Santorini Snorkeling Catamaran Cruise with Volcano Stops

The volcano's warm water is swimmable, and the crew cooks lunch while you're in it.

A half-day catamaran cruise in Santorini with five swimming and snorkeling stops, including Amoudi Bay beneath Oia, the Red and White beaches, Thirasia island, and the volcano hot springs. The boat carries snorkeling gear, towels, seafood and BBQ prepared on board, wine and beer, and one glass of Prosecco at sunset. Departures run at 10am or 3pm from Amoudi Bay.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santorini Catamaran Cruise Highlights

• Start sailing from Ammoudi Bay
• Sail near Venetian lighthouse
• Swim at Volcano hot springs
• Swim and snorkel at Thirasia island
• Enjoy meal prepared on board
• Swim at Red Beach
• Cruise along White Beach
• Watch Santorini sunset with Prosecco

The Experience

The catamaran leaves Amoudi Bay—the small port tucked directly under the cliffs of Oia—and heads out into the Aegean for five hours of stops. You'll swim at the Red Beach first, then move to the White Beach where limestone formations rise from the water. The Volcano hot springs come next, and the water there runs warm enough to feel the difference; you wade in from the boat and float in water heated by the geology below. Thirasia island is where the crew has the BBQ going by the time you arrive—grilled meat, seafood, Greek salads, handmade tapas, and vegetarian plates if that's what you've ordered. Snorkeling gear is on board and ready, so you drop in from Thirasia's clear water without having to arrange anything separately.

The boat sails past the Venetian lighthouse on the southern Caldera as the afternoon moves toward evening. Wine, beer, soft drinks and water flow throughout the day. When the sun starts to set, you get a glass of Prosecco and watch it happen from the water—the famous Santorini light spreading across the horizon while you're still on deck. The whole experience is built around the swimming and snorkeling stops; the food and drink are there, but the water is what the day is for.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment and towels.
• seafood, grilled meat, Greek salads, handmade Greek tapas and fruit prepared on board.
• beer, white wine, soft drinks and water throughout the day.
• one glass of Prosecco at sunset.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Santorini Star Sailing

Is this one for you?Book the 10am departure if you want the morning light and time to explore Oia afterward; choose the 3pm slot if you're planning the sunset as the centerpiece of your afternoon and want to watch it from the water with a glass in hand.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the 10am and 3pm departures?

Both departures run the same five-hour route with the same five stops and the same food and drinks on board. The 10am cruise catches the morning light and finishes by mid-afternoon; the 3pm departure is timed to end as the sun sets, so the Prosecco moment happens in full golden hour.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear?

Snorkeling equipment is included on the catamaran, so you don't need to pack or rent it separately. Towels are on board as well.

What's the volcano hot springs stop actually like?

The Santorini Volcano hot springs are a natural thermal pool where the water temperature runs noticeably warmer than the rest of the Aegean because of geothermal activity below. You swim directly from the boat into water that feels heated—it's one of the five stops where you get in.

Is the food included, or do I order it separately?

Seafood, grilled meat, Greek salads, handmade tapas, and fruit are all prepared on board and included in the price. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available if you need them. Wine, beer, soft drinks and water are included throughout the day, plus one glass of Prosecco at sunset.

Can I snorkel at all five stops, or just some of them?

You can snorkel at Thirasia island, where the water is described as crystal clear and the crew has time to prepare the meal while you're in the water. The other stops—Red Beach, White Beach, the volcano hot springs and Amoudi Bay—are swimming stops, though the water is clear at all of them.

What time does the sunset departure actually finish?

The 3pm departure runs for five hours, so it finishes around 8pm, which is when the sunset is typically at its deepest color in Santorini during summer months. The exact finish time shifts with the season.