sports Archives - Santo Collection Blog

Live out your dream to discover the unseen Santorini with these five outdoor activities

Santorini is a head-turner destination for its astonishing natural allure, imposing sceneries, volcanic-sand beaches, rich history, colorful cultural life, zig-zag stair-paths and dazzling panoramic sunsets.

This destination bucket list offers many opportunities for outdoor activities that uncover the beauty of the lunar-terrain island to its full extent. If you are a seeker of adventure, our Guest Experience Specialists have crafted just for your five experiences that will fulfill your desires, needs and interests.

Hiking

Hiking is a win-win experience – not only do you get to really take in the the explosive identity of Santorini with its eternal beauty, idiomorphic architecture, cultural life and sites, but it’s also a great way to keep fit. Regardless of your fitness levels, age or the pace you’d like to hike at there is a path waiting for you to cross it. Most visitors to Oia will just hike on the 300 steps from Ammoudi to the heart of the village. But adventure continues to other hiking routes. The hiking trail from Oia to Fira for example, is an easy-to-medium route that offers stunning views of the craggy rocks sceneries of the island. The best time to take the hike is in the early morning, to avoid the midday heat. The route is properly marked at the most critical junctions.Explore also other popular hiking routes on the island:

Across the caldera, from Fira to Oia (10.9km / 4h, easy hike)
Emborio to Ancient Thera and Perissa (11.5km / 4h15′, moderate level)
A circular walk in Foinikia (4.5km / 1h30′, easy hike)
From the caldera to Akrotiri and Vlychada beach (4.2km / 1h15′, moderate level)
Circular walk around Pyrgos (5.4km / 1h45′, easy hike)
Crossing Nea Kameni (2.6km / 1h00′, easy hike)

Windsurfing

Windsurfing in the Caldera of Santorini adds an amazing seascape backdrop to an already exhilarating aquatic sport. The dark sandy beaches, the white and blue overhanging the amazing cliffs above, and unbelievable wind conditions year-round make Santorini a kind of windsurfer’s haven. You may find windsurf rentals & lessons at Monolithos Beach & Avis Beach.

Diving

Santorini is renowned for its volcanic landscapes and superb views of the caldera. Apart from what your eyes feast on at surface level, you can discover the allure of Santorini’s underwater world too. Since Santorini was formed by an ancient volcano, the island’s dive sites are mostly positioned in the lagoon where 400-meter cliffs drop off into the deep blue. While there are dozens of pristine dive spots to temp freedivers or SCUBA aficionados, our Guest Experience Specialists create a selection of the top dive sites in Santorini, just for you.

Adiavatous Reef, inside the rim of the caldera, near the volcano, is home to a fantastic variety of sea life.

The Caves, is situated on the south coast of the island. Enormous boulders and swim-throughs, as well as spectacular underwater canyons and caverns make for a picturesque and eye-opening experience.

House Reef, is a shallow dive attraction famous for being home to nudibranchs and lots of other invertebrates, as well as hermit crabs and other crustaceans.

The Volcano is a spectacular diving site, noted for its stunning volcanic rock formations, and for the wreck of a tour boat that lies at an easily accessible depth of only 18 meters.

Sailing

Sailing the Aegean is a rewarding activity for many visitors to Santorini. Either you book a boat tour, or rent a yacht, this is a must during your stay. Our Guest Experience Specialists will reveal you the secrets of this volcanic island from a different point of you. In Santorini you will find a range private, semi private, and guided tours. They follow several itineraries for unique luxurious excursions as well as the adventurous sailing tours. Give in to your wanderlust and embark on a reviving sailing experience through the endless blue of the Aegean waters. You can opt to enjoy a day tour with diving under the sunlit sky of Santorini or set off on a cruise into the beautiful sunset imbued by its splendid colors.Horse-riding Imagine a stunning sunset over iconic Santorini’s cliffs. Now imagine one of the most unforgettable experiences in the world from horseback. You can ride along beautiful beaches, alongside the Caldera, through the meandering streets of the traditional village of Megalochori , through naturally fascinating uncharted territories such as the unique landscape of Vlychada or through verdant vineyard trails.

Horse-riding

Imagine a stunning sunset over iconic Santorini’s cliffs. Now imagine one of the most unforgettable experiences in the world from horseback. You can ride along beautiful beaches, alongside the Caldera, through the meandering streets of the traditional village of Megalochori , through naturally fascinating uncharted territories such as the unique landscape of Vlychada or through verdant vineyard trails.

Santorini is one of the world’s most iconic travel destinations many reasons. Romantic sunsets are in the top of the list, of course, but not so many travelers consider the island’s aquatic sports offerings when they add the destination to their “bucket lists.” Take kitesurfing, for instance. After the glorious sun rises, and before it sets into the aquamarine sea, the warm winds blow kitesurfers across the crystal waters of the caldera.

Kitesurfing or windsurfing in the Caldera of Santorini ads an amazing seascape backdrop to an already exhilarating aquatic sport. The dark sandy beaches, the white and blue overhanging the amazing cliffs above, and unbelievable wind conditions year-round make Santorini a kind of kitesurfer’s haven. On any given day you’ll find enthusiasts of the sport of all experience levels gliding across the waves challenging themselves, or those learning for the first time.

Pros and first-timers end up creating a kind of kaleidoscope of weaving kites dotting the sky and the horizon on some days. Initiates take lessons from Santorini experts, old hands at the sport push the limits and search out the best conditions, and most often they are drawn to Monolithos Beach – where Santorini Kite offers classes and professional equipment rentals. To the south, Avis Beach is another excellent sport to practice the sport.

On the east side of the island, beginners and experienced kitesurfers gravitate to the beautiful black sandy beach and the constant north-east wind that sustains at 14 to 20 knots. Idyllic, this is the only way to describe such conditions. But Santorini has other secret spots that offer stellar conditions, glass smooth seas, and even boat excursions for downwind kitesurfing sessions. One expert tip is to take the boat ride to Paros or Naxos and spend a night there, to experience some genuinely pristine kiting time. Take care though, the Paros offshore winds can reach 40 knots, not exactly perfect for newcomers to the sport.
Local experts offer classes for beginners that range from 1 to 2-hour introductory lessons, all the way up to 10-hour packages that help beginners become independent riders capable of taking full advantage of the sport.

Cover photo credits: Santorini Kite (santorinikite.gr)

sports

YOUR SANTORINI POSTCARD: ESCAPE IN NATURE