CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia CommonsBeach· Marathonisi· Greece — Ionian, Saronic & Argolic
Marathonisi (Turtle Island)
37° 41.2′ N · 20° 52.1′ E
A small, privately owned, uninhabited islet in Laganas Bay, shaped like a turtle, with a 150-metre sand beach where loggerhead turtles nest and a pebble cove with a sea cave on its other side. It is one of the six protected nesting beaches of the marine park.
Practical
Anchoring off the islet is not allowed (zanteisland.com; the islet sits in the protected zones). Visit by tripper boat, or come in your dinghy or by kayak from Agios Sostis or Limni Keri at 6 knots maximum. Beach rules (ARCHELON, 2026 report): open from 7am until sunset only; no umbrellas, sunbeds or private beach gear; keep within 5 m of the waterline; no digging; keep at least 15 m from turtles and never touch or feed them; leave no litter; no presence at night. There are no facilities: bring water. Snorkel the cave to the right of the pebble beach and the partly submerged caves around it (zanteisland.com). Reefs north and west of the islet are treacherous (SailingIssues). A monk seal has been known to use one of its caves.
Best for
Swim and snorkel at the turtle beach by dinghy
Season
Beach open 7am–sunset; nesting May–Aug
Nearby
- Marathonisi Dive Site (Turtle Island)0.3 NM away
- Zakynthos Dive Sites (Keri, Marathonisi)0.3 NM away
- Marathia Beaches (Cape Marathia)1.3 NM away
- Marathia Reef Dive Site1.3 NM away
- Keri Harbour & Limni Keri Anchorage1.4 NM away
- Zakynthos National Marine Park Zones1.4 NM away
- Laganas Bay Turtles (National Marine Park)1.5 NM away
- Porto Koukla (Lithakia Coast)1.5 NM away