Zakynthos Blue Caves & Navagio Bay: A Swim Cruise Worth Taking
So, you are thinking about hopping on a cruise to check out the Blue Caves and Navagio Bay in Zakynthos, right? Well, you’ve come to the right place. This spot is often called Shipwreck Beach, that is a pretty unforgettable place, very famous for its turquoise waters and that iconic shipwreck. You might have viewed it on postcards, anyway, but trust someone who’s been there, seeing it in person is a completely unique kind of deal.
Setting Sail: What to Expect on the Boat
The boat. You know, that is kind of where your whole adventure starts. Typically, usually the boats are, you know, fairly sized, anyway allowing for a good amount of people, though not feeling super crowded. You might have that experience that tour companies will actually brag about offering a “luxury” experience. That just means you get a somewhat comfier seat and possibly some free drinks. In some respects, the vibe is friendly, tends to be tourists from everywhere ready to soak up the Ionian sun. Just a little word to the wise, get to your departure spot somewhat early to snag a prime seat on the boat, mostly if you would like those views. Seats on the edges tend to fill up somewhat quickly. Don’t get stuck in the back by the bathrooms. Not that is super important but you did read a guide, for just this kind of advice, didn’t you?
Onboard, they frequently provide you with a bit of info regarding the sights, sometimes history stuff, sometimes ecological tidbits, yet generally the focus remains on enjoying those awesome landscapes. First thing is first, safety stuff, right? It might be smart to check that they actually have life vests available and that the crew seem trained. Those things you can not actually check that way! However, knowing where the safety stuff is on the ship might set your mind at ease a bit, is that makes sense.
Must-Pack Essentials for Your Day Cruise
Now, the absolute essentials, so what would you put on that must have packing list? Sunscreen. A very high SPF, actually, is probably very helpful. Zakynthos sun, anyway, is fairly intense, so you would like to shield your skin. You do not actually need more memories from Greece in the form of a red painful sunburn.
Next up: a hat. To keep that sunshine from beating down on your face, especially if you have fairer skin or thinner hair, anyway. Like your skin, the sun actually will damage the quality of the health of your hair and that’s never very much fun for anyone, actually. Next is Sunglasses, obviously, especially some good quality ones to fully shield your precious eyes, of course, it tends to get blinding out there. Some of that sun will reflect right back up off that blue sea!
Beach towel. Actually a very helpful necessity. In some respects you are going to swim! And actually dry off, too, ideally. Comfortable swimwear, could be rash guard and all to boot, it might depend just how prone you are to sunburn and just how much you care about protecting your skin for long exposures, right? Don’t disregard that as we age, damage we experienced when we were younger actually builds to affect how our skin looks as older people, too!
Waterproof bag for electronics: So, in some respects this is helpful if you don’t actually want that cell phone taking an accidental swim, too, if that is something that happens to you. Camera. Might be useful for snagging shots of that dazzling blue of that sea and all your moments there, you know. Of course, we are using that phone, right?
Water shoes, potentially. Some of those beaches actually are pebble-y and not fine soft sand. These also come in really handy if you want to explore some of the grottos near some beaches where slippery rock climbing is fully a thing.
The Blue Caves: A Kaleidoscope of Azure
Okay, so the Blue Caves, is that truly a thing. Anyway prepare for an overload of blueness, I suppose, the waters here actually are so vibrantly blue it almost doesn’t look real, right? That light actually reflects off those white rocks in a manner that colors the water with these otherworldly shades of blue. Bring the camera; it’s probably something you need to catch to really enjoy. Although some argue nothing quite really captures that experience like actually seeing it with the naked eye!
The swim! So, too, is pretty fantastic here. Many of those boat trips include a swim stop at that Blue Caves, this allows you that chance to jump into that crisp clear water. Pro tip: Bring a waterproof camera (as noted above), or just stick your phone in one of those floating waterproof bags. Being capable to snap pictures while you are swimming in those caves makes that trip that much more amazing, could be a fun way to show off how awesome of a vacation you are having back home, actually. So very great, right?
Watch out. Sea urchins do seem to be present. Although, is that I did not personally see any while I went in and swam about there, you might wish to actually take precautions by having some water shoes or watching just where exactly you place your hands when you reach to touch something! Sea urchins, well that actually stings! On some level I’m not really wild about those. Are you?
Maximizing Your Blue Caves Experience
Check that weather situation, usually, anyway those boat tours actually do not run on bad weather days, although is that always nice if you check beforehand so that you aren’t getting stuck driving out and actually standing there staring and shaking that fist towards the sky a little bit and going ugh!. Check boat sizes. Little boats, too it’s almost always, anyway allows you actually to get into some smaller caves, too, if that would actually make your heart flutter a bit. Large boats, so too it’s almost will generally come with some benefits, but this also really could cause an increased crowdiness in those waters and an actual slower pace generally and also will keep them out of any smaller and more hidden gems near those caves!
Don’t forget your snorkel, well it’s probably worthwhile. Viewing life under that sea adds something awesome and magical to your total cave swimming session. Consider what camera equipment actually would be appropriate as well and if the pictures actually do matter, then you should give some thought to investing to protecting that equipment a bit, actually, it may be fully something to do.
Navagio Bay (Shipwreck Beach): A Postcard Brought to Life
Navagio Bay! Also very famous by that Shipwreck name because that massive rusting shipwreck on those shores, you know? That beach itself? Anyway framed by cliffs which gives it something of a totally secluded sort of feeling and the water is that sort of stunning shade of blue that might actually make it feel surreal, you know. Remember, a lot of that is the camera at play but you see the water with the naked eye there it does actually have a certain look to it that is for reals, seriously a memorable vista of just epic kind of status.
Keep the camera very ready for you! Could be snag those epic panoramic pics. Trust your phone or dSLR (or medium format rangefinder), it tends to all look epic there. Also, remember the sun as that thing you always have to battle (the exposure will vary depending on the suns trajectory) if you need more guidance for snapping that best picture for that ultimate social media brag post? A very simple guide? Show up early for softer light.
Navagio Bay Tips and Tricks
Early bird catches the worm. I guess. Or the great view? Or both. Morning cruises so, too it’s almost tend to get there well before that area actually starts filling up. Less crowded, anyway it means that those pictures you take will have fewer rando photobombers lurking there, so there tends to be somewhat of a value there, actually. It just will depend on that sleep situation. Sleep and what a value that tends to be!
What about the flip side, late arrivals? Afternoons, basically you should count on masses and heat. Although somewhat it could also suggest quieter waters just a bit on those cruises back to dock after just about every single person went back from checking out the ship.
Do obey that safety instruction. Cliffs fall, somewhat, or have. Stay distant to protect the scenery AND yourself!
Choosing the Perfect Cruise: What to Look For
Know just what that cruise fully entails. Check itineraries. Many of those boats usually will provide comparable deals, however there is enough variance just in total offerings so you will really see various amounts to time allotted to each separate swim and that visit at those destinations. Just a few trips, typically usually only visit Shipwreck, then zoom off! Or could be skip those Blue Caves. Know prior just what to prepare yourself for! To just get those must dos covered while traveling, could be actually is nice!
Does your tour actually offer anything more besides just boat rides? Know just what that added value might be if, is that tends to mean more to you. Lunch buffets and snack times tend to happen but also may not and this must actually have you decide whether it may be worthwhile packing stuff just on the safe side or deciding to buy a lunch at that destination place where you might get dropped.
Additional Considerations Before You Book
Ask. Before just plonking that credit card in and doing your online order: “what exactly might that refund situation actually look like”, if there exists such weather concerns. And you, anyway will fully wish the tour to go onward! Be wary about companies usually making some guarrannntee about seeing what that ocean has just to provide.
Is that cost a thing: What about the food, drink, or snorkeling, sometimes equipment costs if they are applicable! Those expenses could fully stack if some cost can sneak in without a very explicit consideration!
Are there things regarding mobility there! Some boats usually will do well at moving families who must make use of strollers for tired young’uns who simply require transporting on the ferry trip without walking it.
Making the Most of Your Zakynthos Adventure
So, with just a bit of research and prep time, that adventure to Zakynthos will probably totally go into a really remarkable adventure there, mostly one you can bore family about later as you regale stories about shipwrecks.
Are we forgetting one of those tips? A “no duh” thing could also actually very well be worthy of that restatement regardless. A mindset should make way toward having good safe fun!
Regardless the exact moments or just those sights, Zakynthos just continues on in the tradition towards dazzling individuals, might the photoshopped Insta pictures feel fully fake at first!