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Smuggler's Wreck Bay, Greece

Smuggler's Wreck Bay, Greece is one of the most popular beaches in the island of Zakynthos, located on the northwest shores of the island. What adds to the spectacular beauty of the beach is the stunning contrast of the huge rocks and the turquoise blue waters. The Smuggler's Wreck, Greece is also known as St. George Bay, the beach is surrounded by high cliffs all around the beach. However, due to the cliffs, Smuggler's Wreck can be reached only by boat. Probably why there are many tours, which enable you to not only do island hopping and a visit to the most popular beaches of the island, but will take you to the Smuggler's Bay as well. The beach from afar is a spectacular sight, with the brown sand and the steep and high rising, brown cliffs are a nice contrast with the pale blue color of the waters. You can see the colors of the water changing as you reach the shoreline from the beach. The rugged and barren beauty of the beach also accounts for its unique style beach, this making it among the top beaches of the Mediterranean. In fact, according to the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, it is one of the six most pristine and isolated beaches in the Mediterranean.

Smuggler's Wreck Bay, Greece is also known for its unique history, and probably an incident from which it derives its name. The story goes like this. In October 1980, a freighter, which was allegedly carrying smuggled goods of wine and tobacco, and was chased by the Greek Navy. However, the ship ran aground into the brown sands of what was to be then called the Smuggler's Wreck Bay, Greece. Today, the ship wreck can still be seen on the bay, with the spot being a favorite spot of photography, with most visitors to the beach.

But while boat is the only way by which you can reach the Bay, there is another unusual way by which you can view the Smuggler's Wreck. This spot is from the nearby 200 m high cliff, which can be approached via the Anafonitria village and the monastery of Saint George.

Smuggler's Wreck Bay, Greece is completely uninhabited and offers many spots for swimming and simply lazing around. But the beach is fabulous in terms of the panoramic view that one can get. The cliffs look majestic in contrast to the deep blue colors of the Ionian Sea, a photographer's delight!

Know more about the popular beaches in Europe at Top 50 Beaches in Europe.