Snorkeling in Santorini: Sunset Caldera Sailing Cruise
Swim and snorkel in two of Santorini's most striking coves without arranging a thing.
A five-hour sailing cruise around the Santorini Caldera with snorkeling at White Beach and Red Beach, swimming stops, lunch and unlimited wine and beer included. The boat departs from Vlychada marina and returns with hotel pickup and drop-off. An English-speaking guide leads the cruise. All snorkeling equipment is provided.
Step-by-step itinerary
Santorini sailing and sightseeing cruise
- Board at Vlychada marina
- View and photograph Red Beach
- Pass by White Beach
- Visit Palea Kameni volcanic island
- See Akrotiri Lighthouse from water
- Swim, sunbathe, and snorkel
- Taste BBQ meals and Greek wines
- Barca Sailing 10m
- Red Beach passing by
- White Beach passing by
- Palea Kameni 30m
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- snorkeling equipment for both beaches.
- lunch with a BBQ meal.
- unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks throughout the cruise.
- an English-speaking guide.
- and all taxes and fees.
Next departure: 25 May 2027
Information
Sail the Santorini Caldera at sunset, snorkel at White Beach and Red Beach, and swim from the boat with lunch and drinks included: hotel pickup takes care of the logistics.
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The experience
The boat leaves Vlychada marina (a small round harbor tucked into the island's southern coast), and heads toward Red Beach, where the cliffs themselves are the color of rust and pumice. You'll slow down to photograph it from the water, then move on to White Beach, a pebbled cove ringed by white towering cliffs that form a natural shelter. This is where you get in the water to snorkel, with the equipment already aboard and ready. The volcanic geology that makes Santorini so visually distinct (the pumice stones, the gray sand, the sheer rock faces) is what you're swimming past, not reading about in a guidebook.
The cruise passes Palea Kameni, a volcanic island formed by eruptions that left deposits of pumice and dacite, and you'll see the Akrotiri Lighthouse from the water on the way back: a 19th-century structure built by a French company in 1892. Lunch happens aboard: a BBQ meal with Greek wines, beer and soft drinks included throughout the day. The timing is built around the sunset, so the light changes as you sail, and the whole five hours holds together without you having to coordinate pickups, transport between beaches or any of the logistics that usually splinter a day like this.
Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you step out of your accommodation and back into it without arranging a separate transfer. The crew are experienced sailors, and the guide speaks English. Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel) comes with the boat, so you don't need to rent it separately or bring your own.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Pickup is included in the price. When you book, you choose your hotel from 497 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the water like for snorkeling at White Beach and Red Beach?
White Beach is a small cove surrounded by white cliffs that provide partial shade, and the water there is calm enough for snorkeling with the volcanic landscape visible below. Red Beach, named for its rust-colored cliffs, is viewed from the boat for photography rather than entry, so the snorkeling happens at White Beach and other stops along the route.
Does the cruise include food and drinks?
Yes. Lunch is a BBQ meal served aboard, and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks are included throughout the five hours. The meal is part of the package, not an add-on.
What time does the cruise depart and return?
The cruise is timed around the sunset and lasts five hours total. Hotel pickup is included, so the timing works backward from your accommodation. The operator will confirm the exact departure time when you book.
Is snorkeling equipment provided, or do I need to bring my own?
All snorkeling equipment is provided on the boat: mask, fins and snorkel are ready to use. You don't need to rent separately or bring your own.
Operated by Barca Sailing Daily Cruises. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Snorkeling in Santorini: Sunset Caldera Sailing Cruise
5h · EN
from € 125 per person
≈ US$ 140 in your currency
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