Marathonisi and Laganas Bay at a glance
Laganas Bay in the south of Zakynthos is part of a national marine park, and the loggerhead turtle nests on beaches around it. Marathonisi is a small island in the bay, and boat trips to it are sold as turtle trips. The turtles are wild animals. Seeing one is possible but never promised, and a trip title with the word turtle does not guarantee a sighting.
The trips are short and start on the south coast. A 3-hour trip that combines the island with the Keri caves is listed from €35 per person in 2026. The park has rules for boats and beaches, and operators and visitors both need to follow them. Choose a boat that keeps its distance from the animals.
Our picks: Laganas Bay by boat
Glass-bottom boats and a speedboat around Marathonisi and the Keri Caves; turtles are watched from the boat.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Turtles, Keri Caves, Mizithres and Eros Cave
- Glass-bottom boat
- Several swim stops
- Marathonisi and Keri Caves
Four hours in a glass-bottom boat past Marathonisi, Mizithres and the Keri Caves with several swim stops; turtles are watched from the boat.
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Turtles, Marathonisi and Keri Caves by speedboat
- Captain and crew
- Swim stops
- Hotel pickup
Three hours with captain and crew to Cameo, Marathonisi and the Keri Caves, with swim stops and hotel pickup.
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Turtles, Marathonisi and Keri Caves by glass-bottom boat
- Boat ticket
- Hotel pickup and return
The boat ticket with pickup from your hotel or the cruise terminal, three hours in Laganas Bay and along the Keri coast.
Check availability →Marathonisi and Laganas Bay boat trips
Turtle Island trips, Keri caves cruises and glass-bottom boats from the south coast, with live prices and availability.
What a Marathonisi trip involves
Most trips leave from the south coast, cross the bay to Marathonisi and often continue to the Keri caves. Ask what the trip includes before you book: whether the boat stops at the island, whether there is a swim stop and how long you stay. Extras such as food or a children's price differ by offer, so read the details.
Marathonisi is a nesting beach, and it is a beach without private beach equipment. Some trips use a glass-bottom boat, which lets you look at the sea floor without getting into the water.
The rules at sea
A conservation code for boats near turtles.
Distance and approach
The code of the turtle conservation group Archelon asks boats to stay 15 m away and to approach from the side, never head on. At most 2 boats should be near an animal at once, and others stay at least 45 m back.
Time and speed
Watching should last at most 10 minutes, and the boat should move at under 2 knots while near the animal. In Laganas Bay, the speed limit asked of boats is 6 knots.
No contact
Do not touch or feed a turtle, and do not swim with it. Do not book a trip that offers swimming with turtles or feeding them.
Closed areas
The bay has zones. In the strictest, no boat traffic is allowed. In the next, boats may travel but not anchor, and in the third, boats may travel at limited speed. The strict reserve of Sekania is not a place for normal visits.
This conservation code is a code of conduct, not the same thing as a legal ban, but a responsible operator follows it. The exact zone map and season dates can change, so ask your operator which zones the boat uses, and ask the park management agency (NECCA) for current rules.
The rules on land
The same marine park protects the nesting beaches of Gerakas, Dafni and Marathonisi. Public entry is generally allowed from 07:00 until sunset, and between sunset and 07:00 no one should be on the nesting beaches.
- Keep your activities to the shore strip about 5 m wide.
- Do not change the cages around nests, and never touch hatchlings.
- No vehicles, dogs or horses on the nesting beaches.
- Beach umbrellas are limited at Gerakas, Dafni and Marathonisi.
For all the beaches, see the Zakynthos beaches guide.
Plan your visit around the animals
A few habits that make a trip better for everyone.
Be quiet on board
Loud music and sudden movement disturb the animals. Ask the crew how the boat behaves near turtles, and keep voices low when the engine slows.
Keep your gear to yourself
Do not drop food, bags or litter overboard, and do not try to photograph a turtle by leaning out of the boat.
Use a morning slot if you can
Nesting beaches open to the public at 07:00, so a morning visit gives you the longest legal window on the sand. Boat departure times differ by operator.
See the things to do in Zakynthos guide for how to combine a south-coast boat day with the rest of the island, and the Blue Caves page for the north coast.
How to choose a responsible trip
Questions to ask before you pay.
Does the operator state the rules?
A good operator tells you how close the boat will go, how long it will stay and which zones it uses. Avoid trips that promise a close encounter.
What does the title promise?
A turtle in the trip title is a description of the area, not a guarantee. Plan the day as a boat trip that may include a sighting.
Is the trip a good fit for you?
For most visitors who want to see Laganas Bay without disturbing the animals, a short boat trip or a glass-bottom boat is enough. Stay in the boat when the crew asks you to.
Marathonisi and turtles: frequently asked questions
Will I see turtles on a Marathonisi trip?
Maybe, but no operator can promise it. The turtles are wild, and a sighting depends on the day. Treat the trip as a boat outing in Laganas Bay.
Can I swim with the turtles?
No. Do not swim with turtles, touch them or feed them. A conservation code asks boats to keep 15 m away.
How long does a Marathonisi trip take?
A south-coast trip with Marathonisi and the Keri caves is listed at 3 hours in 2026. The time is the whole outing, not the time near the island.
Can I go to the nesting beaches at night?
No. Between sunset and 07:00 no one should be on the nesting beaches.
Is this an official site?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not run by a municipality, a ministry, a tourism board, a conservation group or a boat operator.