Zakynthos, or Zante, is the third largest of the Ionian Islands and for many people one of the best summer destinations in the world combining some of the finest beaches, the wonderful Mediterranean food, the world renowned Greek hospitality and some of the most breath-taking sceneries in the world. The Beachionary Team visited Zakynthos this summer and got to explore some of the most beautiful corners of the island, focusing of course on the beaches!

Beaches

Tsilivi Beach
Tsilivi is a nice sandy beach approximately 5 minutes northern of the city of Zakynthos. It is a family beach with many amenities and many restaurants and coffee places. It is ideal also for a quick swim in the sea if you arrive late at the island.

Agios Nikolaos Beach
Agios Nikolaos (means Saint Nicolas) Beach is one of the best organised beaches on the island. It is a golden-sanded beach with umbrellas and sunbeds to rent; you can enjoy several water sports and even play beach volley in one of the courts available. Mostly popular amongst young people for the beach bars nearby.

Navagio (Shipwreck Cove)
No introduction needed for this amazing beach! Voted repeatedly as one of the best beaches in the world, this is one of the miracles of nature! Its turquoise water and the tiny white pebbles make this a must-visit place on the island. The beach takes its name from the wreck of a smugglers ship that lies there since 1982. The beach can only be accessed by boat but there are several boat services leaving from the capital of the city all day long. Don’t forget to bring food and water with you.

Limni Keriou
Limni Keriou (which means Candle Lake) is not a beach of extraordinary beauty like the ones mentioned above. However, it offers visitors a unique chance to rent a small boat and enjoy a full day of sea activities. By renting one of these small boats, for the day or for a couple of hours, you can explore the beautiful Laganas Cove, the adventurous Keri peninsula with its numerous little isolated beaches, visit the tiny Marathonisi island with its two beautiful beaches or, if you are lucky enough, see a Caretta Caretta sea turtle, a protected species that breeds in the Laganas Cove.

Blue Caves
The imposing Blue Caves are at the northern tip of the island and are only accessible by boat. The white rocks along with the sun create a marvellous colour pallette in the water that varies from deep blue to light blue and turquoise. The area is ideal for those into diving or snorkelling.

After spending five wonderful days in Zakynthos, the Beachionary Team can assure you that the Greek sea and hospitality are NOT in crisis!

This article was also hosted at blog.visitgreece.gr, the official blog of the Greek Tourism Organization

For this post we asked Mrs. O to select five of her most favourite beaches across the globe. She kindly accepted our challenge and shared with us some of the world’s greatest summer getaways:

Hollywood Beach - Florida | USA

No one will believe it, but it is! Year on year we return to what became one our favourite places in the world. I love Miami Beach, but hate the pool/beach scene – my idea of heaven is lying down on a sun lounger with a copy of Vanity Fair. Sleep, read, sunbathe and dip into the stunning sea. It’s nice, it’s warm, not too crowded and has one of my favourite hotels just on it. And of course the shops are just around the corner!

Praia do Vidigal - Rio de Janeiro | Brazil

Don’t mean to disappoint anyone, but the idea of me and my closest 2,000,000 friends isn’t my idea of a nice holiday. Rio is one of my favourite destinations but if you do not want to get lost in the crowd, you can find a semi-private beach a little over 1km from Ipanema Beach.

Located between uber-trendy Leblon and São Conrado, this beach is shared by the Sheraton Rio guests and the inhabitants of the Vidigal slum. No safety issues, we are all people – and you can’t beat the view!

Motu Tape - Bora Bora | French Polynesia

One of the settings of my incredible honeymoon, French Polynesia certainly did not disappoint. A breathtaking scenery and very few people around. Of course having my own direct access to it helped a lot. I promised I would go back on my 5^th wedding anniversary – and counting the days!

Quinta do Lago - Algarve | Portugal

The grass is always greener on the other side, they say… I had to go to many sandless beaches (the worse thing you can do to me!) to value what I had back home. For me, there’s nothing better than arriving at this spectacular beach – the experience starts on the wooden bridge you need to walk through to access this beach, also known as Gigi Beach on the Ria Formosa. My advice? Book a table at the beach restaurant (Gigi) before you get down to the beach and enjoy the fresh fish and white white sangria.

Cala Galdana - Menorca, Balearics | Spain

A hidden gem – or at least it used to be! Majorca’s younger sister, an example of no overdevelopment, Menorca is one of my favourite places in the world – and the closest thing to the Caribbean turquoise sea in Europe.

Excited by all good things in life, Mrs O spends a significant part of her life travelling around the world and having a bit of fun. Based in Henley-on-Thames, in England, Mrs O is originally from Lisbon, Portugal and clocks up over 200,000 airmiles per year.

Follow Mrs O on Twitter (@mrsoaroundworld) or visit http://mrsoaroundtheworld.com

After our last post on Miami Beach we flew over the Atlantic Ocean and landed on Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.  A Greek myth names Cyprus as the birthplace of goddess Aphrodite. Nowadays, this beautiful island is one of the most popular summer destinations. Wonder why? Let’s have a closer look at some of the most beautiful beaches on the island!

1. Coral Bay - Paphos
A blue flag beach with soft white sand and a background of steep limestone cliffs. It is located in Peyia and it's very popular amongst locals. Ideal for snorkeling in the sea caves. Plenty of choices for food at the nearby restaurants.

2. Konnos Bay - Famagusta
This blue flag bay is one of our favourite spots on the island and a great place if you want to avoid the crowds of Agia Napa. This secluded bay, located on the Protaras road close to the coastline of Cape Greco, can be reached by travelling through a maze of pine trees down a steep decline to the beach itself. Fine golden sand and shallow light blue waters complete the beautiful scenery. If you haven’t tried water skiing before, this is a great place to give it a go!

3. Cavo Greco (Cape Greco) - Famagusta
The cape is a headland between Protaras and Ayia Napa and was recently designated as a national park. There are two ways to access the beach; you can either follow the path from the small church of 'Ayioi Anargiroi' at the top of the cliff or you can attempt to jump off! The spectacular sea caves underneath the cliff top at Cape Greco are a result of coastal erosion as waves are constantly pounding the cliffs. There is a platform above the caves which gives an amazing view. People either jump off the cliffs or climb down at the east end of the cliff. 

4. Petra tou Romiou - Paphos
Located on the southwest coast, it is one of the most famous spots in Cyprus and one of the most photographed rocks in the world. Also known as the Aphrodite's rock, this is the birthplace of Aphrodite according to a greek mythology. The beach is visible from the street level and is truly magnificent. You can park your car at the viewpoint and follow the path down to the beach. Beware of the strong ocean currents if you decide to go for a swim.

Miami Beach in a nutshell

• Endless stretch of white sanded beaches
• Glamour and celebrity spotting
  
• First-class hotels and beach resorts
• Multicultural and diverse identity
• Relaxed, friendly atmosphere
• Nightlife from dusk-til-dawn
  
• Beautiful art deco buildings on Ocean Drive

Miami Beach with a closer look

1. Beaches
In essence, Miami Beach is a 10 km single stretch of sand along the barrier island and surely is a magnificent spectacle from above. This beach is enormous and therefore it can never be too crowded. You will find that the waters there are shallow and surprisingly warm, unlike chilly sea waters in other places.   

Miami South Beach
South Beach is the southern part of the beach between 1^st and 23^rd Street. The beach is next to Lummus Park, which spans between 1^st and 14^th Street and is an impressive park with palm trees and other tropical vegetation. Beach safety flags and signs alert to water conditions and lifeguards are also patrolling the beach. Sunbed rentals don’t come cheap here. You can buy food and refreshments from beach shacks all around South Beach. 

Miami North Beach
North Beach spans between 63^rd and 87^th street at the north part of the barrier island. The beach is shallow and sandy just as the other parts and people can find all short of amenities in close proximity. It is far more residential than the other two and is much less crowded than South Beach and Mid Beach and therefore more appropriate for those looking for more laid-back vacations. 

Miami Mid Beach
It is practically a stretch of sand that connects South Beach with North Beach. It is less touristic than the cosmopolitan South Beach but there is definitely more “action” than in North Beach. It offers a great alternative for those wanting to keep some distance from lively South Beach.

2. Nightlife
USA Today has ranked Miami Beach as the best beach for nightlife and Miami lives up to its reputation. South Beach is the center of the city’s night scene. Miami Beach is also known as the Latin Riviera and this is evident in the city’s vibe. Most of the bars and beach clubs are located on Ocean Drive with great views of Lummus Park and the Atlantic Ocean. There are many live music bars, lounges and restaurants with live entertainment and of course, Miami’s hippest nightclubs. If dancing till sunrise is your idea of having a great time, then this is the place for you.

3. Food
Miami is home to more than 150 ethnicities and this is evident in its cuisine; an exquisite blend of Latin, Caribbean and American flavors.  From traditional Mexican Tacos, to Italian Pizza or Pasta, Chinese noodles and of course American burgers, in Miami you will find whatever you might be craving for. 

4. Weather
Miami’s climate is tropical which implies that summers are very hot and humid. It is also one of the few places in the United States that has never snowed! The water temperature at this beach is surprisingly high. In August, it can reach as high as 30 °C (86 °F)! Miami weather can become very hot, so even if your plan is to soak up the sun, be aware of how long you are exposed and don’t ever forget your sunblock lotion.

Hello beach boys and girls!

We always find it exciting when we discover truly unique and wonderful beaches to show you. This time, we have carefully selected for you 6 beaches and coastal sights, with unique characteristics that make them a must-see!

(Clicking on each name will redirect you to the beach page)

1.  Zlatni Rat - Splitsko-Dalmatinska | Croatia

Zlatni Rat or Golden Horn is a golden sandy strip of land like no other. Located near Bol, on the island of Brač, this beach does resemble a golden horn in the sea that can reach 634metres long. What is really spectacular though is the fact that the shape of this beach changes depending on the tide, the currents and the wind!

2.  Grotta Azzurra - Campania | Italy

The Grotta Azzura or Blue Grotto, located on Capri Island, is one of the most famous sea caves in the world. Blue Grotto, which was believed to have been used as Emperor Tiberius' nymphaeum, is unique for its magical blue reflections created by the light that enters the cave through an underwater opening right below the entrance! The cavity is 54 meters long but has a very narrow entrance. It can only be accessed by small rowing boats and the passengers must keep low when entering the cavity. The Grotta Azzurra is also home to an extraordinary selection of exotic marine life.

3.  Papakolea Green Sand Beach – Hawaii | United States

Papakolea Beach, located near the south end of Hawaii’s Big Island, is well known for its distinctive and almost unreal olive green sand! There is a good explanation for this. The green sand comes from Olivine, a common mineral that was surfaced due to the volcanic activity of the area. These stones were crushed into tiny fragments by the power of the ocean and were drifted ashore. The olivine grains mixed with black sand creates the olive green color of the beach that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

4.  Hopewell Rocks - New Brunswick | Canada

The Hopewell Rocks are located in The Hopewell Rocks Ocean Tidal Exploration Site in New Brunswick. These spectacular rock formations eroded by the tides, are so popular that they have been given names like “Mother-in-Law”, “ET” and “Lover's Arch”! Visitors have the opportunity to paddle around the Bay of Fundy at high tide and have a closer look by walking on the ocean floor at low tide. Check the tide tables of the Park before visiting as high and low tide times vary each day.

5.  Playa Brava - Maldonado | Uruguay

Playa Brava is located in the famous resort area of Punta del Este, southeast of Maldonado. Playa Brava also goes by the name of Playa de los Dedos, “Beach of the Fingers” and, there is a good reason for that. First thing you notice once you set foot on that beach, is the eerie sight of five giant fingers emerging from the sand which is a sculpture of Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal. La Mano "The Hand" that lies there since 1982, was sculpted in iron and cement and has become one of Punta del Este’s landmarks.

6.  Neck Beach - Tasmania | Australia

Bruny Island can be found off the south-eastern coast of Tasmania and consists of two islands. The isthmus is the long, narrow strip of land that connects North Bruny Island and South Bruny Island and separates the sea into Simpsons Bay in the western side and Adventure Bay in the eastern. Neck Beach is located in the eastern side of isthmus which is also known as “The Neck”. Best place to observe the area is from the Truganini Lookout, a timber stepped boardwalk that provides 360° stunning panoramic views of Bruny Island!

The list of course doesn’t end here. This is only a small sample of all the extraordinary places out there.

What is the most unusual beach you have ever come across?

The Beachionary Team

Photo By Flickr user Emich