Skinari is where the famous Blue Caves and Smugglers Cove can be found. Here at the northern tip of Zante, the afternoon sun shines on the sea to create patterns in every conceivable shade of blue on the white cave walls.
We at Olympic Holidays think it is an enchanting area, of outstanding natural beauty, and not to be missed on any holiday to Zante.
The caves are a succession of inlets, of varying sizes and depths, sunk below the cliffs along the north-west coast of the island, running from near Agios Nikolaos to Skinari Cape, as well as some arches eroded through small headlands jutting into the beautiful, clear waters of the Ionian Sea.
Boat tours to the caves, including some with glass-bottomed boats for an underwater view, run from the harbour at Agios Nikolaos port, from Cape Skinari and from the beach at Makris Gialos.
Other tours will also take in landmarks like the shipwreck of MV Panagiotis on the lovely, white sands of Smugglers Cove, the hidden Sfogio Beach and a rocky cliff edge said to represent the profile of the sea god Poseidon. These operators may pick up parties from hotels, or sail from harbours like Porto Vromi Maries or Micro Nisi.
Tours can last from 40 minutes for just the Blue Caves, to up to three hours with other sights included. Chat to the Olympic Holidays’ rep for more information.
Some of the caves are accessible by small craft and you might prefer to hire your own boat, but care should be taken because others are only suitable for exploration by expert swimmers or divers, and the sea near the caves can become quite busy with the visiting tour boats.
There is a road accessible for cars between Agios Nikolaos and Skinari Cape leading to 100 steps down to sea level, where there are rocks useable as platforms for swimming and snorkelling.