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The island - Zakynthos is a Greek island which boasts 125 km of magical coastline and paradisaical beaches.

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Size - It is the third largest island in the Ionian Sea, in both area and population.

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Size - It has about 42,000 inhabitants and an area of ​​406 sq km.

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History - It has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was once used as the Greeks' base during the colonization of southern Italy.

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Landscape - The island has abundant vegetation, forests with vast fertile plains, and stunning caves with turquoise blue water.

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Landscape - The southeast of the island has flatter areas and the west is dominated by mountains along the coast which form spectacular cliffs.

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Highest point - The highest peak of the island is Mount Vrahionas, a 756-meter-high peak which can be found in the mid-west of the island.

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How to get there - The island is 330 km from the Greek capital, Athens, so to get there you have to catch a ferry from Kyllini.

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Duration - The crossing takes approximately one hour. The ferry has a garage for cars, and cabins for passengers to rest during the journey.

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Beaches - Zakynthos has numerous beaches with crystal clear waters, making it a great  destination for a relaxing vacation. Some are only accessible by boat, and to get to them costs about $10 to $18 per person, depending on the time and duration of the tour.

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Animals - The turtles of Zante (Caretta caretta) are one of the most popular animals on the island. These loggerhead sea turtles are famous for breeding in Laganas bay.

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Economy - The island lives mainly on tourism but also on agriculture, which employs several inhabitants of the island. Wine, fruits, and olive oil are some of the local products.

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Biggest attraction - The island's major attraction is the Navagio Beach (or Shipwreck Beach).

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Discovery - This beach was only discovered in 1960 and is located on the northwest coast. It is famous worldwide for being one of the best beaches in the world.

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Access - The beach is sheltered by a huge cliff and it is only possible to reach it by boat from Vromi Port or the port of St. Nikolas in Volimes.

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MV Panagiotis shipwreck - In addition to the white sand and crystalline blue sea, a stranded ship is one of the beach's main attractions.

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Local legend - According to local legend, the ship was a Scottish vessel that was being chased by the Greek navy for alcohol and cigarettes contraband.

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Local legend - A storm broke out during the chase and the ship got stranded. To this day, the shipwreck can be seen at the beach and has become a tourist attraction.

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City - The main city on the island is also called Zakynthos.

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Influence - The architecture of the city of Zakynthos is very similar to that of Venice due to the Italian influence.

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Zakynthos (city) - The city has many churches, shops, and affordable restaurants.

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Villages - Apart from the only city on the island there are also 44 villages.

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Busy area - Laganas has the busiest nightlife on ​​the island and here you will find bars and nightclubs.

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Caves - The island has several blue caves which are renowned diving hot spots.

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What to visit? - If you're into history, you can't miss St Dionysios Church. This is where you will find the greatest historical relics on the island.

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Water sports - You can enjoy a variety water sports on the many beaches on the island. If you're brave enough, you can also go cliff diving!

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Transport - The island has a very good network of roads and it's easy to get around. Taxis, as well as car and motorcycles rental services, are available.

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Best time to visit - The best time to visit the island is between June and September, where the average temperature is around 25ºC, perfect for a swim!

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Visit - Ready to pack your bags and visit this paradise on Earth?

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