Navagio Beach, more popularly known as the Shipwreck Beach or Smuggler’s Cove, is located on the coast of Zakynthos island of the Ionian archipelago. Navagio is famed as one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece and after witnessing its stunning sights, you will agree too.
The beach can be accessed only by water as it is completely enclosed by towering cliffs. With the exception of the signature shipwreck, the beach retains its pristine form. The ship tries to stand strong even after decades, but you will notice that it is heavily rusted and starting to fall apart. The white pebbled shore and unbelievable shades of the clear waters are a great place to hang out, sunbathe and even go swimming and explore underwater.
History
The beach was previously known as Agios Georgios and after the eventful shipwreck, it was named as Navagio, which means shipwreck in Greek. In 1980, MV Panagiotis, a shipping vessel, ran ashore on the beach. It is funny how one shipwreck can have multiple stories attached to it. Ask your tour guide about this, or even better, search on the internet and you will come across plenty of theories regarding this shipwreck.
One of the rumours is that the ship was involved in smuggling contraband for the Italian Mafia and ran ashore while trying to escape the Greek Navy who were following it. Some accounts of the event mentioned that the ship was carrying illegal cigarettes and alcohol. After the ship crashed, the cargo was allegedly looted by the locals from neighbouring villages. Another (hilarious) theory states that the shipwreck was planted by the Greek government themselves to attract tourists! There has been no official information regarding the incident and we can only guess what could have happened!
Navagio from above
Though the beach, its shipwreck and turquoise waters are enchanting, nothing can beat the view from the cliffs above. It can be a little tricky to get to the cliff, but if you want to experience the pictures of Navagio that you see on tourist guides and on Instagram, the extra effort is worth it.
You will need to take a bus or taxi to the village of Anafonitria, from where you will have to either walk for about 5 km to reach the top of the cliff or hire a taxi. There are also certain tours on the island which include the Navagio cliff view.
Once you reach the top, you might have to stand in line and wait for your turn on the observation platform. Each person gets 15-30 seconds, depending on the crowd and you can click away! Near the platform, there is a small trail which will lead you to even better views of the beach! You will also be able to spot a small beach located near Navagio. The observation platform is thronged with tourists, but this little trail remains a secret, so make sure you explore it!
Zakynthos Island
While Navagio is undoubtedly the highlight of Zakynthos, it also has other great beaches like Gerakas, Laganas Zante and Vasilikos. Some of the beaches are also home to the endangered Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtle species which come to the shores in spring and summer to lay eggs. Around the coast of Zakynthos, you can explore the Blue Caves and Keri Caves, which are a delight for lovers of underwater adventures.
The capital of Zakynthos, which goes by the same name, strongly reflects Venetian architecture which is visible in the Venetian Castle and Saint Mark Square. Apart from this, the island has numerous monasteries and churches among which the Church of Agios Dionysius and Monastery of Panagia Eleftherotria are most notable.
Why should you visit?
The shipwreck of Navagio is legendary and is one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world. Navagio gets even better if you love hiking and feasting on dazzling views. In short, it is an exotic destination you wouldn’t want to miss.
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