Snorkeling in Santorini: Morning Caldera Cruise with Lunch
Sail past volcanic islands and into three swimming stops without arranging the boat or the food.
A five-hour morning sailing cruise in the Santorini Caldera with snorkeling equipment, three beach stops, and a seafood BBQ lunch with wine and beer on board. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The boat departs from Vlychada, a quiet village on the island's south coast, and visits Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni (volcanic islands formed by eruptions over millennia) before stopping at Red Beach and White Beach for swimming and snorkeling in clear water.
Step-by-step itinerary
Morning sailing and island exploration
- Board cruise at Vlychada village
- Sail past Akrotiri Lighthouse
- Pass by Palea Kameni volcanic island
- Stop for lunch near Nea Kameni island
- Swim at Red Beach if wind allows
- Swim at Mesa Pigadia beach
- Return to Vlychada village
- Palea Kameni passing by
- Nea Kameni 40m
- Red Beach 20m
- White Beach passing by
- Mesa Pigadia Beach 20m
- Vlychada Beach 10m
- Akrotiri Lighthouse passing by
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from your accommodation.
- snorkeling equipment for use at the beach stops.
- a seafood BBQ lunch cooked on board.
- unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks for the full five hours.
- an English or Spanish-speaking crew.
Next departure: 1 Apr 2027
Information
Sail the Santorini Caldera for five hours, snorkeling at White Beach and Red Beach with BBQ lunch and drinks, then return refreshed to your hotel.
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The experience
The cruise leaves from Vlychada in the morning and sails into the caldera, the flooded volcanic basin at Santorini's center. Your first stop is Palea Kameni, a volcanic island built from pumice and dacite deposits, followed by Nea Kameni, a smaller uninhabited island that formed over the past two thousand years through repeated eruptions. Lunch happens near Nea Kameni: a seafood BBQ cooked on board with Greek wine, beer and soft drinks included for the whole five hours.
After lunch, the boat heads to Red Beach, a volcanic-sand cove near Akrotiri famed for its red-hued sand and backed by dramatic cliffs. You stop there for swimming if the wind allows. The final and longest stop is White Beach, a white-pebbled cove ringed by towering white cliffs that provide partial shade. The snorkeling equipment is yours to use here, and the water is dark blue and clear. If conditions suit, Mesa Pigadia, a quiet beach with a cave passage to White Beach, may replace one of the other stops. It's known for the deepest, clearest water on the route.
The crew are experienced sailors and English and Spanish speakers. Hotel pickup and drop-off are arranged, so you don't need a rental car or a taxi to the port. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Infants sit on a lap. The boat is suitable for all fitness levels: swimming and snorkeling are optional, and sunbathing and photography are just as much part of the day.
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 498 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).
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 difference between Red Beach and White Beach on this cruise?
Red Beach is a volcanic-sand cove near Akrotiri known for its red-hued sand and dramatic cliffs. It's a short swimming stop if wind conditions allow. White Beach is a white-pebbled cove with towering white cliffs that provide shade, and it's where you spend the longest time with snorkeling equipment available and the clearest, deepest water on the route.
Is snorkeling equipment included, or do I need to bring my own?
Snorkeling equipment is included in the cruise price. You use it at White Beach and any other stops where the crew sets up for water time.
What are Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni?
Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni are volcanic islands inside the Santorini Caldera. Palea Kameni was formed by a series of eruptions that left large deposits of pumice and dacite. Nea Kameni, smaller and uninhabited, formed over the past two millennia through repeated eruptions of lava and ash. You stop nearby for lunch on board.
What's included in the lunch and drinks?
A seafood BBQ is cooked on board near Nea Kameni, and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks are served throughout the five-hour cruise.
Can I skip the swimming and snorkeling if I prefer to stay on the boat?
Yes. Swimming and snorkeling are optional. Many passengers sunbathe on deck, take photos of the volcanic landscape and cliffs, or simply relax while the boat moves between stops.
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.
Snorkeling in Santorini: Morning Caldera Cruise with Lunch
5h · EN · ES
from € 125 per person
≈ US$ 140 in your currency
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