Re: [Rover7] Zakynthos Greece
allright, reposted it and it'll stay. these directions are basically perfect. checkout Jools website too
http://www.lithies.gr.
BASE jumping onto Navagio(Shipwreck)Beach. Events and info.
Description
This will have as much accurate information about how to get from Athens, Greece to this exit point on Zakynthos Island as I can provide. Details will include car-rentals, drive times, dining, accomodations, nightlife and very importantly, boat rides.
My Wife and I 1st saw the pictures of this BASE jump from the Pro Base event held there and immediately fell in love and bought tickets to Athens. We then found out that there is virtually no active information about what is actually a very remote and rural island trip. There is almost no internet(or so slow you'll freak)on Zakynthos. There are no hotels where you can book a room and there are no boat captains to talk to about getting back from the beach after you land there. There is no way to have a shuttle driver ready to drive your car back from the exit point once the boat drops you off at wherever they take you. This all has to be negotiated when you finally get to the NW part of the island. Expect nobody to speak any other language than Greek. This is not Athens on the mainland, this is Zakynthos. Communication is very difficult because the only business they know is mainly boat tours and that's it. Trying to explain that you will parachute from a cliff and land on Navagio Beach, you need a boat ride back, someone needs to drive your car back to you, you need a place to sleep and where is good to eat are all totally foreign ideas to the locals and VERY big obstacles to take care of before you ever make 1 jump.
If you don't speak any Greek, expect to get fully over-charged for almost everything. The locals are not being dishonest, you are just a tourist with very odd requests and they are trying to make money in a shitty economy. That being said, the locals are all very very friendly unless they are driving and you are in front of them.
You can fly directly onto Zakynthos Island. This was over $3,000.00 USD from the US. We flew into Athens for under $1,000.00 USD. Your choice. There is a Budget Rent a Car at both airports and we got a good deal on a Fiat Panda that we drove the hell out of for our trip. Budget gets our vote.
If you fly directly onto Zakynthos Island, this trip is much easier. If you fly into Athens, rent a car and drive West towards the the port town of Kyllini. Buy a fancy map of Greece and you can figure this out. There are 3 toll booths as you are leaving the Athens area and you'll pay about 3 euros each time. Stay on this road which steadily gets worse and wilder for about 4-4.5 hours and look CLOSELY for the sign that says Kyllini. Turn right here and drive for 10 miles towards the giant ferry boats and good luck negotiating the wierd roads.
The ferry boats are HUGE and obvious. Look on the left as you approach the boats and there's a tiny building that says Ionian Ferries(tickets to Zakynthos). For 2 people and 1 small car it was 52 euros one way to the island. The ferry is about 1.5 hours to Zakynthos and there are is a full bar and cafe upstairs with very fancy lounges and lots of places to relax.
As you leave the ferry and drive into the town of Zante, you will see signs that point all over the place. Look for the sign that says 'Alykes' and drive that way. The drive through this small town is VERY beautiful and very sketchy, Fast drivers and tiny roads mixed with fantastic Sea views is risky/awesome. You will pass through the town of Alykes and start looking for signs that point towards 'St. Nicholas Port'. This is a very pretty, very tiny village with cheap rooms, a coffee shop/bakery, tiny market, tiny gas station, several places to eat and many boats in a beautiful harbor. This would be a great place to start. Get a room, find a boat Captain that runs trips to the "Shipwreck Beach" and ask if he has any friends that will drive with you to the exit point and then drive your car back to the town. Negotiate the price for all of this upfront.
5 miles from here is the Skinari Lighthouse, home of the Potamitis Brothers and the small resort where we personally did most of our business. They have two excellent Tavernas(restaraunts), small rooms for rent(slightly expensive) and the best boat tours to and from the beach all right there. The Potamitis Brothers already know what BASE jumping is and what your wierd requirements are. Only the main caretaker Yianni Potamiti speaks much English though, so be ready.
From either St. Nicholas Port or Skinari Lighthouse, the exit point is about a 15-20 minute drive. From the Navagio Beach Overlook, park your car and walk 300 meters down and to the left, you should find the one of the most exotic exit points you will ever see rather easily.
All this being said, you could just wait for the Pro BASE event to happen, join up with that and most of everything is taken care of for a fraction of the cost. My information is for the people who just want to go, can't join the Pro BASE event or whatever.
Even with this info, expect a full on adventure with many possible perils both financially and bodily. For us it was worth every minute and every penny.
Please feel free to ask any other questions. Fancy maps and Google Earth will get you almost impossibly lost, maybe. Good Luck!! Viva la Zakynthos!!!
Website
http://AdrenalineSports.gr
http://travelzakynthos.com
http://potamitisbros.gr
http://www.lithies.gr/
