so they can join our tours, and be back on time for departure.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There are no toilets on the boat or on Marathonisi Island. We will stop for the toilet before boarding the boat.
- There are many floating canteens on Marathonisi island, where you can buy snacks and refreshments.
- Please wear your swimming suit under your clothes. The places that you will visit on this tour include water interaction.
- Please note, that all our tours operate in (spoken) English. For any other languages please contact us to request written information.
Reviews(122)
The excursion was very entertaining, very dynamic. We were able to see two turtles. I thought they would be seen in greater numbers, but maybe that is due to the time of year... I don't know.
Dear Victoria, Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you found the excursion entertaining and dynamic. Seeing two turtles is always a special experience, although we understand you were hoping to spot even more. Turtle sightings can vary depending on the season, weather, and the turtles' natural behavior, so every trip is a little different. We appreciate your understanding and hope you'll join us again in another season for the chance to experience even more wildlife. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you back soon! Best Regards, Dali Tours
The tour was very nice and educational But do not expect to see a lot of turtles we saw only one and then the boat took off Also when you get off the tour bus make sure you take all your belongings because we return from the boat our driver had changes automobiles and we had left items in the car
Thank you for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the tour and found it educational. As the turtles are wild animals, every encounter is different, so sightings can never be guaranteed. Thank you also for mentioning the reminder about personal belongings. We always recommend taking everything with you when leaving the vehicle. We appreciate your review and hope to welcome you back to Zakynthos someday!
Beautiful experience, sighting of turtles just after leaving the port! The turtle island and all the other places are fantastic. You feel immersed in nature!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted you enjoyed the experience and the chance to spot turtles right from the harbor. It's great to hear you felt immersed in nature and appreciated Turtle Island and the other stops. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again soon! Best Regards, Dali Tours
We still joke on how awful this tour was. Dropped of at the olive press place with no explanation or introduction to the people working there. 10min to check it out, toilet break and move on. We saw a turtle in the harbor being fed and another one also in the harbor cornered by the glass bottle boat. Passed some caves, had my own map to check where we were, enjoyed a nice swim. Then dropped for an hour on the turtle island, no explanation at all. Picked us up and bought us back to the pier. They all looked so so bored and it’s only the beginning of the season. Awful
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear that your experience fell far below expectations and that you felt the stops were rushed and lacked explanation from the guides. This is not the level of service we aim to provide. Your comments regarding communication, guiding, and the overall structure of the tour are taken seriously and will be reviewed with our team to improve the experience for future guests. We appreciate your honesty. Best Regards, Dali Tours
well wat can I say very 1st time myself and my partner have been to zante and done anything like this highly recommended staff and tour guides very helpful n friendly 5☆
Dear Hannah, Thank you for your kind feedback. We’re delighted to hear that your first experience in Zakynthos was such a positive one and that our staff and guides made you feel welcome and well taken care of. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again for another great tour. Best Regards, Dali Tours
Perfect mix of views and swim stops! Breathtaking views and guides were very friendly. Would def book again
Dear Lauren, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the breathtaking views and refreshing swim stops throughout the tour. It’s especially rewarding to know that our guides helped make your experience even more memorable with their knowledge and hospitality. Your kind words mean a great deal to our team, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable adventure in the future! Best Regards, Dali Tours
We paid for a 5 hour tour. From pickup to return was 3 hours and that included the time waiting for the bus driver. The boat trip stops were cut short and when we asked about it we were told that we were mistaken. We were put in a group with people who had paid half the amount for the shorter trip. I tried to contact trip advisor the same day but my email was not responded to. The first boat driver was lovely but he only brought us out because the guy scheduled was late. He was responsible and considerate of marine life. There was another boat pilot, a glass bottomed boat that “herded” the turtles trying to get closer using our boat to keep them contained. For this reason I would not recommend taking this trip. Go to Kalamaki beach and you will see the turtles come onto land in peace.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. This is not the level of service we aim to provide, and we take your concerns very seriously. Regarding the tour duration, we understand your frustration about the perceived difference between the advertised 5-hour experience and the actual time spent. Our tours are scheduled with specific inclusions and timing, and we regret that delays on the day affected the overall flow of your experience. We are particularly concerned about your comments regarding the boat arrangements and wildlife interaction. Respect for marine life is a core principle of our operation, and all our partners are expected to follow strict guidelines to ensure animals are observed responsibly and without disturbance. We will be reviewing your feedback carefully with our team and partners to ensure these standards are consistently upheld. We also regret that you were placed in a mixed group, which may have contributed to confusion about the itinerary and service level differences. We understand how this would have impacted your experience. Your feedback has been shared with our operations team for immediate review, and we appreciate you bringing these issues to our attention. While we are disappointed that your experience was not a positive one, we thank you for helping us identify areas where we need to improve. Best Regards, Dali Tours
The excursion itself was very nice, our driver was very funny and friendly, however the boat only had a very small glass bottom, so you could hardly see anything, under glass bottom boat we all imagined a little differently. The boat was also way too crowded. Furthermore, we had specifically stated that we would like to have a German-speaking guide (you could choose when booking) but nobody spoke German. Otherwise we had a very nice trip with great spots for swimming. On the way back, our driver George showed us another great vantage point.
Covers several spots quickly. We felt like we got to see a lot of sites but would have liked to spend a little more time in each spot.
What a horrible experience. If you are an animal lover, DO NOT GO!!!! The boats literally hunt the turtles and then cage them in with their boats. When the turtles try to come up for air they move the glass bottom boat over them so people can take photos. Boats dock on Turtle island which is illegal and people don’t respect the nests.
Hello Jacque Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience left you with such a negative impression, but we’d like to clarify a few things. The turtles are not hunted, caged, or trapped. These beautiful animals are completely free in their natural environment, and we occasionally position the boat near the turtles when they surface for air so guests have the opportunity to observe them respectfully. This is done without any physical contact, and always at a safe and non-invasive distance, and never interferes with their behavior. As for Turtle Island, it is legal to dock in designated areas, and the nests are protected and clearly marked. Our driver-guides always give a briefing before the tour to explain the importance of conservation and how to respect the turtles and their habitat. We care deeply about these animals and the environment, and we do our best to offer a respectful and educational experience for all. Kind regards
