Taxi Boat vs. Excursion: all you need to know

Among the most famous attractions of the Zakynthos Marine Park, which include Laganas Bay, where you can enjoy Loggerhead (Caretta-Caretta) turtle spotting, Keri Caves and the Mizithres sea stacks, there is Marathonisi Island, also known as Turtle Island, located just three miles off the southern coast of the island. Marathonisi Island can only be reached via one of our Marine Park excursions or by renting a boat or taking a Taxi Boat.

What are Taxi Boats?

Taxi Boats are small boats accommodating up to 10 passengers, that operate as a full taxi service connecting Zakynthos’ southern coast to Marathonisi Island and shuttling tourists to and from the beach on Turtle Island. The stop on the island has no time restrictions; you just have to arrange a return time with the selected company, which will come to pick you up and take you back to the port, a service costing about €10 per person.

However, before getting on a Water Taxi, you should consider two very important factors:

Marathonisi Island is completely exposed to the sun, with no shaded areas, and since it is part of zone B in the protected Marine Park, the use of umbrellas is not allowed.
During high season, given the high flow of visitors, Taxi Boat companies cannot always guarantee the agreed upon return time, thus exposing customers to the risk of an extended stay on the island in very high temperatures.

The Taxi Boat service on Zakynthos Island is only provided within the Marine Park area to reach Marathonisi Island.
Following the 2023 landing ban affecting Shipwreck Beach, Taxi Boats can no longer reach the most famous beach on the island, which however is still reachable by our group tours or by renting a boat.

Difference between an Excursion and a Taxi Boat

Unlike Taxi Boats, excursions guarantee a visit to all the main attractions of Zakynthos Island that are only reachable by sea.
There are 2 excursions to the Marine Park area, both of which include a visit to Marathonisi Island:

The “Marine Park” excursion includes a stop for Loggerhead (Caretta-Caretta) turtle spotting, a swim stop at Keri Caves and a swim stop at Marathonisi island.
The excursion to the Mizithres sea stacks includes a stop for Loggerhead (Caretta-Caretta) turtle spotting, a swim stop at Proti Kamara, a swim stop at the Mizithres sea stacks and a swim stop at Marathonisi Island.

The differences between the two tours are detailed here: Zakynthos Marine Park Excursions.
Average cost is 25-30€ per person.

Not all excursions can stop at Marathonisi Beach

As previously explained, Marathonisi Island is located in zone B of the Marine Park, whose restrictions and regulations have made it impossible for most boats to dock on the beach. Only small to medium boats (max 50 passengers) are allowed to dock directly on the beach.
It is not a rare occurrence for some companies to advertise a Marathonisi stop, but instead stopping offshore and on another side of the island, making it impossible to reach the beach.

Unfortunately to this day, excursion sales in Zakynthos are plagued by unethical practices.
You will often encounter people trying to sell you things in the street, without a shadow of physical office. This practice is progressively growing even online on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram and is becoming increasingly common for someone to contact you to sell excursions or rent cars and accommodations. It is therefore advisable to follow these small precautions before buying or renting anything:

Check that the phone number is Greek and that it matches the one on the website.
Verify that the EOT logo is displayed on the website selling the excursion.
Check that the agency or person advertising the sale has a local office, cross referencing it with the information on Google Maps. In Greece, including Zakynthos, companies CANNOT be granted a tourist agency license by the EOT if don’t have a physical office as well.

By booking with an official agency, you will be insured and reimbursed in case of problems with the excursion, bad weather and/or rough sea.

New at WelcometoZante: book an excursion to the Marine Park and pick up 3 gifts in Zakynthos

By booking an excursion with our agency, you can pick up 3 gifts just before the excursion to the Marine Park or the Mizithres sea stacks or directly at our office located at the Port of Agios Sostis/Laganas. BOOK NOW.