I have seen some impressive beaches in my life. I grew up in New Zealand, which has some of the best in the world, and I have travelled to Australia and across Europe, which also have some famous spots. However, this incredible beach may just come top of the list as one of the most jaw-dropping.
I recently travelled to the island of Zakynthos for a friend’s birthday, and while we were there, we decided to take a boat trip around the coast to experience some of its natural beauty.
Turns out, this is something Zakynthos has no shortage of. Our boat trip from Alkyes Port with Golden Dolphin Tours whipped us past the coast of the island, giving us a totally new perspective on the land.
The rugged white rocks of the coast shone against the impossible blue of the ocean, and the staggered olive groves reached upwards into the mountains, dotted occasionally with luxury mansions.
The water was so clear you could see straight down, even as the boat skirted closer to open water, and the Grecian sun beat down on us as we continued on our speed boat trip towards the incredible Navagio Beach – also known as Shipwreck Beach.
I had seen photos of this beach, where the rusted corrugated iron remains of the MV Panagiotis lie cracked into three pieces across the shining white sand. But as we rounded the towering white cliffs towards the beach, what lay ahead of us really and truly took my breath away.
The first thing you notice, before you get close enough to properly see the wreckage, is just how blue the water is. It is a bright sky blue, unlike any other ocean I have ever seen, and it appears even bluer because of the contrast with the soaring cliffs that enclose this tiny bay.
As our boat drew closer, the shipwreck became clear – and that took my breath away all over again.
The MV Panagiotis ran aground here in October 1980. There is a rumour the ship was smuggling contraband, and so was being pursued by the Navy.
When bad weather forced the ship aground, the crew fled from the Navy, and the wreckage has lain on the beach ever since.
The rusted, graffiti flecked body of the ship is a stark contrast to the beach it lies on, which is so beautiful it could be straight from a film. The scene is unimaginably beautiful – but there is a catch.
We were desperate to get out and swim in this sky-blue water, and get up close and personal with the wreckage, but sadly, our captain told us the beach is closed to the public, and swimming is forbidden.
This is because of a seismic and landslide risk, as well as conservation attempts to save what is left of the wreckage. It has been closed before – in 2018, 2023 and 2024 and there is no sign of it reopening any time soon.
Luckily, our boat trip took us to three other spots along the coast of Zakynthos where you are more than welcome to jump in and swim, so just viewing this one spot from the boat was absolutely worth it.
Despite not being able to get up close and personal with the shipwreck, it was still an incredible experience, and one that myself and my friends will never forget.
If you want to book the same trip we did, you can check out Golden Dolphin Tours.