NATIONAL MARINE PARK EXHIBITION CENTER

A sea trip not to be missed! You will gladly come here to learn all about the Caretta caretta, the turtles that have become the emblem of the island and which lay their eggs on the great sandy beaches of Zakynthos. A symbol of the island, the loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta is indeed endangered. This endangered species, which lives between the coasts of the Peloponnese and Crete, has been coming every year for 150 million years to lay its eggs on the beaches of southern Zakynthos, on the Vassilikos peninsula and the bay of Laganas... precisely where tourism has developed the most. In recent years, the presence of bathers on the spawning grounds has prevented the females from burying their eggs in the sand. The visitor should therefore adopt a responsible attitude and not be seduced by tour operators who present themselves as genuine nature lovers. On land, too, you must be vigilant. The island has many horses, imported from Greece and used by visitors for rides. However, the Zakynthos SPA has noticed that the owners do not always provide the necessary care: some horses even continue to work when they are ill. But in this educational exhibition centre, you will also learn more about all the other endemic species of the island, its fauna and flora. Quite playful, this center is well worth a small detour.