This Ionian Island Is the Next Big Thing in Greece

As our yacht zips around the southern side of stingray-shaped Zakynthos, each bend holds a new surprise: a series of caves carved into the sheer coastal cliffs, low limestone arches stretching over the sea, an olive and oak tree-covered islet whose golden beaches draw nesting sea turtles. Our captain anchors in one of the many secluded coves, where the sandy shore is ringed by jade-colored water so clear, you can make out the schools of fish swimming below.

Sipping a glass of Zakynthian rosé on the bow, I glance up at the pockets of pines filling the cracks of the cliffs spilling down like dunes into the sea. A dolphin veers toward our boat as the sun dips below the mountains, painting the sky in blush-colored shades more vibrant than anything I’ve seen in Santorini the many times I’ve hu