Zante, also often known as Zakynthos, is the most southerly of the Ionian Islands and one of the most popular Greek islands.

Triangular in shape the island has three distinct geographical areas: the north west is mountainous with quaint traditional mountain villages, the central region is a fertile plain rich with olive groves and vineyards and the south east is characterised by beautiful beaches.

There is something for everyone on this floating island of paradise with numerous sandy beaches, mountain villages preserving the traditional Greek way of life, beautiful natural scenery, watersports and good quality restaurants, bars and nightclubs to more than cater for all your entertainment needs.

BEACHES
The island of Zante is well known for its beaches. There are plenty of beaches to appeal to everyone: from unspoilt beaches, to beaches with water sports, secluded beaches - the list is endless. Many of the beaches in the south of the island (such as Gerakas & Sekania) are also breeding grounds of the endangered Caretta Caretta turtles, which lay their eggs in the soft sand and the baby turtles hatch about 8 weeks later.

From some of the beaches on the island it is possible to take boat trips to see the turtles. The most well known beach from which to do this is Laganas beach. It is a favorite trip for many tourists as it offers a unique experience to see such ancient and majestic creatures swimming gracefully in the calm waters of the Ionian Sea. The best known beach on Zakynthos is Navajo, also known as Shipwreck beach or Smuggler's cove - it is breathtakingly beautiful; any visit to Zante is not complete without seeing this beach.

Tsilivi, Argassi and Alykanas beaches are great for water sports with a wide range on offer. Diving, snorkeling and scuba diving are also popular on the island and Agios Nikolaos beach has the best reputation for scuba diving on the island.

At Keri Lake there is a popular diving school and from here it is also possible to visit some nearby blue caves.

Many of Zante's beaches are excellent for families and safe for young children and swimmers of any level (as the water is shallow) - with tourist's favorites being Alykes, Tsilivi and Argassi. For those that prefer uncrowded beaches you might like to visit: Amoudi, Dafni & Makris Gialos to name just a few. Anyone who feels like they need a bit of pampering or relief from aches should go and swim at Xigia beach, as the water has a high Sulphur content and is renowned for having healing properties. For unique and unspoilt places to swim try Limnionas and Porto Roxa.

Zante is definitely a beach lover's paradise, with such a wide variety of beaches on offer.

SIGHTS

Zakynthos is rich with sights and there are plenty of things to see and do on any visit to this blissful island. The most famous sight and one that is definitely not to be missed is the Shipwreck - a picturesque beach in the north of Zante.

Nearby the Shipwreck are the Blue Caves distinctive in the fact that there are only 3 Blue Caves in the whole of Greece.

The Wildlife Information Centre at Gerakas is a great place to visit, not just as it is located on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island but also because it gives visitors the chance to learn more about the endangered Caretta Caretta turtles and perhaps even glimpse one of these magnificent creatures swimming in the waters of the Ionian Sea.

Bohali is worth a visit, for the panoramic views the village can offer and also because it is where the ruins of a Venetian Castle are located.

Zante Town being the capital and cultural centre of the island has many sights of interest, such as the Byzantine Museum and the Museum of Solomos & Kalvos, St Dionysios's Church and the Church of St Nikolas.

One thing is for sure, there are lots of sights to appreciate on Zakynthos - so one visit to the island might not be enough!