Practical
Getting to Agios Sostis, and what to bring
Where the turtle trip starts, how pickup works, how to find the boat and what to pack for a small speedboat.
Pick your date on the water ↗Quick answer
The trip starts at Agios Sostis harbour or with a pickup, depending on the option you book. The departure point carries two large blue flags and white umbrellas. Bring a hat, swimwear, a towel, a camera, sunscreen and water, and carry your own food and drink because none is provided.
Where it starts
The booking page names Agios Sostis harbour as the boarding point, where you board a semi-yacht speedboat. A travel site describes Agios Sostis as a busy port, and notes that tours typically start from there or from Laganas Bay. Wikipedia describes Laganas as the island's largest resort, on the bay in the south of Zakynthos. Use the map link on your booking, not a street name, for the exact meeting point.
Pickup
Whether pickup is part of your ticket depends on the option, so check your date. The booking page says the provider collects you from your accommodation or from the nearest pickup point, up to a five-minute walk away, and that you receive your pickup time and exact location within 24 hours before the trip. It also lists two drop-off locations, so read your voucher for where the tour ends.
Finding the boat
The booking page says the departure point has two big blue flags and two big white umbrellas bearing the logo of the provider, ZANTE MARE. The provider's name is given here only so that you can recognise the meeting point; this guide is not connected to it.
What to bring
The booking page lists a hat, swimwear, a towel, a camera, sunscreen and water. Food and drinks are not included, so carry something to drink. A small bag that fits on a speedboat is easier than a large one, and a waterproof pouch keeps a phone safe from spray.
Choosing a base
Wikipedia says Laganas is the largest resort on the island and that since the mid-1980s it has become a centre of nightlife. It also gives the island's size as roughly 40 kilometres long and 20 wide, so where you stay changes how far you are from the harbour. If your accommodation is far from Agios Sostis, a pickup option saves you finding the harbour yourself, and the booking page gives the pickup details within 24 hours before the trip.
Sun, sea and spray
A speedboat has little shade, and a swim stop leaves you wet. Sunscreen and a hat are on the booking page's packing list for that reason, and a light cover for the ride back is a sensible addition of your own. Keep valuables to a minimum, put a phone in a waterproof pouch and carry water, since nothing to drink is provided.
Who it does not suit
The trip is not suited to pregnant women, people with back problems, wheelchair users or people prone to seasickness. A small fast boat on open water moves a lot, and the sea can change on the day.
Your checklist before you go
Read the voucher when it arrives: it gives the meeting point and, for pickup options, the time and place within 24 hours before the trip. Wear swimwear under your clothes so that a swim stop costs no time. Pack the hat, towel, camera, sunscreen and water from the booking page's list, and think about whether anyone in your group is prone to seasickness, because the boat is small and fast. Then read the weather note below.
Weather and changes
The booking page says captains may change the itinerary for safety, and that if the tour is rescheduled for weather you are notified in advance. Cancelling more than a day ahead costs nothing.
Booking
Pick a date in the calendar, choose an option and read its pickup details. GetYourGuide takes the payment and handles any cancellation. The guide has no connection to the boat company, the tour operator or the marine park.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I meet the boat?
At Agios Sostis harbour, or at a pickup point if your option includes pickup. Your voucher has the exact place.
How do I recognise the departure point?
The booking page says it has two big blue flags and two big white umbrellas with the provider's logo.
What should I bring?
A hat, swimwear, a towel, a camera, sunscreen and water.
Is anything to eat or drink provided?
No. Bring your own.
When do I learn my pickup time?
Within 24 hours before the trip, says the booking page.
Sources