One of the highlights of a visit to Zakynthos is the sighting of the endangered and prehistoric loggerhead turtles. From June till mid September, the huge female turtles drag their bodies during night time on shore. Here she lays about 100 eggs an arm length deep into the sand. The breading ground is only to be found on the dry part of the sandy beaches around the bay of Lagana. After two months the eggs hatch and the tiny hatchlings make their way to the sea.

When the turtles are grown, they will return to the exact same spot on their native beach to reproduce again. Most beaches are closed off during the night and guarded by volunteers of the Sea Turtle Protection Society.

The turtles are very vulnerable and easily frightened by noise and bright lights. The best way of spotting turtles are offshore or, in case one is lucky enough, encountering the turtles hatch on the beach at daytime. Numerous organized tours leave from the port of Agios Sostis or Porto Koukla.