ABOUT ZAKYNTHOS

Zante or Zakynthos as is commonly called by local people, is the southern and third largest of the Ionian islands in west Greece.
Zante island is 9,4 nautical miles far from Peloponese and Killini coast port and about 8 nautical miles south from Kefalonia island. It covers an area of 405 squared kilometres where a little more than 35.000 inhabitants live and it is located about 300 km west from Athens.
Zakynthos is an island of big contrasts for the presence of golden beaches and massive rocky coasts, benefits from a Mediterranean temperate climate with mild winters and cool summers; the generous winter rains favour the growth of a thick vegetation and assure a remarkable water reserve.
This island is so “green” that in the past both Homer and the Venetian rulers used to call it “wooded” and “Levant flower”.
The very warm waters that wash the coast favour a long tourist season (from May till the end of October) and made of Zakynthos an object of international interest even because in the southern part of the island the CARETTA-CARETTA turtles breed. Caretta-Caretta turtles are a rare specimen protected by the Greek legislation with a new marine park.
Along the rocky, western coasts the seals Monachus Monachus breed too and they are also protected by the local administrative authorities.
In addition to the wonderful natural landscape, Zakynthos offers the possibility to visit the numerous desert small islands that surround it like Pelouzo and Marathonissi in the Laganas’ Bay, St. John in front of Porto Vromi and the Strofades.
In the last years the island has undergone a progressive development to offer the tourists modern infrastructures keeping its traditional aspect still visible both in the restaurants along the seashore and the small villages in the outback; this traditional aspect of the past that together with the joy of life and hospitality of its inhabitants will touch you from the first moment here.

MARINE PARK
Zakynthos is also famous for its National Marine Park that consist of a large area in the south part of the island created to protect wildlife nature and animals like the Caretta Caretta loggerhead turtles and the Monacus monk seals.
For more informations visit Marine Park section on Zanteisland.com

HISTORY AND CULTURE
The island of Zante has a large cultural tradition and a rich history to discover through its museums, churches and historical sites.
For a complete knowledge of the past of the island and its traditions we invite you to visit the section History & Culture on Zanteisland.com

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
The natural environment of Zakynthos island offers various and stunning places. You can find any kind of beaches both sandy and rocky, tourist and quite.
Here are a good link to visit all the Beaches of Zante.