Marathonisi, the Turtle Island

Why is Marathonisi called Turtle Island?

Two reasons. From the air, the islet's outline looks like a swimming turtle, and its beach is one of the six loggerhead nesting beaches in Laganas Bay.

The wooded body of the island is the shell; a rocky point makes the head and the sand spit trails behind. Operators call it the turtle-shaped island, and the shape is clear on any aerial photo. The name Marathonisi means fennel island, from maratho, fennel.

Don't expect turtles on the beach itself. The females come ashore at night, and the island is closed from sunset to 7 am. The turtles you see on a trip are in the water of the bay around it.

Loggerhead nesting in Laganas Bay was discovered in 1977. ARCHELON began protecting the nests in 1984, and in 1999 the bay became the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, also a Natura 2000 site (GR2210002), now run by the state agency NECCA (ARCHELON). Marathonisi has been inside the park from the start.

Can you visit Marathonisi?

Yes, by boat, from 7 am to sunset. All the Laganas Bay turtle trips stop there, or you can take a self-drive boat.

There's no ferry and no bridge. Most visitors arrive on a turtle trip from Agios Sostis, wade ashore from the boat and leave with it. The island was inhabited until the Second World War; today there are no residents and no buildings (Zante Island).

Older guides say there's nothing to buy on the island. Two 2026 listings, the half-day tour and the self-drive rental, mention snacks for sale on Marathonisi. Bring your own water and food anyway.

What are the rules on the Marathonisi beach?

Open 7 am to sunset; stay within 5 m of the water; no umbrellas, sunbeds or other furniture; don't touch nest cages; take all rubbish home.

The nesting beach rules of the marine park (ARCHELON, park map):

• No umbrellas or beach furniture on Marathonisi, unlike the other nesting beaches, where it's cleared nightly.
• Stay close to the water. The turtles nest in the middle and back of the beach.
• Respect the cages over the nests and the markers next to them.
• No digging in dry sand, no sandcastles left behind.
• Take every scrap of rubbish back to the boat.
• Keep at least 15 m from any turtle in the water and never feed one.

Are there turtles on Marathonisi?

Their nests are, from late May. About 8% of the bay's nests are laid here, and they take about 62 days to hatch, the slowest in the bay.

Over 38 years of counts, Marathonisi held about 7.9% of the nests in Laganas Bay; Sekania, which is closed to all, held about half (Margaritoulis et al., 2022). The eggs take longer here than on Kalamaki (about 49 days). The hatchlings run to the sea between July and October, almost always at night.

Adult turtles are seen in the water around the island, and the boats often find one between Marathonisi and Agios Sostis. See where to see turtles for the rest of the bay.

Turtle spotting, the Keri Caves and 50 minutes on Marathonisi by speedboat, with hotel pickup.

★ 4.6 · 3 hours · from $32

Explore the turtle speedboat tour → Tour details

What is there to do on Marathonisi?

Swim, snorkel and lie by the water. There are two beaches: the sandy nesting beach and a pebbly cove you reach by swimming through a cave.

The main beach slopes gently into shallow, clear water, so it's easy with kids. Snorkellers go for the rocks at either end and the small, partly submerged caves, where starfish cling to the walls (Zante Island). The pebble beach behind a large cave is a short swim for strong swimmers.

Look at the plants too. Marathonisi has its own endemic sea lavender, Limonium zakynthium. And one local guide reports a monk seal summering in one of the small caves, which is another reason to keep quiet near them.

How long do the trips stay on Marathonisi?

From 30 minutes to an hour. The glass-bottom boat, the sunset cruise and the half-day tour stay about an hour; the speedboat 50 minutes.

If Marathonisi is the point of your trip, take one of the hour-long stops. If you care more about caves and swims, the speedboat or the Myzithres trip spread the time across more stops.

What should you bring to Marathonisi?

Water, sun cream, a hat, a towel, snacks and a mask. There's no shade on the beach and you can't put up an umbrella.

• Water and snacks: don't count on buying anything.
• Sun protection: a hat and a shirt beat a gallon of cream; the beach faces the full sun.
• Mask and snorkel: included on the glass-bottom boat and half-day tour; bring your own for the others.
• Water shoes for the rocks and the cave swim.
• A bag for rubbish. Nothing stays on the island.
• Toilets: none on the island. Go before you board.

Can you go to Marathonisi on a self-drive boat?

Yes. The Sand and Sea boats can reach the island in minutes from Agios Sostis, but you have to follow the park rules yourself.

The self-drive rental costs $144 per group for three hours, fuel extra, and no licence is needed. The team gives you a briefing and a test drive. Inside the park, the speed limit is 6 knots, Zone A is off limits from 1 May to 31 October, and anchoring is restricted, so ask where you may stop.

Arrive early and you can have Marathonisi almost to yourself before the tour boats come in. Leave before sunset: the beach closes then.

Not keen on a boat at all? You can see the island from land: it sits right off Limni Keri, and you can look down on it from the hills above Keri village.

Your own small boat for three or four hours: reach Marathonisi before the tour boats and swim where you like.

★ 4.8 · 3 or 4 hours · from $144

Explore a self-drive boat → Tour details

Frequently asked questions