This itinerary will bring you to discover the wild part of Zante that is not still developed from a tourist point of view. This trip through Zakynthos touches the north-east areas of the island and will permit you to appreciate the coast that goes from Makis Gialos bay until Skinari cape and the extreme north of Zante island.
Our suggestion is to drive straight to Makris Gialos beach because if you come here soon in the morning you will be able to admire better the incredible colours of tha sea.
If you’ll come back few kilometers from Makris Ghialos in direction of Alykes, you will reach Xighia beach (you will recognize it immediately for the strong smell of sulphur that reach also the road).
Xigia beach is the ideal place to relax yourselves and to have a nice swim in its sulphureous waters. We advice to divide the morning in two parts, so you can visit first Makris Ghialos, then Xigia beach until lunch time.
In this way we can take you for lunch in one of the best traditional restaurant of Zante that is very close to Xigia beach and where your meal will be an unforgettable experience.
After lunch you have to take again your car to return towards north in order to reach Cape Skinari.
The road that we will cover is really wonderful with the island of Kefalonia in front of us that becomes bigger and bigger and with the Zakynthian country side on your right that degrades sweetly until the blue sea.
Once arrived in Cape Skinari you have to make a photo, Kefalonia is so near that will seem easy to reach by swim.
This part of the coast is famous in all Zakynthos for the Blue Caves, that are particular caves where the water of the sea assumes impressive blue glares.
There are a lot of boat trips that will take you to discover the Blue Caves of Zante, but we didn’t find it an interesting experience.
It's more beautiful to go down towards the sea and to dive in the water in order to discover the caves with mask and snorkel!
For all those who own their private boat we suggest a trip in this part of coast, from Xigia beach to Cape Skinari as one of most evocative areas of Zakynthos island.
For the evening our suggestion is to stop in the tourist town of Alykes, as it is the only one in this zone that offers different solutions both for the dinner and for the night.


Where to eat in the northern area of Zante

XIGIA TAVERN - XIGIA BEACH
Not far from Xigia beach you can find one of the best traditional restaurants of Zante, and which is the name? Xigia Tavern of course!
It is placed just before the beach, above a small panoramic cape.
Xighia Tavern has only a Greek sign, but you can recognize it for the unpaved car parking and because it is the only small building in a panoramic position. In addition to the quality of the food that is excellent, we suggest you to come here for lunch to appreciate the stunning view that you will have over the bay of Alykes, the island of Kefalonia and the coasts of the Peloponnese.


Night life in Alikes area

CATACOMVES PUB - ALYKANAS
For the evening we suggest you to make a visit to the pub "Catacomves" in Alikanas; a building of the last century changed today into a charming cocktail bar.
Just under the Catacomves pub you’ll find also a stone cellar where to buy traditional wines and typical liqueurs of Greece and from the island of Zakynthos.