Santorini looks best from the water, which is why a Santorini boat tour is the island’s most popular paid experience. The choice is wide and the prices run from EUR 30 to several thousand, so start with the one decision that matters: do you want the classic volcano trip on a wooden boat, a catamaran day of swimming, food and wine, or a private boat for your own group? Get that right and the rest, from departure port to sunset or morning, falls into place.
Quick answer: For the cheapest way onto the caldera, take a wooden-boat volcano and hot springs tour (EUR 30 on Dakoutros Bros’ site, plus a EUR 5 volcano ticket in cash). For swimming, snorkeling and a meal, take a five-hour semi-private catamaran, from EUR 70 to 140 a person on operators’ own sites in October 2026. Book morning trips for calmer water, sunset trips for the romance, and a private boat if your group is four or more.
Last updated October 8, 2026. We read the tour pages, prices, departure points and cancellation terms of the operators below on their own websites on October 1, 2026, and checked the 2026 port restrictions against official notices. Most operators don’t put a year next to their prices, so treat every figure as a snapshot of early October 2026.
- What changed: the 2026 Civil Protection measures, in force until March 31, 2027, closed the road down to Ammoudi to private vehicles and put a restricted visitor zone at Fira’s Old Port. Boats still sail from both: Ammoudi is the base for most sunset catamarans, and the wooden volcano boats still list Old Port departures.
- What it costs: volcano boats EUR 30-45; shared catamarans EUR 70-140 a person; private catamarans from EUR 800 for four; license-free boat rental from EUR 150 for four hours plus fuel; a Discover Scuba try-dive EUR 90-120 (operators’ sites, October 1, 2026).
- Season: most tours run from spring to October, and some catamaran companies sail into November; Santorini Sea Kayak runs April to October.
- The trap: the EUR 5 Nea Kameni ticket is usually extra and cash only, and most catamarans sail past the volcano without landing. If walking the crater matters to you, choose a volcano boat.
- Wind: the summer meltemi can shorten or cancel trips, especially in July and August. The operators listed here that publish a weather policy refund or reschedule trips they cancel for weather, but read the terms for cancellations you make yourself.
On this page: Tour types compared | How to choose | Departure ports | 12 operators | Prices | Volcano and hot springs | Season and wind | Water activities | Booking | Private charters | What’s changed | FAQ
Santorini Boat Tours at a Glance
The main kinds of trip, side by side. Prices are the lowest published on each operator’s own site on October 1, 2026, per person unless marked.
| Tour type | Price (October 2026) | Length | Group size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden-boat volcano and hot springs | EUR 30, plus EUR 5 volcano ticket | About 3 hours | Up to 80 | Budget, the crater walk, families |
| Three-island day (volcano, springs, Thirasia) | EUR 35 | About 6 hours | Up to 80 | A full day on the water for little money |
| Large shared catamaran | EUR 70-79 | About 5 hours | Up to 50-55 | Swimming and a meal on a budget |
| Small semi-private catamaran | EUR 100-140 | 4.5-5 hours | About 14-22 | Couples, better food and drink, fewer people |
| Private catamaran or yacht | From EUR 800 per boat | 3-5 hours or a full day | 4-12 guests | Groups, families, proposals |
| License-free boat rental | From EUR 150 per boat plus fuel | 4-5 hours | Up to 4-5 | Independent explorers on calm days |
| Sea kayak tour | From EUR 115 | About 3 hours | Small groups | Active travelers, sea caves, quiet |
| Scuba try-dive | EUR 90-120 | 2-3.5 hours | Up to 4 per instructor at one center | First-timers curious about diving |
How to Choose the Right Santorini Boat Tour
Most disappointment on Santorini’s boats comes from booking the wrong kind of trip, not a bad one. Five questions sort it out.
- Do you want to walk on the volcano? Then book a wooden-boat volcano tour. Spiridakos and Caldera Yachting both say plainly that their catamarans sail close to the volcano and the hot springs for a swim but don’t land on Nea Kameni. Catamaran companies will help arrange a separate volcano visit if you ask.
- Do you want to swim, snorkel and eat? Then a catamaran. The typical five-hour route visits Red Beach, White Beach and the hot springs, adds a cove such as Mesa Pigadia, and includes a barbecue or buffet with wine, soft drinks, snorkeling gear and hotel transfers.
- How many people are you willing to share the deck with? Group size is the biggest difference between a EUR 70 trip and a EUR 140 one. Large catamarans carry 50 or more; semi-private boats carry about 14 to 22; Spiridakos says to expect around nine or ten couples on its semi-private cruises.
- Morning or sunset? Morning sailings usually have calmer water, better swimming and smaller crowds at the stops. Sunset sailings trade some swimming time for the evening light and cost more: on Sunset Oia’s high-season calendar, the same Santorini Gems trip is EUR 125 in the morning and EUR 140 at sunset.
- How big is your group? At four or more people, a private boat starts to make sense. Sunset Oia lists private catamarans from EUR 800 for up to four guests, and Santorini Yachting Club’s private Beautiful Day cruise was EUR 900 for up to 12 on its October 2026 calendar.
Our rule of thumb: first-time visitors on a budget should do the wooden-boat volcano tour, which is cheap, short and genuinely interesting. Couples who want one special day on the water should spend on a small semi-private catamaran in the morning. Families and groups of friends should price a private boat before assuming it’s out of reach, because split four ways it often isn’t. A Santorini sunset cruise is lovely, but it’s the trip most often spoiled by wind, crowds and seasickness, so book it only if the evening matters more to you than the swimming.
Where Do Santorini Boat Tours Depart From?
Santorini has five main departure points, and the one on your booking changes how you get there. Most catamaran companies include hotel pickup, but in 2026 it’s worth reading the meeting instructions twice.
- Vlychada Marina (south coast). The busiest base for catamarans, self-drive boat rentals and fishing trips. Spiridakos’ Classic cruise and Caldera Yachting’s Gold day cruise leave from here at 10:30, and Santorini Boat Rental notes free parking around the port.
- Ammoudi Bay (below Oia). The base for most sunset and luxury catamarans, including Santorini Yachting Club and Sunset Oia. Under the 2026 measures, private vehicles can’t drive down to Ammoudi until March 31, 2027, with municipal shuttles running in rotation. Sunset Oia’s FAQ says some areas can’t be reached directly by minibus and guests may be asked to meet at the closest accessible pickup point, so confirm exactly where you’ll be collected.
- Fira’s Old Port. The home of the wooden volcano boats. Dakoutros lists departures at 11:00 and 14:30 for the volcano and hot springs and 15:30 for its sunset cruise, and says to reach the port by cable car (EUR 10 an adult each way), by donkey (EUR 10) or on foot down about 600 steps in 20 to 30 minutes. The 2026 restricted visitor zone covers the Old Port area, but the cable car and the footpath weren’t restricted.
- Athinios port. Some volcano boats and larger catamarans leave from the ferry port, for example Dakoutros’ 10:30 volcano departure. Traffic at Athinios is controlled during ship arrivals and departures under the 2026 measures, so allow extra time if you’re driving.
- Akrotiri and the beach towns. Santorini Sea Kayak starts at Akrotiri Beach, below the archaeological site; the small boats to Red Beach leave Akrotiri’s harbor; and the dive centers and water-sports bases sit on the beaches at Kamari, Perissa, Perivolos and Agios Georgios.
Cruise passengers have one extra option: Spiridakos says guests from cruise ships can leave from the Old Port if they say so when booking, and Santorini Sea Kayak tells cruise guests to tender to the Old Port and take the cable car up to meet its van. Either way, leave a wide margin to get back to your ship.
12 Santorini Boat Tour and Water Activity Operators
These are twelve operators, one or two for each kind of trip, whose own websites gave us enough detail to describe the trip honestly: departure point, what’s included, group size, published prices and cancellation terms. It’s not a ranking and not an exhaustive list; there are dozens of good boats on the island. Prices were read on each company’s own site on October 1, 2026, and most aren’t dated, so confirm them when you book.
1. Santorini Excursions (Dakoutros Bros): Volcano and Hot Springs Boats
Budget, wooden boats, from Fira’s Old Port and Athinios. This is the classic Santorini volcano tour, run by a family company that says it has organized sea excursions on the island for more than 30 years and owns six passenger boats, five of them wooden sailing boats plus a glass-bottom boat. The three-hour Volcano Hot Springs trip gives you about an hour and 15 minutes on Nea Kameni, with an optional walk up to the crater, and about 30 minutes at the Palea Kameni hot springs. Its three-island trip adds roughly two hours of free time on Thirasia and sails home under the cliffs of Oia.
Plan it: Volcano Hot Springs EUR 30 without transfer, leaving the Old Port at 11:00 and 14:30 and Athinios at 10:30 (EUR 45 with a transfer from Athinios); 3 Islands Trip EUR 35, about six hours; Sunset Cruise EUR 45, leaving the Old Port at 15:30 and including the volcano and hot springs before sunset. Food, drinks and the EUR 5 volcano ticket are extra. Its pages list up to 80 participants, ages 1 to 80, and full refunds for shared trips canceled at least 24 hours ahead (an older terms page says three days, so ask). Book on its own site. Best for: budget travelers, families and anyone who wants to stand on the volcano.
2. Spiridakos Sailing Cruises: Semi-Private Catamarans From Vlychada
Mid-range catamarans, family-run since 1986. Spiridakos says it was established in early 1986 and now sells its cruises from santorini-yachts.com (the old spiridakos.com address is parked). Its Classic Daytime cruise sails five hours from Vlychada Marina, 10:30 to 15:30, with stops at Red Beach, White Beach, the hot springs and the cove of Mesa Pigadia, and includes minivan pickup, a barbecue chicken and pasta buffet with Greek salad, white wine and soft drinks, snorkeling gear and towels; vegetarian options are available. The Luxury version starts at Ammoudi and ends at Vlychada, adds beer and two cocktails, and swims near Thirasia.
Plan it: from EUR 100 a person (Classic), EUR 120 (Premium) and EUR 140 (Luxury) on its homepage, with private daytime catamarans from EUR 1,100 for up to four. It says to expect about nine or ten couples on a semi-private trip, asks for no deposit, allows free cancellation within limits of 48 hours or seven days depending on the cruise, and reschedules or refunds trips stopped by weather or the Port Authority. It sails year-round when the weather allows, with most cruises from March to November. Book on its own site. Best for: couples who want a calm, well-fed day of swimming.
3. Caldera Yachting: Day and Sunset Catamarans
Mid-range catamarans, one-way routes between Vlychada and Oia. Caldera Yachting, now at calderayachting.gr, runs its Caldera Gold cruise as a one-way sail: the day trip leaves Vlychada at 10:30, passes Red and White Beach, Black Mountain and the Venetian lighthouse, swims at the hot springs and Thirasia and ends around 15:30 at Ammoudi; the sunset trip runs the other way from Ammoudi at 15:30 and arrives at Vlychada after dark. The price includes hotel transport, a meal on board with local white wine, beer and soft drinks, snorkeling gear and towels, and it caters for special diets on request.
Plan it: its prices appear only in the booking engine, not on its pages. It says semi-private trips carry 16 to 18 people, children up to 2 sail free and ages 3 to 12 pay half. Its Offers 2026 page advertised 20% off the Gold semi-private and private Santorini cruises for bookings made by October 15 for sailings through October 31. Its cancellation pages disagree (free up to 24 hours on the FAQ; free only three days ahead on the policy page), so get the terms in writing. Best for: travelers who like the idea of starting at one end of the island and finishing at the other.
4. Sunset Oia Sailing Santorini: Catamarans From Ammoudi
From budget to premium catamarans, based at Ammoudi. Sunset Oia runs several catamarans on different price tiers, mostly from Ammoudi below Oia: the Red Cruise for up to 55 people, Santorini Gems and Diamond for up to 20, and Platinum for up to 14. Typical five-hour routes visit the hot springs, Red Beach, White Beach and the church of Saint Nicholas below Oia, and most cruises include transport, a meal or barbecue, drinks and snorkeling gear; beer and towels aren’t included on the Red Cruise.
Plan it: it publishes a seasonal rate calendar: high season May 16 to September 30, mid season April 15 to May 15 and October 1 to 24, low season March 15 to April 14 and October 25 to November 15. In early October, Santorini Gems costs EUR 110 morning or sunset (EUR 125 and 140 in high season), the Red Cruise EUR 79 in the morning and EUR 99 at sunset, and the Diamond EUR 165. Private catamarans start at EUR 800 for up to four. Shared cruises canceled at least 24 hours ahead are refunded in full, according to its FAQ. Book on its own site. Best for: comparing tiers with one company, and late-season bargains.
5. Santorini Yachting Club: Catamarans, Private Yachts and a Water Taxi
From big shared catamarans to motor yachts, all from Ammoudi. Santorini Yachting Club sails everything from Ammoudi Bay, from the 50-passenger Comfort Max to the 22-guest Majestic catamaran and a fleet of private sailboats and motor yachts. Its semi-private day cruises leave at 10:00 for four and a half to five hours and cover Thirasia, the volcano and hot springs, Indian Rock, Mesa Pigadia and the White and Red beaches, with transfer, barbecue, open bar, towels and snorkeling gear. It also runs a water taxi from Ammoudi to Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni, Thirasia, Armeni, Fira’s Old Port, Athinios and Aspronisi, though it publishes no fares.
Plan it: on its October 2026 calendar, Comfort Max was EUR 70, Beautiful Day and Romantic Sunset EUR 100, and the Majestic day and sunset cruises EUR 140, with October specials from EUR 79; private trips ranged from EUR 800 for four hours on a sailboat to EUR 2,900 on a Ferretti motor yacht. Its terms allow free cancellation of semi-private cruises up to 24 hours ahead; private-cruise terms differ between pages, so check. Book on its own site. Best for: groups pricing a private boat, and travelers staying in Oia.
6. Navy’s Waterworld: Diving and Snorkeling From Kamari
PADI five-star dive center on Kamari Beach. Navy’s Waterworld calls itself a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center and says it dives more than 42 sites around the volcanic coast, by boat or by truck. It describes Santorini’s water as clear all year, with visibility of 20 to 30 meters, temperatures rising from about 19°C in May to 25 or 26°C in July and August, no tides and almost no currents, and notes that the south coast is usually the most sheltered when the summer meltemi blows from the north.
Plan it: two morning dives for certified divers cost EUR 140 with all equipment, a snack and water, in groups of up to six; Discover Scuba Diving for beginners costs EUR 120, 09:00 to 12:30, in groups of up to four with photos or video; and a speedboat snorkeling trip with two stops costs EUR 70 for ages over five. The three-day PADI Open Water course takes students from age 10. Its pages listed available dates for 2026. Book on its own site. Best for: divers who want small groups and plenty of sites.
7. Santorini Dive Center: Diving From Akrotiri’s Caldera Beach
PADI dive resort with a caldera-side dive station. Santorini Dive Center has its office on the beach road in Perissa and its dive station at Caldera Beach in Akrotiri, where divers board a nine-meter fiberglass boat from a small pier for two-tank trips around the caldera and the volcano. It says it is a PADI Dive Resort, a member of the Hellenic Professional Diving Association, and that it was established in 2003. Its Discover Scuba session is a two-hour shallow first dive off the beach to a reef no deeper than 6 to 7 meters.
Plan it: its price list shows a two-tank dive at EUR 100, a single dive at EUR 70, Discover Scuba at EUR 90, snorkeling at EUR 30 and the Open Water course at EUR 500, with packages of four dives for EUR 160 and six for EUR 240. The site’s footer still reads 2003-2021, so confirm current prices directly before you book on its own site. Best for: divers who want to see the caldera walls underwater.
8. Santorini Sea Kayak: Paddling the South Coast
Guided kayak tours from Akrotiri Beach. Based 300 meters below the Akrotiri excavations, Santorini Sea Kayak runs daily from April to October, weather permitting, with BCU-certified English-speaking guides. Its signature South Discovery tour is about three hours, two and a half of them paddling, past Red Beach, Kambia and White Beach in tandem kayaks, with snorkeling and a light picnic. For experienced paddlers, the Caldera Crossing runs only in March, April, October and November and takes seven to eight hours.
Plan it: South Discovery costs EUR 115 a person semi-private or EUR 145 with pickup, EUR 195 private; the sunset version EUR 125; the Family Sea Kayak Tour for children aged 6 to 14 with their families EUR 125; and the Caldera Crossing EUR 300 for ages 21 and over. Ages 14 and up for the standard tours, and you must be able to swim. It takes a EUR 30 deposit, adds 4% for card payment on arrival, and refunds or reschedules when it cancels for weather. Book on its own website, santoriniseakayak.com. Best for: active travelers who’d rather paddle than share a deck.
9. Santorini Boat Rental: License-Free Boats From Vlychada
Drive yourself, no license needed, from Vlychada Marina. Santorini Boat Rental’s small boats need no boating license; you get a briefing, a short hands-on lesson, a map and a GPS, then head off toward Red Beach, White Beach and the lighthouse. The minimum age is 19 and you need an ID or passport. Larger boats come with a captain, including one for up to nine guests with a toilet and an outdoor shower.
Plan it: the five-hour Morning Private Licence Free Cruise (08:30 to 14:00, up to four guests) showed EUR 180, with EUR 300 struck through and a EUR 90 deposit. Captained trips were EUR 550 for a morning and EUR 850 from 11:00 to sunset. Fuel isn’t included (average use about 25 liters), and neither are transfers; water, soft drinks, life jackets and snorkeling masks are. It asks for 72 hours’ notice to cancel and reschedules or cancels free for bad weather. Book on its own site. Best for: confident, independent groups on a calm day.
10. Santorini Water Sports: Jet Skis, Parasailing and Boats at Agios Georgios
Beach water-sports base on the south coast. Open daily 10:00 to 18:00 at Agios Georgios (Saint George Beach), this center rents jet skis and license-free boats and runs parasailing, flyboard, e-foil lessons and towed rides. Its guided jet ski safaris run along the south coast to White Beach, Black Mountain or the volcano.
Plan it: jet skis from EUR 60 (the page doesn’t say for how long, so ask), with drivers 18 and over and fuel, insurance and life jackets included; jet ski safaris from EUR 240 for 60 minutes to EUR 750 for three hours; parasailing EUR 80 for 10 minutes (ages 14 and up); a four-hour license-free boat for up to five people EUR 150 plus fuel and a EUR 300 deposit. It refunds advance payments if it cancels for weather. Book on its own site. Best for: an adrenaline hour between beach sessions.
11. Giorgaros Fishing Tours: Traditional Fishing From Vlychada
A day on a working wooden fishing boat. Captains Anthi and Nick run the Giorgaros, a 15-meter traditional wooden fishing boat with a toilet and a cabin, from the fishermen’s harbor at Vlychada. Trips start with trolling, haul in the nets, and make their longest stop at Mesa Pigadia bay for swimming, snorkeling and cooking the catch, passing Akrotiri, Red Beach, White Beach and the lighthouse. The captains explain that the caldera’s deep water holds few fish, so they fish the south coast instead, which tells you something about the island no catamaran will.
Plan it: morning, sunset and advanced fishing tours, semi-private or private, with a meal and drinks included; prices appear only in its booking engine. Its booking terms say children aged 2 to 9 can join private tours only. Book on its own site. Best for: anyone who wants a slower, more local day on the water.
12. Nemely Windsurf and SUP Center: Paddleboarding Near Kamari
Stand-up paddle excursions, windsurfing and wingfoiling at Avis Beach. Nemely is open every day from April to October, 09:00 to 20:00, and plans its paddleboard excursions downwind according to the day’s wind direction and strength, which is exactly the kind of local knowledge that keeps a SUP trip pleasant. It also teaches and rents windsurfing, windfoil and wingfoil gear.
Plan it: the SUP Surf Excursion starts at 08:00, lasts two and a half hours, is rated easy, is for ages 14 and up and costs EUR 120 with an introductory lesson, snorkel gear, a snack and water. It takes SUP reservations from April 1 to October 1, so if you’re reading this in the autumn, plan it for next season. Its deposit rules differ between pages (30% or 50%), so confirm when you book on its own site. Best for: active travelers who want a quiet morning on flat water.
Santorini Boat Tour Prices in 2026
How much does a Santorini boat tour cost? Anywhere from the price of a lunch to the price of a used car. These are the prices published on operators’ own websites on October 1, 2026; few were dated, and some were late-season offers, so read them as a guide to the market, not a quote.
| Trip | Operator | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volcano and hot springs, wooden boat | Santorini Excursions (Dakoutros) | EUR 30 | No transfer; EUR 45 with transfer from Athinios; EUR 5 volcano ticket extra |
| Three-island trip with Thirasia | Santorini Excursions (Dakoutros) | EUR 35 | About 6 hours |
| Volcano sunset cruise | Santorini Excursions (Dakoutros) | EUR 45 | Leaves the Old Port at 15:30 |
| Large shared catamaran | Santorini Yachting Club (Comfort Max) | EUR 70 | October 2026 calendar; up to 50 people |
| Large shared catamaran | Sunset Oia (Red Cruise) | EUR 79-109 | Morning or sunset, by season; up to 55 |
| Semi-private catamaran | Spiridakos (Classic) | From EUR 100 | About 9 or 10 couples |
| Semi-private catamaran | Sunset Oia (Santorini Gems) | EUR 110-140 | EUR 110 in mid and low season |
| Premium semi-private catamaran | Spiridakos (Luxury), Santorini Yachting Club (Majestic) | EUR 140 | Up to 22 guests on the Majestic |
| Private catamaran, up to 4 | Sunset Oia; Spiridakos | From EUR 800; from EUR 1,100 | Per boat |
| Private motor yacht | Santorini Yachting Club | Up to EUR 2,900 | Ferretti, October 2026 calendar |
| License-free boat | Santorini Water Sports; Santorini Boat Rental | EUR 150 (4 hours); EUR 180 (5 hours) | Per boat, fuel extra |
| Sea kayak tour | Santorini Sea Kayak | EUR 115 | EUR 145 with pickup |
| Discover Scuba (beginners) | Santorini Dive Center; Navy’s Waterworld | EUR 90; EUR 120 | Dive Center price list undated |
| Two dives, certified | Santorini Dive Center; Navy’s Waterworld | EUR 100; EUR 140 | Equipment included |
| Snorkeling trip | Navy’s Waterworld | EUR 70 | Speedboat, two stops |
| Parasailing | Santorini Water Sports | EUR 80 | 10 minutes, 1 or 2 people |
Three things move the price more than the boat itself. The first is group size: a semi-private catamaran with 14 to 22 guests costs roughly twice what a 50-person boat does, for much the same route. The second is the season: Sunset Oia’s Diamond cruise drops from EUR 230 in high season to EUR 130 in low season, and several companies run October offers. The third is what’s included: transfers, meals, open bar, towels and snorkeling gear are standard on catamarans but not on the wooden volcano boats, and gratuities are extra almost everywhere. A Santorini boat tour price that looks cheap may simply leave out the parts that cost money.
How to Book: Direct, Deposits and Cancellations
Every operator in our list sells directly on its own website, and booking direct has real advantages: you see the actual group size, departure point and cancellation terms, you can ask questions before you pay, and the company knows how to reach you if the wind changes plans. Resellers can be convenient, but when a trip is canceled for weather, it’s the operator who reschedules, and a middleman adds a step.
- Read the cancellation terms, then read them again. We found operators whose own pages disagree with each other: Caldera Yachting’s FAQ promises free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead while its policy page charges 30% inside 48 hours; Santorini Yachting Club’s terms and product pages give different notice periods for private cruises. Ask for the terms in writing.
- Check the deposit. Spiridakos and Caldera Yachting say no deposit is needed for semi-private cruises; Santorini Sea Kayak takes EUR 30 a person; Santorini Boat Rental takes EUR 90; Santorini Water Sports holds EUR 300 against its self-drive boats.
- Confirm the pickup point. With the 2026 Ammoudi road closure and the busy roads around Oia, ask exactly where you’ll be collected and what happens if your hotel can’t be reached by minibus.
- Keep the first days free. Book your boat trip for early in your stay, so a weather cancellation leaves time to reschedule.
- Bring cash. The volcano ticket is cash only, tips are usually given in cash, and some activities add a surcharge for cards.
Kids and older travelers are welcome on most boats, with limits worth checking. Caldera Yachting carries under-2s free and charges half for ages 3 to 12; Santorini Excursions lists ages 1 to 80; Santorini Sea Kayak’s family tour starts at age 6 and its standard tours at 14; Navy’s Waterworld snorkeling trips take children over five; and jet skis and self-drive boats need an adult driver (18 or 19 and over). The volcano walk is steep, rough and unshaded, so it’s the stop most likely to defeat small children and anyone with limited mobility.
Private Charters: How They Work
A Santorini yacht charter sounds extravagant, but for a family or a group of friends it can cost less per head than you’d guess. Private boats are priced per vessel, not per person: on the October 2026 calendars we read, Sunset Oia’s private catamarans started at EUR 800 for up to four guests, Santorini Yachting Club’s private Beautiful Day catamaran was EUR 900 for up to 12, and its motor yachts ran up to EUR 2,900. Split twelve ways, EUR 900 is EUR 75 each, less than a premium seat on a shared boat.
What you get is control. You choose the start time, linger where you like within the captain’s safety limits, and skip stops that don’t interest you. Typical inclusions on private catamarans are transfers, a barbecue, an open bar, towels and snorkeling gear, and Santorini Yachting Club added stand-up paddleboards. The trade-offs are stricter terms: private trips usually need a deposit and longer cancellation notice (Santorini Yachting Club’s terms say seven days and call the deposit non-refundable, while one of its product pages says three days), and a private boat still can’t sail outside the caldera when the wind says no.
For a shorter hop rather than a whole day, Santorini Yachting Club also runs a water taxi from Ammoudi to the volcano, the hot springs, Thirasia’s two harbors, Armeni, the Old Port, Athinios and Aspronisi. It publishes no fares, so ask for a quote. Thirasia itself, the quiet island across the caldera, is the stop most shared trips rush; Santorini Excursions’ three-island trip gives it about two hours, enough for lunch above the harbor.
What to Bring on a Santorini Boat Tour
- Dark, old swimwear. The iron in the hot springs stains pale fabric.
- Shoes with grip. For the volcano’s loose cinders and for climbing back aboard from a swim stop.
- Cash in small notes. EUR 5 for the Nea Kameni ticket, plus tips for the crew.
- Sun protection. A hat, sunglasses and reef-friendly sunscreen; decks have little shade, and the volcano has none.
- A layer for sunset trips. The wind on the water turns cool quickly after the sun goes, even in September and October.
- A waterproof phone pouch and a dry bag. Spray finds everything on a catamaran.
- Motion-sickness remedies, taken before you board if you’re prone to it.
What’s Changed in 2025 and 2026
| Item | What older guides say | Now (checked October 1, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Ammoudi Bay departures | Drive or taxi down to the boats | Road closed to private vehicles until March 31, 2027; municipal shuttles; operators may set a nearby meeting point |
| Fira’s Old Port | Open harbor | Restricted visitor zone under the 2026 measures; volcano boats still list departures, and the cable car and footpath are not restricted |
| Cable car to the Old Port | EUR 6 | EUR 10 an adult each way (2026 price list) |
| Volcano entrance ticket | About EUR 4 (still on one operator’s old terms page) | EUR 5, cash, usually not included |
| Hot springs temperature | 30-35°C in some guides | 20-25°C according to the main volcano boat operator |
| Operator websites | spiridakos.com and calderayachting.com | Both addresses now parked; the companies sell on santorini-yachts.com and calderayachting.gr |
What to Skip
- A catamaran if the volcano walk is your goal. Most catamarans only swim near the volcano; book a wooden volcano boat instead.
- A sunset cruise if you get seasick. Afternoon water is often rougher. Choose a morning trip and watch the sunset from land.
- White swimwear at the hot springs. The iron-rich water stains it.
- The crater walk in flip-flops at noon. The cinders are hot and loose, and there’s no shade.
- A jet ski price without the duration. Ask how many minutes the price buys before you hand over a card.
Santorini Boat Tour FAQ
How much does a Santorini boat tour cost?
On operators’ own sites in October 2026, wooden-boat volcano tours cost EUR 30 to 45, large shared catamarans EUR 70 to 79, small semi-private catamarans EUR 100 to 140 a person, and private catamarans from EUR 800 for up to four. Add EUR 5 in cash for the volcano ticket if you land on Nea Kameni.
Is a catamaran or a volcano boat tour better?
It depends on what you want. A wooden volcano boat lands on Nea Kameni for the crater walk and costs about EUR 30. A catamaran usually skips the landing but adds Red and White Beach swims, snorkeling, a meal and drinks over five hours. Budget travelers and geology fans should pick the volcano boat.
Is the volcano entrance fee included in Santorini boat tours?
Usually not. Dakoutros Bros, which runs the classic volcano boats, says the Nea Kameni entrance ticket costs EUR 5 a person, is not included in its tour prices and is paid in cash. Most catamaran cruises don’t land on the volcano at all, so the fee doesn’t apply to them.
Where do Santorini boat tours leave from?
Catamarans leave from Vlychada Marina on the south coast and Ammoudi Bay below Oia; wooden volcano boats from Fira’s Old Port and Athinios; kayaks from Akrotiri Beach. Under the 2026 measures, private vehicles can’t drive down to Ammoudi until March 31, 2027, so confirm your pickup point when you book.
Are Santorini boat tours canceled because of wind?
Sometimes, especially in July and August when the meltemi blows from the north. Operators may shorten the route, switch to sheltered stops or cancel. The companies listed here that publish a weather policy refund or reschedule weather cancellations, so book early in your stay to leave room for a new date.
Is a Santorini sunset cruise worth it?
It can be, if you value the evening light over swimming time and don’t get seasick. Sunset sailings cost more than morning ones; Sunset Oia’s high-season Santorini Gems trip is EUR 125 in the morning and EUR 140 at sunset. The water is often rougher in the afternoon, so morning trips are better for snorkeling.
Can children go on Santorini boat tours?
Yes, on most boats. Caldera Yachting lets under-2s sail free and charges half for ages 3 to 12, and Santorini Excursions lists ages 1 to 80. Sea kayak family tours start at age 6, snorkeling trips at Navy’s Waterworld take children over five, and jet skis and self-drive boats need adult drivers.
Can you rent a boat in Santorini without a license?
Yes. Small, low-powered boats can be rented without a license: Santorini Water Sports says its 30 hp boats need none, and Santorini Boat Rental’s license-free boats come with a briefing, a map and GPS. Expect EUR 150 to 180 for four or five hours, plus fuel, a deposit and minimum ages of 18 or 19.
Related Santorini Guides
Sources and How We Checked
We read each operator’s own website for routes, departure points, inclusions, prices and cancellation terms on October 1, 2026, and checked the 2026 port measures against the official notices reported in April 2026.
- Santorini Excursions (Dakoutros Bros): tour information (volcano ticket, Old Port access)
- Spiridakos Sailing Cruises: FAQ (departures, cancellations, volcano landing)
- Sunset Oia Sailing Santorini: FAQ (pickup points, inclusions)
- Santorini Yachting Club: terms
- Navy’s Waterworld: diving in Santorini (visibility, water temperature, meltemi)
- Santorini Boat Rental: FAQ (license-free boats, fuel, cancellations)
- Euronews: Santorini’s 2026 restrictions (Ammoudi, Athinios, Fira Old Port)
Santorini Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with the Municipality of Thira, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, the Port Authority, any boat, dive or water-sports operator named here, or any business listed here, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- Tour boat below Oia: photo by Norbert Nagel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Catamaran in the Akrotiri bay: photo by Dietmar Rabich, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Vlychada marina: photo by ArticCynda, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Catamaran near Palea Kameni: photo by Norbert Nagel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Fishing boat at Red Beach: photo by Klearchos Kapoutsis from Santorini, Greece, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Tour boats at Nea Kameni: photo by Norbert Nagel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Palea Kameni hot springs: photo by Mousemaster, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
The Volcano and Hot Springs Stop: What to Expect
Almost every caldera cruise stops at the two dark islands in the middle of the bay. Nea Kameni, the younger and bigger one, is a protected volcanic park: boats tie up at a small landing, and you walk a dusty, unshaded path of black lava and cinders up to the craters, with the caldera cliffs and the white villages all around you. Dakoutros Bros, which runs the classic wooden volcano boats, says the entrance ticket is EUR 5 a person, paid in cash and not included in its tour prices, so carry small notes. Wear real shoes; flip-flops and hot cinders don’t mix.
The second stop is usually the hot springs off Palea Kameni, the older islet. Boats anchor in a narrow inlet and you swim the last stretch to a patch of warm, rust-orange water by a tiny white chapel. Dakoutros puts the water at 20 to 25°C and the swim from the boat at about 30 meters, so think of it as a warm, muddy patch of sea rather than a spa; in high summer the open sea can be just as warm. The iron in it stains pale swimwear, so wear something dark and old. Non-swimmers aren’t allowed to make the swim on the Dakoutros boats, and no boat pulls up to the shore.
These are the two stops that make a Santorini volcano tour different from a sail anywhere else in Greece. The geology, the eruption history and how to visit Nea Kameni independently belong to the Santorini volcano itself, which deserves its own visit; here the question is simply which boat gets you there in the style you want.
When to Go: Season, Wind and Seasickness
Most boat tours and water-sports centers run from spring to autumn, roughly April or May to October, with the fullest schedules from June to September. In October, the month this guide was last updated, many operators are still sailing, the sea is still warm from summer, and the light is softer, but schedules start to thin and the weather becomes less predictable toward the end of the month.
The wind matters more than the calendar. In summer the Aegean gets the meltemi, a strong, dry north wind that can blow for days, usually at its strongest in July and August. On meltemi days, operators shorten routes, switch to more sheltered stops or cancel outright, and the open stretches outside the caldera get lumpy. Morning departures usually have calmer water than afternoon and sunset sailings, which is one more reason to choose a morning trip if you care more about swimming than about the sunset. Before you book, read what each operator does when it cancels for weather: most offer a new date or a refund, but you want that in writing.
If you get seasick, take it seriously, because a five-hour catamaran trip is a long time to feel ill. Choose a morning sailing, a larger and steadier boat, and a seat in the middle near the back rather than at the bow. Eat something light, skip the second glass of wine until you’re sure, keep your eyes on the horizon, and take whatever motion-sickness remedy works for you before you board, not after the boat starts rolling.
Santorini Water Activities Beyond the Boat Tours
The caldera cruise is the headline, but the island’s volcanic coastline is just as good from water level. Here’s what each activity is like, and who it suits; the operators are in the numbered list above.
- Scuba diving. Dive centers cluster on the black-sand beaches of the south and east coasts and run trips to volcanic reefs, caves and drop-offs, plus try-dives for beginners in shallow water. You’ll need a medical self-declaration, and certified divers should bring their card and logbook. Don’t fly within 24 hours of diving; plan your dives for the start of your stay.
- Snorkeling. Most catamaran tours include masks and a stop or two in clear water near Red Beach, White Beach or the caldera islets. The volcanic rock gives sharp, dramatic underwater scenery rather than coral, so manage expectations on fish.
- Sea kayaking. Guided paddles along the south coast and caldera cliffs are the quietest way to see the sea caves and the colored rock, and the best option for active travelers who’d rather not share a deck with 50 people.
- Stand-up paddleboarding and beach water sports. On calm mornings, the beaches at Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos rent boards, pedal boats and towed rides; afternoons often turn too choppy.
- Jet skis. Rented by the session at the bigger beaches, with guided jet ski safaris along the south coast. They’re loud, expensive per minute and kept away from swimming areas, so expect marked zones and short sessions.
- Fishing trips. Small local boats take visitors out for traditional line fishing, often with the catch cooked afterward; it’s the most local thing you can do on the water.
- Cliff jumping. You’ll see people jumping off rocks at a few coves and from boat stops, but there’s no lifeguard, the depth changes, and the volcanic rock is unforgiving. If you jump, check the depth yourself first and never jump where a boat might be moving.
For days when you’d rather lie on the sand than sail, our guide to the Santorini beaches covers which ones have water sports, which are reached only by boat and which are best for kids.