Navagio. The beach is one of the ten most beautiful in the world.
Zakynthos is a very small Greek island, only 25 km long. which is located in the Ionian Sea. The tiny size and the fact that in 1953 a strong earthquake destroyed almost all historical buildings scare away many tourists who fear that there is nothing to do and nothing to see in Zakynthos. It's not.
On the island is the beach of Navagio Bay. It is not as famous as Copacabana or Ipanema. But it is one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world. That is, it is on a par with the beaches of the Bounty and the Maldives.
A visit to Navagio is included in the mandatory tourist package of Zakynthos. To buy a tour there, the hotel guide will begin to persuade you, and then you will stumble upon advertisements for these tours at every step.
Don't agree. Don't give in. The fact is that by paying 60 - 80 E. per person, you will get a place on such an overloaded life.
It will take a long time to unload you. There is no pier in Navagio. When the last comes ashore, the first begin to return on board. For all 40 minutes at most.
In the background, the "highlight" of Navagio. How the eloquent guides rub it - "The ruins of an old ship of smugglers". . .
If I'm not mistaken, this vessel was carrying duty-free cigarettes from Albania. And she ran aground here. It was in the early eighties.
Like a stroke. "Nakhabino" is written in giant letters on the stern with paint. The guys were not too lazy.
I advise you to go the other way. You need to go to Alykes-Alikanas beach and find a boat rental there. Arrange for a boat rental with a skipper. If there are five of you, then for the price it will be equal to five tickets for a multi-meter life. If there are more of you, you will get savings. But only 8 passengers fit on the boat.
The skipper will bring the boat to the nearest pier to your hotel at a convenient time.
A funny thing happened to me at that moment. I came to the pier, and there is already a group of comrades who are clearly waiting for something. I even got upset. I decided that the Greeks had sold seats on the boat I rented. It turned out not. A few minutes later my boat arrived and the skipper bowed and helped me get on board. I lounged on a snow-white sofa, lit a cigarette and opened a beer. My family hasn't arrived yet. And suddenly an aunt, from a group of people waiting on the pier, started yelling at me. In the sense that they stand here longer than me, and I climbed out of line and cheekily took the best place. The present guide began to explain to her that they were waiting for a completely different ship. I interrupted her and uttered a luxurious phrase. “Madam, ” I said, “this is my boat. But if you don’t mind, then I invite you on board. ” And he waved his hand towards another sofa. The aunt pursed her lips and turned away.
But I paid less for this luxury than she did. there were six of us.
On the way to the bay, the skipper fulfilled all our desires and whims. Drove into some caves.
He let me admire the oncoming yachts.
Well, in principle, we were much more comfortable than during the mass tour.
Alas, Navagio disappointed. Yes, the bay and the beach are good. But there are so many tourists that the whole veil of goodness disappears. Maybe it was worth starting the trip very early in the morning or vice versa in the late afternoon in order to get to an unpopular time?
But in any case, you need to swim here. And find fellow travelers from the hotel neighbors to sail here not as an average tourist, but as a rich bourgeois.
And the sea, as in Navalio, I have never seen in my life.
