Kalamaki Holidays

On the southern shores of Zante, lapped by the Ionian Sea and backed by Mount Skopos, Kalamaki is tailor-made for those who like tranquility. It’s a traditional Greek village, full of olive groves, and home to a beach that wouldn’t look out of place on a postcard. Loggerhead turtles from thousands of miles away come to lay their eggs on the soft sand here.

Kalamaki shares a 5-kilometre beach of fine, cashmere-soft sand with neighbouring Laganas. The warm waters here are shallow enough for even the tiniest toddler, although if you wade out, you can swim to your heart’s content. There’s a taverna serving ice-creams, cold beers and light meals on the beach. Watersports, though, are off the menu – pedalos excepted – as they frighten off the turtles.

With a pace that rarely gets beyond third gear, Kalamaki is ideal for young families. The beach has easy-access, there’s a small waterpark, and the tavernas around the village offer plenty of eating out options, including children’s menus and play areas. What’s more, the glass-bottom boat to Turtle Island is one trip your children won’t forget for a while.

A 30-minute bus ride will take you to the resort of Vassilikos, which has 2 well-equipped beaches where you’ll find just about every variety of watersport under the sun. If it’s holiday shopping you’re after, the capital, Zante, just north of Kalamaki, is your best bet.