What makes the Ionian Sea that special? It’s the blend of emerald waters, a beautiful seabed, sheltered coves and secluded beaches. All the beautiful scenes you’ll encounter in the wider Ionian area – and in particular the renowned sea caves – are what makes this part of Greece stand out. Nature has done its part in creating a unique geophysical phenomenon which you can see by simply embarking on a tour boat. Visit these well-kept secrets of an astonishing blue colour!
Put your swimsuits on and don’t forget to bring along your camera; you’ll definitely want some pictures to show back home to your friends and family.
Blue Cave Zakynthos (Zante)
Come across the most renowned sea caves in Greece at the Keri peninsula located among numerous beaches and bays. The Blue Cave stands out and is the center of attention. The bright morning sunlight is reflected on the surface of the water, awarding us with multiple shades of blue against a breathtaking backdrop of rock formations.
Take a look at the stalactites hanging from the ceiling within the rock cavities. Dive in the crystal clear blue waters and explore the seabed with its colourful corals. You can reach the caves by taking a rental sightseeing boat from various parts of the island, such as Keri, Makris Gialos Beach, Agios Nikolaos Port and Cape Skinari.
Papanikolis Cave Lefkada
At only 12 nautical miles east from Lefkada Island you’ll find the worldwide biggest and most spectacular underwater cave at Meganisi. The cave’s name is borrowed from the historic submarine “Papanikolis” who used to use the cave as a refuge base during the Second World War.
Due to its size and ideal positioning it is still used as a safe haven for sail boats when the weather gets rough. The cave’s entrance leads to a 120 meters tunnel, which is 60 meters wide to start with, tapering to 23 meters as you advance. The crystal clear waters let the beautiful seabed reveal itself, while the stalactites and a tiny sandy bank create a marvelous backdrop.
Reach the cave by boat, which you can take from Nydri.
Paxos Caves
Forty stunning sea caves with impressive arches are located on the westernmost side of the island of Paxi. Among all these caves, the ones that stand out are: the big cave of Ypapanti, Trypitos (with arched rock formations), Ortholithos (a tall rock whose underwater part is visible due to the clarity of the water) and Paxi’s own well known Blue Cave. These are in fact caves that interconnect. Enter the first one with a small boat and be amazed with the mind blowing turquoise clear waters.
Daily excursion boats will take you there, which you can take from various areas on the island as well as from Parga, Syvota and Corfu.
Palaiokastritsa’s Caves
Palaiokastritsa Bay on the island of Corfu is a tourist hub. Its high cliffs and astonishing clear waters are home to some beautiful sea caves. The most famous one is Nafsika – daughter of the Phoenicians’ King – which according to Homer’s works this is where she took care of Odysseus.
Don’t forget to wear your swimsuit. You will be tempted to jump in for a dive when you view the astonishing clear waters, which let the sunlight go all the way through, down to the seabed.
Let your journey begin from Palaiokastritsa by hopping in a tour boat to explore the caves!
Source: visitgreece.gr
