Renting a Boat in Zakynthos

Boat Rental

For me, this was the best way to experience the island. Zakynthos from the water is completely different. The blue water, cliffs, caves, hidden beaches, and small coves are honestly unreal.

You can visit some places by car, but many of the best parts of the coastline are only reachable by boat or are much better seen from the water.

How many boat days should you do?

I recommend doing at least two boat days.

One for the north side of the island and one for the south side.

North side boat day:

This is the route for Navagio Beach, Blue Caves, hidden beaches, small coves, dramatic cliffs, and some of the most famous water views in Zakynthos.

For this route, you want to rent from a harbor on the north or northeast side of the island, like Agios Nikolaos or Porto Vromi.

South side boat day:

This is the route for Marathonisi Island, Keri Caves, Myzithres, and the small beaches around Myzithres.

For this route, many boat rentals leave from the Agios Sostis, Laganas, or Keri area.

West coast boat day:

If you have one week in Zakynthos, I would also consider adding a third boat day from Porto Vromi.

This route is more remote and less explored compared to the classic Navagio and south side routes. You can visit places like Sfogio Beach, White Beach, Maravelia Cave, Porto Vromi Beach, Face of Poseidon, Heart-Shaped Sea Cave, Porto Steniti Beach, Shiza Beach, and Seal Cave.

Booking in advance vs renting at the harbor

I recommend checking boat rental options in advance through Click&Boat and CheckYeti, especially if you’re visiting during summer and want better availability.

I personally used Click&Boat for all my boat rentals, and it worked amazingly well.

You can also take your chances by going directly to the harbor and renting on the spot, but booking ahead gives you more options and usually makes the day less stressful.

In July and August, I would book in advance.

With or without a captain?

You can rent some boats without a license in Zakynthos, depending on the boat type and company.

I drove the boat myself, and it was easier than I expected. The part that needed the most attention was anchoring.

Anchoring is where you really need to pay attention to the instructions. You need to understand where you’re allowed to stop, how far you should be from the shore, how deep the water is, where the wind is going, and whether there are rocks nearby.

Personally, next time I would hire a captain.

Not because driving was too hard, but because I would rather relax, enjoy the day, and not have the responsibility. Also, if you hire a captain, you can enjoy a few beers without worrying about driving.

If you drive the boat yourself, please don’t drink.

Listen to the boat company

• This is very important. Before leaving the harbor, the boat company will explain where you can go, where you cannot go, how to anchor, what route they recommend, and what to do if conditions change. Listen carefully.

• The sea can be dangerous, and you don’t want to put yourself in a difficult position just because you ignored the instructions.

• I also recommend asking them for the best route that day. Wind and sea conditions can change, so the best route may not always be the same. When I rented from Agios Nikolaos, the boat owner told me to go straight to Navagio Beach first and then slowly make my way back toward Agios Nikolaos while stopping at the other highlights on the way. That worked really well. But if you rent from a different harbor, your route may be different. Always follow what your boat company tells you.

• Start early, try to arrive at the first hour of your reservation. Most full-day boat rentals need to be returned around 5:00 or 6:00 pm, so starting early gives you way more time to enjoy the coast without rushing. Boat days go by fast, and you don’t want to waste the first hour getting organized late.

Navagio Beach rules

At the moment, Navagio Beach is not open for people to step onto the sand, and boats are not allowed to anchor there because of landslide safety concerns.

You can still see it by boat from the water, but access rules can change, so check the latest updates and follow your boat company’s instructions.

Even if you can’t go onto the beach, I still think it is 100% worth visiting. The cliffs, shipwreck, and blue water are incredible from the boat.

Turtle areas

The south side of Zakynthos is known for loggerhead sea turtles.

If you see turtles, keep your distance, don’t chase them, don’t touch them, and follow any protected area rules.

The goal is to enjoy seeing them without disturbing them.

What to bring on a boat day

Bring more than you think you need because you’ll be in the sun for hours.

I recommend bringing:

• Water

• Snacks

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

• Hat

• Towel

• Swimwear

• Dry bag

• Snorkeling gear, if you have it

• Phone charger or power bank

• Light shirt or cover-up for sun protection

• Cash, just in case

Boat rental cost

Prices can change depending on the season, boat size, company, route, fuel, and whether you choose a captain.

When I went, I paid around:

North boat rental: about $219

South boat rental: about $216

Boat fuel total: about $72

These prices are based on my trip and can change, especially during peak season.