Hotels near Laganas Bay & Zakynthos National Marine Park

Laganas Bay stretches 9 km along the south coast and is the heart of the Zakynthos National Marine Park - the first marine national park in Greece, established in 1999 specifically to protect the largest loggerhead sea turtle nesting population in the Mediterranean. From May to October, around 1,300 turtles come ashore here to lay eggs on the bay's sandy beaches.

The town of Laganas itself is the loud, young-tourist-orientated heart of Zakynthos nightlife, but the bay's western beaches (Kalamaki, Sekania, Daphne, Gerakas) are quieter and more important ecologically. Boat tours from Laganas port take you out to spot turtles in the bay, with sightings most reliable June to August, often combined with a stop at Marathonisi Island. Admission to the marine park itself is free for swimmers.

Pro Tip: Choose tour operators displaying the official ARCHELON or marine park accreditation sticker - they keep proper distance from turtles and follow no-touch rules. Sekania Beach is closed to the public year-round (it is the densest nesting site in the Mediterranean), so skip any operator who promises landings there.