Time Out in Zante

With the heavy rain and wind we have been experiencing over the last few days it is hard to remember that a little over one week ago I was basking in thirty degree heat, with my toes in the sand and a nose in a book.

It had been a while since I had a complete “beach break.” Time to simply to nothing but rest and soak up the sun. Don’t get me wrong, we always ensure we get our holidays. It just seems that it has been a while since a holiday revolved around the beach. I expected our trip to San Diego the previous year to have a little more relaxation, however with so many things to see and do – it just did not work out that way. Plus with some great running routes around Mission Bay I could not resist a few early morning runs to get the day started.

Fast forward to Summer 2018 and after a good eight months training and racing, amongst other stresses of daily life, I was well and truly ready to worship the sun for nine days. And for a good five days, it was the perfect opportunity to do so. Until I ran out of reading material. So from the sun lounger I enquired with my trusty Trip Advisor app to allow us a few days exploring.

The first trip on the agenda was a Turtle Spotting Cruise. A cruise that promised a little wildlife as we cruised the bay of Laganas in an attempt to spot the loggerhead turtles swimming in their native environment.

We managed to spot one turtle as it came to the surface. However visiting in September, when it was coming towards the end of the season, meant that this was the only one we could spot whilst on the cruise.

The boat continued on from Laganas bay, cruising the coast of Zante, past the small island of Marathonisi (otherwise known as Turtle Beach due to its uncanny resemblance to the sea creature), before stopping around the Keri Caves for an opportunity to swim in the crystal clear waters.

With a sea temperature of 24 degrees we did not hesitate. Leaving many members of the tour on board we jumped straight in and was rewarded with one of the most pleasant swims I have yet to experience.

On our second day trip, having already had the pleasure of a tour on around the coast by boat, we decided to book the Zakynthos Island Tour by Coach and as a result saw some of the most beautiful views to date.

Starting early we met our coach and tour guide towards the north of the island, quickly making our way to one of many stops – views of the neighbouring island of Kefalonia.

Back on the coach, our tour guide continued to delight us with facts about Zante in an extremely entertaining manner until we arrived at our next stop – Agios Nikolaos.

Here, you would find the opportunity to take a small boat and visit the glorious Blue Caves. Sadly, on the day we took our trip, the sea was far to choppy to risk a small vessel. Therefore we simply took in the views of the small town before heading off again to our next location – Navagio Beach. Otherwise known as Shipwrecked Beach.

The views to be had on the cliff edge overlooking the beach were breathtaking. Luckily, due to the choppy waters, there were very few boats visiting the beach itself that day. So we were treated to unspoilt views of the cove, the shipwreck and the stunningly aquamarine blue waters that surrounded it. For me, this was the highlight. I had never seen such a sight in all the time I have been travelling. It is clear to understand why it is known as one of the most photographed beaches in the world. Some even risk their lives (against the advice upon the cliff top) to get a better view and picture to take home. I stuck to the guidance of our tour rep and was simply memorised.

Our time at the top was rather brief, as coaches tend to find themselves in a bit of a pickle getting back down the tight roads if they linger too long. So we were off before we knew it. If the tour had ended here I would have returned home happy – it was the view I had been waiting for.

But our tour continued on. Visiting the quaint Monastery of St. Dennis in Anafonitria and the village of Exo Hora, well known for it’s 2000 year old, gnarled olive tree – which is still producing olives today.

After so much excitement everyone on the tour was ready for a spot of lunch. And the spot for lunch could not have been more perfect. Nestled on the cliffs in Kampi, we enjoyed a fantastic meal at a traditional Greek Taverna, whilst offering cliff top views that would please the most seasoned traveller.

After a good week of all inclusive hotel food, I could not have been happier with the vegetarian offering this venue had for me. The dreamy location was just icing on the cake. A perfect end to a fantastic tour of the island, as after our lunch it was back to our resort for the last few days.

The resort itself, though not the best in terms of accommodation and cuisine, offered us a fantastic, quiet get away with great views and sandy beaches. The perfect place to recharge your batteries and make friends an adorable litter of kittens!