Zante, also known as Zakynthos, is the most southern island in the Ionian chain which runs down the western coast of the Greek mainland. Zante is about 40km long and 19km wide and lies about 12km off the Peloponnese coast.
Roughly triangular in shape, Zante is the third largest of the Ionian group and the 10th largest in Greece. Zante has pine-covered mountains in the north while the centre is mostly gentle rolling hills planted with vines, olives, almonds and vegetables. Mt Vrahion is the highest peak at around 758m.
The island is an a strong earthquake region and there have been several major tremors on the island. The biggest was in August 1953 which flattened the capital of Zakynthos Town.
The endangered loggerhead turtle Caretta Caretta nests on several Zante beaches and, although protected by law, the restrictions are widely flouted, especially around the main resort of Laganas.
The northern coast of Zante is littered with caves and sea eroded cliffs that act as a magnet for the pleasure boats. The Blue Caves are found around Cape Skinari and are one of the best-known sights on the island. The largest cave is called the Blue Grotto and the colour here really is spectacular.
There are boat trips to it from all over the island but the nearest harbour is located at Agios Nikolaos, near Volimes. It can be better to drive to Agios Nikolaos then take a short boat trip. Sailing from the south will take a long time.
Most spectacular of all is the KIANOUN CAVE which bathes in a light of shimmering blue. It is best viewed in the early morning and readers recommend arriving early and taking one of the smaller boats that go right inside the caves. The daily Blue Cave boat trips usually last for about 90 mins.
The area is popular for snorkelling, not only because of the intense blue hues reflecting off the white limestone but also because there is wide range of marine life there.
Daily boat trippers also take in the caves at SKLAVOU and to the sulphur springs at XIGIA where the sand is so hot you need shoes for protection. There is a small beach, now called Sulphur Beach, which is a narrow strip of sand beneath a stark sheer cliff where the sea does have a slightly sulphurous smell but it's not unpleasant.
Almost every visitor to Zante goes to see the notorious SHIPWRECK COVE or NAVAGIO, subject of more Zante postcards than you can shake a beach umbrella at.
Few are disappointed at the romantic scene with a steep beach of bright white pebbles nestling beneath the vertiginous white cliffs.
The wreck itself is rather less romantic, merely a rusting old steamer that struck the beach while on a cigarette and booze smuggling expedition. It ran aground in poor weather while being chased by a Greek navy patrol boat.
But the setting is perfect with a small sandy beach and steep cliffs all around. The water around here is notoriously cold though so only the brave bother to take a dip. There are no roads to this spot and the only access is by boat.
Photos of an empty beach are difficult to get now as tour boats arrive every hour on the hour and the place is normally heaving with bodies.
Views from the cliffs above are also far more dramatic than those from a boat arriving for its allowed slot of 60mins but few are willing to slog up and down the steep cliff path.
The Caretta Caretta loggerhead sea turtle is an endangered species and Zante is one of the most important breeding ground for it. The turtles make nests on the Greek island beaches and nowhere else. Despite Zante, and Laganas Bay in particular, being such an important nest site, there has been fierce resistance from locals to the introduction of protection measures.
Many locals see the restrictions as an unnecessary imposition on their money-making schemes. Beach nesting sites have been bulldozed to make way for sunbeds, neon lights and noise have driven turtles away and, despite the creatures being very shy, they are relentlessly pursued by gawping tourists in glass-bottomed boat trips.
Turtles return to the beach they were born on to nest after 20 to 30 years. The mating season is April to June and eggs are laid in the sand. The hatchlings are born about 60 days after the eggs have been laid - which coincides with the peak holiday season.
There are six main nesting beaches in the Bay of Laganas. There are 100-200 eggs in each nest but only one in 1,000 baby turtles that make it to the sea will live to adulthood. The beach at Sekania in Laganas Bay has the highest density of nests with more than 600 in its 55m length. Other beaches in the bay have been severely hit by tourism and, as a result, no one is now allowed on Sekania, nor are any boats allowed near it. Holidaymakers can help protect the remaining few turtles by following a few simple rules.
Let volunteer workers tell you where not to sit.
Don't let children play near nest sites
Don't leave litter on the beach - especially plastic water bottles.
Don't touch the baby turtles as they make their way to the sea.
Don't drive on the beach.
Don't push sun umbrellas into soft sand. If it punctures an egg the whole nest will be lost.
his nature park is found in the north of Zante, near Volimes. The private park opened in 2002 and is 125 acres of protected woods and wildlife. There are fine woodland walks, nature trails and glimpses of wildlife that live freely in the park. Many of the animals are not native to Zante and they include squirrels, chinchillas and African sheep as well as raccoons, pigs, cows, horses and donkeys.
The park has about 400 stone walls and some stone-built stables and warehouses. Water bowls cut into the rock to collect rainwater are though to be 600 years ago. The park is open all year round and there are guide books and free bottles of water for visitors
Zante gets heavy winter rains that help keep the island green in summer. Zante gets 3,000 hours of annual sunshine - on a par with Rhodes. There is quite a regional weather variation on Zante with the south warmer than the north.
The summer starts early in Zante Spring on with temperatures March to May averaging 15°C to 18°C. Summers are hot and dry, but cool sea breezes help temper heat. Temperatures stay in the high 20's to the mid 30's and rainfall is rare. Northerly meltemi winds are common in August. The sea is also warm throughout the summer, except in the north-west where it can stay chilly.
Zante stays relatively mild in winter with some warm days but mostly cloudy with periods of heavy rain. Winter storms can be quite severe. December is the wettest with almost 200mm of rain.
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | Averages |
| 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 22 | 17 | 14 | Day °C |
| 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 9 | Night °C |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 | Sun hrs |
| 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | UV Index |
| 148 | 104 | 86 | 48 | 22 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 35 | 134 | 151 | 188 | Rain (mm) |
| 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 12 | Rainy days |
‡ The most famous products of Zante are Verntea wine and the hard white cheeses called Ladotyri.
‡ Zante is noted for its sweets of Mandolato, Fytoura and Pasteli made from nougat, honey almonds.
