Zakinthos - General Info
Description:
Nisos Zakinthos (Zante Island) lies south of Cephalonia just off the coast of the Peloponnese and is a most attractive island. Sadly, much of the Italian architecture which made it such a jewel was destroyed in the 1953 earthquake.
The port of Zakynthos (Port Zante) is towards the southern end of the east coast. This is a good place for shopping and re-provisioning, however, has little else going for it and can be very noisy in the summer.
Beware of the unlit buoys marking the end of a pipeline SE of the harbor entrance.
Position:
37°46.69’N, 20°54.36’E (Port Zante)
Zakinthos National Marine Park – www.nmp-zak.org
The National Marine Park of Zakynthos was founded in 1999, and is located in Laganas Bay, SE of Zakynthos. This is the most important nesting area for the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean. Restrictions for vessels anchoring here are in place from May to November every year, however, if wanting to visit at any time of the year it’s advisable to inquire with local authorities at Port Zante before heading there. Fines have been given to yachts that infringe the regulations.
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Paid 25 euro/night for NW town quay. 44ft cat. Discounted to 20 euro if you stay 3 nights. No power where we were placed.
We have just left our yacht in Zakynthos in the safe hands of the YCZ yacht club. We intend to return in a couple of months when the height of the summer is over.
Just a note about the main harbour.. we turned up a few days early to secure our spot and were surprised by the amount of road traffic which runs past all the boats moored stern to against the harbour quay.
No question that this road is a main attraction, particularly at weekends, for anyone wanting some entertainment. Motorbikes scream up and down making sleeping for those on board impossible.
You also have the Zoo effect of people walking past all the boats. My advice would be one-night maximum, then head north to the harbour at Ormos Ay Nikolaos to see the rest of Zante.
Reported by SY Funny Girl – September 2016:
Town Quay Zakinthos
We were immediately directed to the NW city quay and helped by a guy from the Marina.
There is water available via service poles. You have to pay 5 € when using this service, but there is no direct control of use.
Hello again!
Back in Zakynthos, I can report that the port improved a lot. Dionisios Marinos / Yach club Zakynthos handles the yachts with care.
I left my boat there for 3 months and found her in the perfect condition I left her. The guys from the “Marina” are very polite and helpful. If you need anything, just ask them, they help to find what you seek! Zakynthos is a beautiful island and worth a visit. I enjoyed! Thanks a lot!
Posted on behalf of Fabian Eder – SY Europa:
Recently in Zakynthos, they closed the port completely when a Cruise Ship came in (9 am to approx 5 pm). I am moored there. Went for a coffee at 8:30 and when I returned to get my luggage and close the boat up for flying home.
The port police had closed the entire harbor due to Security reasons (terrorism fear?). I had to have a long discussion with them (Yacht Club Zakynthos were very helpful) before I was allowed to go back to my boat.
There was no announcement in advance that this was going to happen. In Zakynthos, the port is not so big and yachts moor on the NW breakwater and the town quay, while the intense ferry traffic occupies the southern part.
The cruise ship – one of those common in the med, nothing “special” – anchored outside the port and passengers were transferred in small boats to the harbor. But in fact, the Hellenic coast guard closed the port for all private traffic (except the ferries).
No boats were allowed to move in the port, no people were allowed to enter or leave the port area on land, apart from the cruise ship passengers. When I talked to the Dionisios Marinos (Yacht Club Zakynthos).
Who is in charge of the section of the port where the yachts moor, he told me that this happens now whenever a cruise ship comes. The crucial point is the lack of information in advance. No VHF notice, no-one comes to the pier the day before to inform yacht owners.
Vitamina have just been at Zakynthos. It is worth to ho to blue grotto and to the bay on the west coast where there are a lot of beautiful creeks and in Navaio there is a sinking boat on the beach and there is incredible turquoise water. On the south, it says that you can find turtles but the problem is that there is a restricted area and you have to ask for permission to anchor there.