Porto Vromi is a small bay with a harbour on the north-west coast of Zakynthos. Boats leave from it on short cruises along the cliffs. Below you find the bay, the road, the cruises, the private boats and the season. The homepage lists more Greece Tours like this one.
Each tour card below opens a live GetYourGuide booking. Dates, departure points and boat types are shown there.
What is Porto Vromi?
Porto Vromi is a small bay with a harbour on the north-west coast of Zakynthos, near the village of Maries. Limestone cliffs surround it, the water is clear and turquoise, and small boats leave from it on short cruises.
The Greek island of Zakynthos, also called Zante, lies in the Ionian Sea. Its western half is a mountainous plateau. On the west coast, in the north-western part of the island, lies Porto Vromi. The bay sits just south of Navagio, also called Shipwreck Beach, a cove on the north-west shore.
If you plan to cross into Turkey as well, the homepage also lists Turkey tours.
Vromi Bay is the official name of the port. Porto Vromi is the name the place is known by. The entry sits under the port of Maries and types the place as a beach and a bay. Two spots share the name: one on the Maries side, one on the Anafonitria side.
The northern beach is Porto Vromi Anafonitria, named for the village of Anafonitria that it lies closest to. The beach nearer Maries carries the Maries name. Boats come and go regularly at both beaches. Swimming here is described as a unique experience, because the waters are crystal-clear. Just north, the Navagio cove is isolated by high cliffs.
Both beaches are small, about 25 metres wide. The shore is white pebbles, not sand. Each beach has a small harbour where boat trips start. A vertical cliff separates the two beaches, though both look out over the same stretch of sea.
Limestone cliffs surround Porto Vromi, and dense vegetation covers them. The cliffs protrude from the coast. Rocky peaks rise around the water where people swim. The coastline itself is jagged. Crevices and submerged rocks run along it, and a variety of fish species shelter in them.
The water in the bay is clear, and its colour is turquoise. The sea is deep even close to the coast. Anchored boats make the place work more as a harbour than as a swimming beach. The bay can be approached by boat as well as by land.
Swimming is still one reason to come. Visitors can relax and swim here before they move on to other activities. The bay is named as a swimming place that avoids the masses of tourists. The rocky coast makes the bay a good spot for snorkelling, and the clear water helps. A couple of caves near the beach can be visited.
The harbour is what turns the bay into a starting point. Boats to Navagio leave from the cove, close to Maries. From both bays, boats also sail along the cliffs, which are rich in caves and small beaches. Navagio can be reached only by boat, and boats start mainly from Agios Nikolaos, Porto Vromi and Zakynthos Town.
People come to Porto Vromi for the boat trips, and the harbour is close to Navagio. The bay is the closest port to Shipwreck Beach, so cruises begin near their main sight. Green scenery frames the pebble shore and the clear water.
How do you get to Porto Vromi, and what is on the shore?
You reach Porto Vromi by car. A narrow asphalt road leads from the village of Maries down to the bay. Parking is free. The beach is a strip of pebbles about 25 metres wide, with a small harbour for the boats.
Two bays share the name Porto Vromi, so check which one your boat leaves from. One is reached from the village of Maries. The other is reached from Anafonitria, a village farther north. Both overlook the same stretch of sea, but no road links them directly.
Picking the wrong bay costs real time. The drive from one bay to the other is 16 kilometres, going through Anafonitria and Maries. The winding mountain roads stretch it to almost 30 minutes. Read the bay name on your booking before you start the car.
Both villages belong to Elatia, a municipal unit in the north-west of Zakynthos. Elatia is the largest municipal unit on the island. Maries sits in the northern mountains of the island. Hills surround the bay itself. The western half of the island is a mountainous plateau, while the eastern half is a fertile plain.
Maries looks out over the Ionian Sea. It is an inland village, untouched by tourism, so visitors meet the rural way of life on Zakynthos. Anafonitria lies 2 kilometres from the coast. Maries is an easy trip from Porto Vromi.
The road to Porto Vromi from Maries is narrow and made of asphalt, and it runs a long way downhill. A lane drops steeply to the small harbour at the bottom. The bay sits a bit off the main tourist routes, but road signs or GPS lead the way. Renting a car makes it easier to explore other areas.
Porto Vromi has free parking near the port. Spaces can get busy because of the boat trips, so arrive with time to spare. Roadside spaces are there if the main area fills up.
On the shared cruise that starts at Porto Vromi Maries, you meet at the port. Arrive 15 minutes before the booked time. The cruise office stands at the end of the port.
Hotel pickup on that shared cruise costs extra. You ask for it after booking, and you pay the fee on site. A shared cruise from the Anafonitria bay offers hotel pickup from Kalamaki, and its pickup zone also covers Alykanas. Guests at that bay arrive at least 10 minutes before departure.
The shore at Porto Vromi is small. Each beach is about 25 metres wide and covered in pebbles, not sand. Jagged rock runs along the coast around it. A small harbour sits on each bay, and you board your boat trip there.
The sea at Porto Vromi is deep even close to the coast. Crevices and submerged rocks run along the jagged shoreline and shelter fish. That makes the rocky edge of the bay a good spot for snorkelling. No water sports run from the beach.
Facilities are basic. One small bar serves drinks behind the shore. Shade and sunbeds are limited, so bring what you need for the day. A small deserted island lies in front of the bay.
What does a Porto Vromi cruise visit?
A Porto Vromi cruise with three swim stops lasts about three hours. It opens with a photo stop at Shipwreck Beach. Local caves, Sfogio Beach and White Beach follow on the west coast. Snorkelling gear is included on that cruise.
The three-stop route begins at Porto Vromi Maries with a photo stop at Shipwreck Beach. Hidden Treasure Cave and the local caves come next. After them come Sfogio Beach and White Beach, with Porto Steniti later on the route. The boat also passes Poseidon’s Profile and the Heart Cave.
Shipwreck Beach is a cove on the north-west shore. High cliffs close it in, and only a boat can reach it. From the water you see the rusted wreck against the sand, set in white limestone. On the two-and-a-half-hour cruise, guests watch the wreck from afar.
The cliffs show up close on a Porto Vromi cruise. At Shipwreck Beach the rock is rugged white limestone set against bright blue water. The cruise with two swim stops opens with a 15-minute sail along the cliffs and coves, with no stop. The wreck comes after that sail.
The first swim of the two-and-a-half-hour cruise is at a cave. It is the Blue Eye Cave or the Divaroto Cave, depending on the weather. Guests swim around and inside it. On the glass-bottom cruise from the harbour, Maravelias Cave is a highlight, and only a boat can reach it.
Two rock sights come late in the Porto Vromi trip. Poseidon’s Profile is a naturally sculpted rock that looks like the ancient Greek god of the sea. The Heart Cave has a heart-shaped opening that lets sunlight filter in. The boat passes both on the way back to the port.
White Beach is a swim and rest stop. Its pebbles are fine and round, and its sand is white. Guests relax, listen to the waves and build small rock towers from the pebbles. The beach is a secluded spot, good for swimming and snorkelling in clear water.
Stop lengths at Porto Vromi differ between cruises. The cruise with two swim stops lasts about two hours 15 minutes. It spends 15 minutes on a sightseeing sail and 15 minutes at the anchored wreck. The run to the Hidden Treasure Cave takes 10 minutes. Sfogio Beach and White Beach take about 55 minutes together.
Boat size at Porto Vromi changes with the cruise. The three-stop cruise runs on a medium-sized boat, in smaller groups. A two-hour cruise from the port uses boats with 25 to 70 seats. The three-stop cruise has a restroom on board.
Swimming, snorkelling and photos fill the day. The three-stop route has three swim stops, with snorkelling and photo chances along the way. On the glass-bottom cruise, a glass floor shows underwater rock formations and marine life. Its swim stops are in clear water.
How do private and small boats work at Porto Vromi?
Porto Vromi offers a semi-private boat, a private boat with a skipper and a hire boat that needs no licence. The semi-private boat takes a maximum of 10 guests. The other two carry only your own group.
The semi-private boat is a shared boat with a hard limit. It carries a maximum of 10 guests. One semi-private tour is a land and sea day. A minibus collects guests from their hotels, and the 7-metre speedboat then leaves from Porto Vromi.
Families with older children, couples and small groups suit the semi-private boat. The small number of guests gives the trip an intimate feel. The boat leg is one part of a full-day tour. That tour also includes a hike to the shipwreck viewpoint.
A private boat with a skipper belongs to your group alone. The skipper drives while you swim, rest or take photos. The 7-metre private boat from Porto Vromi includes the skipper, the fuel and a cooler with ice and water. Food and drinks are not.
The route on that boat is open. The captain takes you anywhere you want to go. The boat carries snorkelling equipment and a ladder for climbing back aboard. On a six-hour private trip you choose the stops and the swim time, and the skipper picks quieter anchorages.
Start times bend to the group as well. A two-hour private cruise from Porto Vromi for up to six people adjusts its starting time to the customer’s preference. That cruise runs in rain or shine, as long as it is safe.
Private boats suit families and friends travelling together. Birthdays and proposals can be arranged after booking on the 7-metre boat. A six-hour private trip also suits groups that want privacy and photographers who want clear water for their shots.
Meeting points differ between private trips. The 7-metre private boat meets guests at Porto Vromi ten minutes before the booked time. Hotel pickup there is an extra, paid on site. The six-hour private cruise does not include hotel pickup, so guests start from the bay.
Boat hire in the bay needs no licence. Boat hire at Porto Vromi lets you drive a 5.5-metre boat yourself. The boat takes up to seven people. On arrival, staff give a briefing on how to operate it. The minimum age to drive is 18.
The hire boat has a sunroof, a ladder, cushions, life vests and a waterproof bag. It has no restrooms. For your own route without steering, a professional skipper can come aboard for an extra fee.
Hire at Porto Vromi suits travellers who want an independent day on the water. The rental is open to families with children and to groups of friends. You explore the coastline at your own pace.
Swimming is part of the private trips. Snorkelling equipment is on board the 7-metre private boat, and the six-hour private cruise lists swim and snorkel stops. The two-hour private cruise adds a swim inside a sea cave and a snorkel stop later on the coast.
Which months suit Porto Vromi, and what goes in your bag?
Late spring to October is the stretch recommended for clear water and sunshine at Porto Vromi. Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat and water, and expect the weather to set the final route. Live availability shows which dates are open.
Clear water and sunny weather at Porto Vromi run from late spring to October. Peak season is the crowded part of that window. In April the average daily high is 18.9 degrees Celsius, and in late spring it is 23.4. Trips depend on the weather.
Summer at Porto Vromi brings the heat of Zakynthos, with hot, dry and sunny days. The climate table gives a record high of 42.2 degrees Celsius for July and 40.0 for August. Humidity stays fairly high all year, even in summer. The July average is 59.3 percent, and the August average is 61.2 percent.
For the west coast boat tour, bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, a swimsuit and a towel. Add a bottle of water and snacks. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that can get wet. Neither food nor drinks come with that tour. The cruise with three swim stops includes the use of snorkelling equipment.
Swimmers must know how to swim, because the west coast tour from Porto Vromi has no supervision in the water. Open-water boat trips can be choppy, so people prone to seasickness need to be prepared. Another cruise suits people who are comfortable on water. Safety equipment is on board for the shipwreck and blue caves cruise.
Everybody is welcome on the west coast tour, but every minor travels with an adult. On the cruise with three swim stops, every infant must sit on an adult’s lap. Any level of physical fitness is fine on that cruise.
Health rules differ from one cruise to the next. A shipwreck and blue caves cruise advises against joining with spinal injuries, pregnancy or poor cardiovascular health. A shipwreck beach cruise is described as suitable for children of all ages and pregnant women.
Sea conditions decide the stops. On one Porto Vromi cruise, swimming at the blue caves happens only if the sea allows it. On the west coast tour, the route and the length of the trip change with the weather. On a shipwreck beach cruise, the captain adds extra places when the weather allows.
Book a Porto Vromi cruise through the live calendar of open dates. On the west coast tour, bad weather that cancels the trip brings a free new date or a refund. The cruise with three swim stops runs only with a minimum number of travellers. When not enough people book, the choice is another date or your money back.
A full refund on the cruise with three swim stops needs a cancellation at least 24 hours before departure. Inside 24 hours nothing is refunded, and changes are not accepted. A shipwreck beach cruise states the same 24 hours.
- Swimsuit and towel
- Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
- Bottle of water and snacks
- Shoes that can get wet
- A waterproof case for your phone or camera