Hotels near Gerakas Beach

Gerakas, on the southern tip of the Vasilikos Peninsula, is one of the most beautiful beaches on Zakynthos and one of the most strictly protected. A long crescent of fine cream-coloured sand backs onto pale ochre clay cliffs, sitting inside the Zakynthos National Marine Park as a designated loggerhead nesting beach. As a result, sun loungers are restricted to the front third of the beach, the back is roped off, and the entire beach is closed to visitors from sunset to sunrise (May to October) to protect nesting turtles.

A small visitor centre at the entrance run by ARCHELON (the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece) is worth 10 minutes for the educational displays and to learn how to spot a nest. The beach itself is reached by a sloped sand path from the parking area; one taverna sits at the entrance. Water entry is shallow and gradual, making Gerakas a strong family pick when you respect the rules.

Pro Tip: Visit Monday to Friday outside July-August for a near-empty beach. Never walk on the marked-off section, never use flash photography near the dunes, and never dig in the sand outside the public swimming area - active loggerhead nests sit just below the surface.