Santorini Caldera Daytime Catamaran Cruise with Meal

Ammoudi Bay below Oia

Ammoudi Bay is the small fishing harbour at the foot of Oia, the village at the northern tip of Santorini famous for its white houses and blue domes. The bay is framed by dramatic red and black volcanic cliffs, with a handful of fish taverns at the water's edge and a long stairway climbing to the village above.

Your catamaran cruise starts here. With the default option we pick you up from your hotel or the nearest accessible meeting point up to 90 minutes before the 12:30 departure, which saves you the steep road down to the bay. As the catamaran pulls away, look back at Oia perched on the cliff edge, one of the most beautiful views of the whole island.

The Santorini caldera and the volcano

Santorini as we see it today was shaped by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history, about 3,600 years ago, when the centre of a round island collapsed into the sea. The result is the caldera, a flooded crater surrounded by cliffs up to about 300 metres high, with the villages of Fira, Imerovigli and Oia lining the rim. In the middle rise the dark volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, formed by later eruptions.

Sailing across the caldera gives you a real sense of its scale: the cliffs show bands of red, black and white rock from different eruptions. Is a Santorini caldera cruise worth it? Seeing the volcano and the cliff-top villages from sea level is something no viewpoint on land can match.

The volcanic hot springs

Off the coast of Palea Kameni, warm water rising from the volcano seeps into a small cove, colouring the sea a rusty orange from its iron and other minerals. The water is not hot like a bath, but it is noticeably warmer than the surrounding sea, especially as you swim closer to the shore.

The catamaran anchors nearby and you swim a short distance to the springs; strong swimmers can do this easily, and the crew advises everyone on the distance. Wear old swimwear, as the minerals can stain light fabric. The hot springs are one of the most unusual experiences in Santorini, and a highlight of any caldera boat trip.

Aspronisi and the Akrotiri lighthouse

Leaving the hot springs, the catamaran heads south-west across the caldera past Aspronisi, a tiny uninhabited islet whose name means white island, after the pale layer of volcanic pumice on top of its dark cliffs. It is a remnant of the old rim of the island before the great eruption.

The boat then rounds the south-western tip of Santorini, where the Akrotiri lighthouse, built in the late 19th century, stands on the cliffs. From here the views open up along the south coast, with layered cliffs of red, black and white rock dropping into the sea, a perfect stretch for photos. Keep your camera ready on deck, as the colours of the rock change with every bend of the coast.

Mesa Pigadia, White Beach and Red Beach

The south coast of Santorini is lined with some of the island's most striking beaches. Mesa Pigadia is a quiet pebbly cove with sculpted rock formations; White Beach, backed by pale cliffs, can only be reached by boat; and Red Beach, near the archaeological site of ancient Akrotiri, is famous for its towering cliffs of rust-red volcanic rock.

The catamaran anchors along this coast for about an hour, giving you time to swim, snorkel over the volcanic seabed or sunbathe on deck. At anchor the crew serves the meal: tzatziki, stuffed vine leaves, Greek salad, pitta bread and pasta with vegetables, followed by BBQ skewers of chicken, meat or vegetables. Halal meals are limited on Santorini, so tell us your needs when booking and we will check what the crew can prepare.