Day 13: Volcano Hike and Hot Springs
Wednesday, August 5th
Today’s blog is brought to you by Aaron in Ms. Ramos’ English class.
Hiking the Santorini Volcano!
Santorini’s wild volcanic landscape makes the whole island feel like an adventure waiting to happen. The iconic half‑moon caldera, shaped by massive volcanic eruptions, creates a dramatic and imposing backdrop for a day filled with exploration, geology, and laid‑back fun.
Today, a group of students and I joined the optional “Volcano and Hot Spring” excursion. The day started in Fira, where everyone headed down the cliffside path to the old port, dodging donkeys, snapping photos, and trying not to slip on the steep stone steps. Once we reached the bottom, we boarded a boat and sailed across brilliant blue water toward two black lava islands sitting in the middle of the caldera. These spectacular islands are Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni.
Hiking across Nea Kameni feels like stepping onto another planet. The views of Santorini’s colourful cliffs are unreal, and our guide shared stories about the island’s volcanic past and how this active crater still releases soft puffs of steam. The terrain is rough, walking on dark and dusty volcanic rock, but the experience is worth every step. It is not every day you get to walk across a living volcano in one of Greece’s most unique destinations.
Next, a short boat ride took us to the hot springs at Palea Kameni, where we could jump into the water and swim toward a warm, mineral‑rich cove as sulphur and iron mix with the sea, turning the water a rusty orange and giving off a light sulphur smell. Floating in the heated currents beneath Santorini’s dramatic cliffs is a truly rare and memorable experience.
The return boat ride to Fira was calm and relaxing, with students stretched out on the boat deck enjoying the warm sun and cool sea breeze. A cable car ride back up the Santorini cliffside offered one final view of the volcano before we headed into town for lunch.
Meanwhile, the students who stayed behind enjoyed a slower day filled with classes, beach time, reading, swimming, and sunshine. By evening, our whole group was reunited to share stories about the day and make even more memories!
Overall, today balanced exploration and leisure, giving everyone, whether they hiked a volcano or relaxed by the beach, an experience they’ll remember long after the trip is over!
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We have one more day left to enjoy Santorini before we head to our next destination, Crete!
More to come!
Bertan
Program Manager
