keri caves
Complete Visitor Guide

Visiting the Keri Caves

Chalk-white sea arches and turquoise water line the south coast. Rent a small motorboat or paddle a sea kayak to explore the Keri caves in Zante at your own pace.

β›΅ Small boat friendly πŸŒ… Best light before 11 AM 🧭 Calmest on south winds
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37m
Deepest Sea Grotto
14
Navigable Sea Caves
4.8β˜…
Average Rating
21Β°C
Spring Water Temp
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What Makes Keri Caves Special

Discover what makes keri caves unforgettable.

Ultimate Guide to Keri Caves Boat Tours and Excursions
🚀

Charter a Private Skiff

Renting a 30-horsepower boat from Limni Keri gives you freedom to anchor inside quiet sea arches. You do not need a skipper license, and the sheltered bay makes navigating along the cliff walls straightforward.

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Your Visit Journey

What to expect from arrival to departure.

Departure from Limni Keri
1

Departure from Limni Keri

Pick up your rental boat or board an organized tour at the small fishing harbor.

Cruising Cape Marathia
2

Cruising Cape Marathia

Follow the steep green headland south past quiet pebble coves and olive groves.

Arriving at the Great Arch
3

Arriving at the Great Arch

Marvel at the massive twin arches of Kamares, tall enough for small boats to drift through.

Swimming into the Grottos
4

Swimming into the Grottos

Drop anchor in sandy patches outside the caves and swim into the cool, glowing blue water.

Visiting Marathonisi
5

Visiting Marathonisi

Cross the short channel to Turtle Island for a swim stop along the soft sand spit.

Return to Port
6

Return to Port

Cruise back toward the harbor in the early afternoon before the thermal breeze creates whitecaps.

What Is Keri Caves?

Carved straight into the chalk-white bluffs of the Marathia peninsula, the Keri caves of Zakynthos feel worlds away from the busy resort strips further north. The coastline here drops sheer into the Ionian Sea, riddled with undercut arches, narrow fissures, and cavernous chambers hollowed out by centuries of winter swell.

Because no road leads down these headlands, you can only reach the grottos by sea. Small skiffs, guided catamarans, and sea kayaks slip into openings where pale stone reflects sunlight up through the water, creating an electric blue glow across the cavern ceilings. For travelers exploring coastal highlights, the Keri caves in Greece stand out as some of the clearest snorkeling grounds in the archipelago.

Key Facts

  • Location: Cape Marathia, South Zakynthos
  • Access: Boat or sea kayak only
  • Best Season: May to October
  • Water Depth: 6 to 32 meters inside main grottos
keri caves

Why It's Famous

  • Massive Kamares natural sea arches
  • Electric blue reflected cave water
  • Loggerhead sea turtle feeding grounds
  • Wild, roadless coastal cliff scenery
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What Visitors Say

4.8
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Based on 347 reviews
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We took a 30hp boat out at 9 AM and had the largest cave completely to ourselves for forty minutes. Water looks like neon blue glass.

Aris V., Greece
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Kayaking under the twin arches was the highlight of our week. You get into narrow spots where motorized boats cannot squeeze through.

Fiona M., United Kingdom
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The scenery is stunning, but head out early. By 1 PM the wind picked up and made anchoring outside the grottos pretty bumpy.

Matteo R., Italy
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Swimming right through the limestone tunnels felt magical. Bring decent water shoes because the rock shelves near the entrance are sharp.

Anke S., Germany

Book Keri Caves

Compare options and book directly below.

Group Excursion

per person, harbor kiosk
€20

A 2.5-hour shared boat cruise to the caves and Marathonisi island with two extended swimming stops.

Self-Drive Motorboat

half-day rental, advance booking
€95

Safety briefing and fuel tracking for an independent 30hp skiff carrying up to five passengers.

Guided Sea Kayak Tour

morning departure
€45

Kayak rental, dry bag, and an experienced guide leading you through low-ceiling grottos motorboats cannot access.

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Before You Go

Everything you need to know before visiting keri caves.

πŸ• Hours & Tickets

Hours: Open 24 hours daily as a natural marine site; visits depend on daylight, sea conditions, and boat tour schedules

Group Excursion (per person, harbor kiosk)€20
Self-Drive Motorboat (half-day rental, advance booking)€95
Guided Sea Kayak Tour (morning departure)€45
Check live availability & book β†’

πŸš‡ Getting There

πŸ“ Cape Marathia, Keri, Southwestern Coast, Zakynthos 290 92, Greece

  • Drive 25 minutes south from Zakynthos Town to Limni Keri harbor, where daily boat rentals and tours depart.

⏰ Set out before 10:30 AM when the sea is glassy and the sun shines directly into the east-facing caverns.

πŸŒ…
Morning Calm, flat water with the brightest daylight entering the caves between 09:00 and 11:30.
πŸŒ†
Afternoon Warmer water for swimming, though afternoon chop can make entering narrower grottos tricky.
πŸŒƒ
Evening Golden hour softens the white cliff faces, ideal for coastal photography from a distance.

Experience Keri Caves

See it before you go.

keri caves video
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While You're in the Area

Worth combining with your keri caves visit.

Limni Keri Beach

Limni Keri Beach

5 min walk

Sheltered pebble beach lined with tamarisk trees and family-run seaside fish tavernas.

Keri Lighthouse

Keri Lighthouse

12 min drive

Perched on a 300-meter cliff edge, offering views across the Mizithres sea stacks.

Marathonisi Island

Marathonisi Island

15 min by boat

An uninhabited sanctuary across the bay where loggerhead sea turtles lay eggs on the sand spit.

Good to Know

Keri Caves welcomes all visitors with accessibility features and family-friendly amenities.

Wheelchair Access
β™Ώ

Wheelchair Access

Not wheelchair accessible; reachable only via sea vessel with no step-free boarding or infrastructure inside the caves

Family Friendly
πŸ‘ͺ

Family Friendly

Family-friendly via organized boat tours, though children should be supervised around water and swimming stops require swimming ability

Language Support
🌐

Language Support

Boat captains and rental staff speak Greek and English, with several local skippers also offering tour commentary in Italian.

Getting Around
πŸš™

Getting Around

Accessible strictly by water via excursion boats, small rental boats, or sea kayaks; there are no paths, roads, stairs, or elevators

Discover More

Dive deeper into keri caves.

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Keri Caves vs Blue Caves: Which Zakynthos Cave Trip to Choose

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Marathonisi Cave and Turtle Island: What to See and How to Visit

Marathonisi Cave and Turtle Island: What to See and How to Visit

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The Mizithres Rocks of Keri: Viewpoint, Sunset and Boat Views

The Mizithres Rocks of Keri: Viewpoint, Sunset and Boat Views

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Ultimate Guide to Keri Caves Boat Tours and Excursions

Ultimate Guide to Keri Caves Boat Tours and Excursions

Plan your Keri Caves tour in Zakynthos with our insider guide covering self-drive rentals, organized boat trips, turtle …

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about keri caves.

No, Greek maritime regulations allow anyone over 18 to rent and drive boats with engines up to 30 horsepower after a quick safety briefing.

Group boat tickets range from €15 to €25 per person. Renting your own small skiff costs around €80 to €110 for four hours, plus about €20 in fuel.

During July and August, rental skiffs often sell out by mid-morning. Reserving two or three days ahead guarantees your boat and morning departure time.

While the northern caves draw larger cruise boats, visiting the Keri caves in Zante gives you calmer bays, fewer tourist ships, and the freedom to swim directly into deep grottos.

Plan for three to four hours. That window gives you ample time to snorkel inside three caverns, pass under the Kamares arches, and stop at Marathonisi.

Standard group boats have a single step from the stone quay. Crew members assist passengers across, though private charters offer the most flexible boarding setups.

Fresh underwater springs bubble up inside several chambers, dropping the water temperature by three or four degrees compared to the open sea.

Set Sail for the Southern Cliffs

Find rental skiffs, kayak routes, and honest sea-condition tips before heading out to Cape Marathia.

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