Turtle Cruise to Marathonisi and Keri Peninsula
Excursions & day trips

Turtle Cruise to Marathonisi and Keri Peninsula

4/5

Great
502 reviews
from
£31.00
Free cancellation
Language: English, Dutch
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: from 4 hours to 8 hours
Why you’ll love this…
  • On this cruise around Marathonisi sland you'll be on the lookout for loggerhead turtles
  • There's an opportunity to learn about ongoing projects by local turtle conservation group ARCHELON
  • In the small village of Keri there's free time to shop, relax or simply soak up some rays
  • You can cool off with a swim in the Bay of Oasis near the Keri peninsula's dramatic cliffs
  • Your expert local guide knows the waters around Turtle Island well and will show you the best spots
What to expect

Loggerhead sea turtles have been residents of Zante's beaches for thousands of years, and with a bit of luck, you'll see them first-hand on this boat trip. Join an expert local guide for an educational day out at sea, passing by nesting sites, swimming in hidden bays and spending time in the village of Keri. Bianca, one of our guides, says, ‘In just one trip, you get to jump into clear waters, cruise along the Keri peninsula and, with luck, see turtles.'

Available either in the morning from Zante harbour or the afternoon from Keri harbour, this half-day cruise is a real treat for all the family. You'll pass by the golden beaches of Vassilikos and Marathonisi, a pine-clad islet dubbed ‘Turtle Island'. The reason's simple – one of its beaches is a favourite turtle nesting site. Bianca, who's lived on Zante for more than 20 years, says of the scenery, ‘You can do this tour a thousand times and every day is different.' Be sure to keep a lookout for loggerheads, and you may even spot a wild dolphin or two.

Plus, you'll sail along the Keri peninsula, cruising by its sea-plunging cliffs, caves and lighthouse before dropping anchor for a swim stop at the Bay of Oasis. In the small village of Keri, you have a quick stop to shop for souvenirs, relax in a typical taverna or hit the beach. What's more, a volunteer from local conservation group ARCHELON – the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece – will be on board to tell give you the lowdown on its work.

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What's included
  • check Exclusive TUI itinerary
  • check Transport
  • check Guide
  • check Boat trip
What to remember
  • There's a snack bar onboard the boat where you can purchase food and drinks
  • By choosing this excursion you are helping ARCHELON and contributing to the care of endangered turtles
  • Suitable for guests with reduced mobility as there is space for wheelchairs
  • Please provide your passport/ID details at time of booking
  • Please be aware that afternoon tours will start in Keri with same itinerary and end at Zakynthos town port where a coach will bring you back to your hotel
  • While sightings of loggerhead turtles are frequent on this tour, they are wild animals, so there's no guarantee of spotting them
  • Pick-ups are available from selected hotels in the following resorts:
    - Keri
    - Porto Koukla
    - Agios Sostis
    - Laganas AGANAS
    - Kalamaki
    - Argassi
    - Tsilivi
    - Tragaki
    - Kypseli
    - Amoudi
    - Alykanas
    - Alykes If you don't see the option to add a hotel for pick-up, please provide details at checkout
  • Morning Tour: You'll arrive at the port in the centre of Keri around 12:45 pm. Coaches for the return transfer will be waiting at the central parking area and will depart at 1:00 pm
  • Afternoon Tour: The boat Seven Island Cruises will be at the port in the centre of Keri and will depart at 1:45 pm
  • Bring bathing gear and sunblock
  • Bring a towel
  • Bring money for extras or gratuities
  • Food and drinks not included
  • This is one of our TUI Collection experiences, which give you a local flavour of the destination while showcasing its unique, authentic and responsible values.
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Provider
TUI Hellas Travel, Tourism and Airlines SA, with Tax Number 094469778 and Travel License Number 0261Ε60000126100
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Great

4 /5

Based on 502 reviews from verified customers


Review categories

Service

4.6/5

Safety

4.6/5

Staff

4.6/5

Value for money

4.2/5


37%
38%
15%
6%
3%

Sort by:

  • T

    Trish

    Verified booking

    5

    4 October 2025

    Travelled with a group of friends


    Beautiful views of the island. Amenities on board good and not too expensive. No titles but had been informed that they had started to migrate

  • H

    H

    Verified booking

    4.6

    3 October 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    Amazing views of the cost, great information provided throughout! Seeing turtles aren’t guaranteed, we think we saw one but it was still a wonderful day regardless!

  • R

    Richard Dunn

    Verified booking

    3

    2 October 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    It’s sold as a trip to see turtles but you don’t really see any turtles It is basically a boat trip to turtle island

  • L

    L

    Verified booking

    3.8

    1 October 2025

    Travelled with family


    Tui rep was not overly friendly but was more with what we felt her own nationality group. Felt like she wasn't there at all. I approached a different rep and she was helpful and cheery. There was alot rude people on this cruise. The snack bar people were lovely, snacks available was really good and good prices. Although they tried, we did not see any turtles. We were also not given alot of time on Keri island. A quick toilet stop and a rush to return coach bus. Disappointing.

  • C

    Christie

    Verified booking

    4.2

    27 September 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    The boat has more space on it. Snack bar was friendly but had little variety. The toilets had no seats which was the worst thing. That invited people not to sit but hang and they get very dirty and wet. Not expensive items for owners and I think essentials in ladies toilets

  • P

    Prakash

    Verified booking

    1

    26 September 2025

    Travelled with family


    The whole experience was a waste of time and money. Why take people on such a cruise, when there are no turtles to be seen because of the weather and time of year. Other operators were offering a similar cruise much cheaper and some even included landing on the island. There were no floatation devices on offer for non swimmers. This cruise was very long and boring. I could have stayed at home and gone away on a ferry to from Dover to Calais!!!

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