Navagio, Beach with limestone cliffs in Zakynthos, Greece
Navagio is a beach with pale sand and blue water on the northwestern coast of Zakynthos. Steep limestone cliffs surround the cove and rise over 200 meters above the Ionian Sea.
The ship Panagiotis ran aground in 1980 while fleeing Greek authorities and reportedly carrying smuggled cigarettes. The wreck remained on this remote beach and gave it its current name.
The name Navagio means shipwreck in Greek and refers to the abandoned vessel lying in the sand. Visitors often come for photographs with the wreck and the white cliffs forming a backdrop.
The beach is only reachable by boat as no roads lead there. Excursions depart from nearby ports and usually last three to four hours.
The Panagiotis has been sitting in the sand for over 40 years and its rusted hull shows weathering from salt water and sun. Occasional storms shift parts of the wreck into new positions as tides move the sand around the ship.
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