What to Bring on a Zakynthos Boat Tour (and What to Leave Behind)
Packing list for a Zakynthos cave boat trip: reef shoes for cave rock, a dry bag, water, seasickness, shade on speedboats, cash — and what the Marine Park bans.
A Zakynthos cave trip is three to nine hours on and around a small boat, with swim stops in places where the shore is limestone and the sun has nowhere to hide. Most of what goes wrong is packable: cut feet on cave rock, a phone in the sea, a sunburnt neck on a canopy-less speedboat, or a long afternoon with no water because nobody said the boat sold none. Here is what to bring, sorted by how often people regret not bringing it.
Check Availability
The checklist
| Bring | Why | North or south? |
|---|---|---|
| Swimwear on, under your clothes | The first swim stop comes fast; there is no changing room on a boat | Both |
| Reef shoes or water sandals | Cave floors, arches and the pebble coves are sharp limestone | Both — essential at Keri and Maravelia |
| Water, at least a litre each | Most boat-only trips list “food and drinks” as not included and carry nothing | Both |
| Dry bag or waterproof phone case | Speedboats throw spray; cave swims mean the phone leaves the boat or gets left on it | Both — speedboats especially |
| Hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen | Several hours of reflected light; many speedboats have no shade | Both |
| A light layer | The return leg into the afternoon breeze is cooler than the morning out | North and west coast especially |
| Towel | Not supplied on shared boats | Both |
| Mask and snorkel | Rarely included — the glass-bottom boat lists snorkel gear as an exclusion | South, where the swimming is |
| Cash (euros) | Fuel on self-drive rentals, Cameo Island’s bridge fee, harbour toilets, optional photos | South mostly |
| Seasickness tablets | The north and west coasts are exposed; take them before you board, not after | North |
| Passport or licence photo | Rental firms need to see ID; a photo on your phone is accepted | Self-drive only |
Feet first: why reef shoes matter more here than anywhere
Zakynthos’s caves are cut into limestone, and limestone underwater is either razor-edged or slick. At the Keri Caves you swim off the boat into a cave and climb back over rock; at Maravelia and the west-coast coves the swim stops are pebble beaches with sharp shelves. Flip-flops float away and bare feet get cut. A pair of reef shoes or strapped water sandals is the single item most worth its space, and they double as deck shoes on a wet speedboat.
Sea urchins live on exactly this kind of rock. Shoes are the answer; if you do collect a spine, vinegar and patience beat digging.
Water and food
Read the listing’s exclusions before you assume. The shared speedboats and glass-bottom boats from Agios Sostis — the Keri Caves speedboat, the glass-bottom boat and the $29 Agios Sostis trip alike — exclude food and drinks and carry none; the operators point you at a shop by the harbour for toilets and bottles before departure. The northern land-and-sea days are the exception: the most-reviewed one includes bottled water and a local-products tasting, and the 8–9 hour day usually breaks at a taverna. Even then, a litre per person on the boat leg is right in August. Marathonisi has no facilities — bring what you will drink there. Our breakdown of the land-and-sea day →
Sun, shade and the boat you chose
The boat decides how much sun you take. Glass-bottom boats and the 60-seat cruisers have a canopy and shade; most speedboats have a small awning at best and some none, and a three-hour speedboat loop at midday is a full day’s exposure in one sitting. The self-drive rentals from Agios Sostis are the well-equipped exception — the licence-free speedboat rental comes with a canopy and a cool box for your own drinks, and fuel (about €30–40 for a full day, paid locally) is the only extra. Our breakdown →
Sunscreen goes on before you board and again after the first swim. Reef-safe formulas are the courteous choice inside the Marine Park.
Seasickness and the afternoon wind
The south coast is a sheltered bay and rarely troubles anyone. The north and west are exposed to the maistro, the north-westerly sea breeze that builds through the afternoon, so the return leg from Navagio or the Blue Caves can be choppy. If you are prone to it, book a morning departure, choose a larger hull over a speedboat, sit low and near the middle, and take tablets before departure. The glass-bottom boats are the steady northern option: the Glass-Bottom Boat to Navagio, Caves & White Beach at $29 is the cheapest way north and the calmest ride. Our breakdown → Timing detail: best time to visit the caves.
What not to bring into the Marine Park
The south-coast boats operate inside the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, and the rules for landing on Marathonisi are strict: no umbrellas or sunshades, no fires, nothing left behind, and you stay within about 5 m of the water. Drones are a grey area in a protected nesting zone — leave it in the bag. Do not touch or chase turtles; the park keeps boats about 15 m away and the crew will enforce it. Fishing gear is prohibited. A small rubbish bag for your own wrappers is the item that marks a good guest.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need water shoes for the Zakynthos caves?
Yes — more than anywhere else on the island. The swim stops are limestone caves and pebble coves with sharp rock, and you climb back onto the boat over it. Flip-flops are not enough.
Is food or water included on boat trips?
Usually not on boat-only trips: the shared boats from Agios Sostis and Agios Nikolaos list food and drinks as excluded and carry none. Land-and-sea days often include bottled water and a tasting. Bring at least a litre per person regardless.
Can I bring snorkel gear?
Bring your own. Shared boats rarely include it — the glass-bottom boat explicitly excludes it — while the skippered private trips and the dive centres supply masks.
What should I wear on a speedboat?
Swimwear under light clothes, a hat that ties on, sunglasses, reef shoes and a windproof layer for the return. Keep the phone in a dry bag; spray is constant.
What can’t I take onto Turtle Island?
Umbrellas, sunshades, anything to make a fire, and anything you would leave behind. Stay on the strip near the water, keep 15 m from turtles, and leave before sunset.
Do I need cash?
A little. Fuel on self-drive rentals is paid locally, the Cameo Island footbridge charges a small fee, harbour toilets cost a coin, and some operators sell photos on board.
Ready to book? Compare the southern trips on the Keri Caves + Turtle Island tours page or the northern ones on Blue Caves tours, or check availability for the $29 Agios Sostis boat above.
Pick Your Coast, Then Book
North for the Blue Caves and Shipwreck Beach, south for the Keri Caves and Turtle Island. Every trip we list has free cancellation on most dates — compare them side by side before you commit.
Compare Cave Tours