Much as the manmade can astound and delight travellers, nothing can really compare to the majesty, diversity, mystery, and beauty of nature. When you are exploring the world, great views, impressive rock formations, stunning beaches, majestic mountain peaks, lush pastures, towering forests, and other natural phenomena are usually high on the list of your things to see and do. Greece, in particular, is a place that boasts a diverse and utterly stunning landscape, full of wonderful gifts from nature and, if you have found a vacation rental in Zakynthos, then there is likely a particular sight that will rank high on the list of things to see and do for any tourist visiting the area: to spot the famous turtles of Marathonisi.
The appeal is understandable; these are utterly beautiful and astounding creatures and the opportunity to, perhaps, see them up-close is thrilling. However, this article is not the regular kind that you will find on this website. It will not detail the excitement of a particular attraction or day out but, rather, inform and suggest caution instead.
Zakynthos still has many charms but, after the last recession, it has struggled and mass development of tourist resorts is something that was turned to in desperation to help the flailing economy. The wondrous natural bounty of the island has, undeniably, suffered, as a result. Not least of all the community of loggerhead turtles that shelter on the eastern side of Zakynthos to mate and lay eggs. They are the only species of turtles that come to Greek waters and of the entire Mediterranean loggerhead population (which is estimated to only be in the low thousands), around 50-70% come to Zakynthos.
The appeal is understandable; these are utterly beautiful and astounding creatures and the opportunity to, perhaps, see them up-close is thrilling. However, this article is not the regular kind that you will find on this website. It will not detail the excitement of a particular attraction or day out but, rather, inform and suggest caution instead.
Zakynthos still has many charms but, after the last recession, it has struggled and mass development of tourist resorts is something that was turned to in desperation to help the flailing economy. The wondrous natural bounty of the island has, undeniably, suffered, as a result. Not least of all the community of loggerhead turtles that shelter on the eastern side of Zakynthos to mate and lay eggs. They are the only species of turtles that come to Greek waters and of the entire Mediterranean loggerhead population (which is estimated to only be in the low thousands), around 50-70% come to Zakynthos.
There they build around 1,300 nests each year, with each nest formed of about 100 to 120 eggs. Of these eggs, only around one in a hundred will actually make it to adulthood and the maturation process for the species takes years, making survival even more treacherous. The continuation of their species is already hard but the pollution of the seas that kills many (ingesting plastic, getting caught in stray nets, etc) and the stress caused by human interference (lights shining down on the beach from developments, people being close by, etc) can put off, affect, and interrupt the females when laying their eggs.
Many tourist are not aware of the scale of these struggles and, understandably, just want to go see these incredible creatures for themselves, which is readily done as lots of different operators and groups offer turtle-watching trips out on boats. To this I would simply advise caution and, perhaps, to avoid the whole thing altogether because, if you really do want to see the turtles of Marathon Island, and to continue to see them in the future, too, then you’re better off viewing them from a safe distance and supporting the organisations that are doing everything in their power to keep them alive.
There are lots of other things that you can see and do if you find a vacation rental in Zakynthos that allows you to enjoy the incredible natural bounty of the destination such as visiting the various amazing beaches, coves, caves, and grottoes dotted along the coast; going paddle-boarding or snorkelling in designated areas to make the most of those crystal clear waters; visiting wineries to reap the rewards of harvests; hiking and taking in the extraordinary panoramas of the island; and much more besides.
Many tourist are not aware of the scale of these struggles and, understandably, just want to go see these incredible creatures for themselves, which is readily done as lots of different operators and groups offer turtle-watching trips out on boats. To this I would simply advise caution and, perhaps, to avoid the whole thing altogether because, if you really do want to see the turtles of Marathon Island, and to continue to see them in the future, too, then you’re better off viewing them from a safe distance and supporting the organisations that are doing everything in their power to keep them alive.
There are lots of other things that you can see and do if you find a vacation rental in Zakynthos that allows you to enjoy the incredible natural bounty of the destination such as visiting the various amazing beaches, coves, caves, and grottoes dotted along the coast; going paddle-boarding or snorkelling in designated areas to make the most of those crystal clear waters; visiting wineries to reap the rewards of harvests; hiking and taking in the extraordinary panoramas of the island; and much more besides.
However, if you’re really all about seeing the turtles for yourself, then the most eco-friendly and sustainable way to potentially get a little closer to the lovable little guys is to make your way to the Zakynthos Sea Turtle Rescue & Information Centre. Located 100 meters from Gerakas beach, which is a popular nesting beach for the turtles of Zakynthos, the information centre was established by Yiannis Vardakastanis, a Gerakas local who has been fighting to protect and preserve the flora and fauna of his homeland for years. It is run by his organisation, Earth, Sea & Sky, a Zakynthian NGO that works towards making the best possible sea turtle rescue station, along with the help of the Sea Life centres of Europe.
Designed to protect and help the wildlife of the surrounding area and to inform visitors about it through engaging informative displays and passionate employees who are delighted to talk about the work that they do, this incredible institution is the place to spend your money on the island if you want to help preserve the future for the beautiful loggerhead turtles. If you care for their well-being, this is the place to turn to. Entry is free but we would encourage donating if you feel like helping out as they are really in need of funding to help their excellent work. Given that it is a rescue centre, it is probably preferable if you don’t see any turtles there and it is also more than likely that you won’t but you might be able to catch a glimpse of one of the turtles that they have helped if you just so happen to visit while one is in their care.
So, if you have found a vacation rental in Zakynthos and you’re interested in ecotourism and the turtles of Zakynthos but want to make sure they have a future, we recommend being mindful of the activities that you engage in and where you put your money. It is always important to be a considerate traveller and leave places just as clean, if not cleaner, than when you arrived and to ensure that you don’t leave anything behind that might negatively affect the health and well-being of local flora and fauna. Let’s all try and keep Greece as beautiful as it is!
Designed to protect and help the wildlife of the surrounding area and to inform visitors about it through engaging informative displays and passionate employees who are delighted to talk about the work that they do, this incredible institution is the place to spend your money on the island if you want to help preserve the future for the beautiful loggerhead turtles. If you care for their well-being, this is the place to turn to. Entry is free but we would encourage donating if you feel like helping out as they are really in need of funding to help their excellent work. Given that it is a rescue centre, it is probably preferable if you don’t see any turtles there and it is also more than likely that you won’t but you might be able to catch a glimpse of one of the turtles that they have helped if you just so happen to visit while one is in their care.
So, if you have found a vacation rental in Zakynthos and you’re interested in ecotourism and the turtles of Zakynthos but want to make sure they have a future, we recommend being mindful of the activities that you engage in and where you put your money. It is always important to be a considerate traveller and leave places just as clean, if not cleaner, than when you arrived and to ensure that you don’t leave anything behind that might negatively affect the health and well-being of local flora and fauna. Let’s all try and keep Greece as beautiful as it is!