The best-rated 20-guest catamaran on this site, with a live guide, towels and an open white wine bar, from $95.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation - Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
- Duration5 hours
- LanguagesEnglish
The Santorini day catamaran cruise sold here is the Gold cruise run by Vista Yachting: 5 hours from Vlychada Marina on the south coast, from $95 per person, with hotel pickup and drop-off. It makes three swim stops (Red Beach, the volcanic hot springs and Mesa Pigadia beach), serves Greek meze and a barbecue lunch, and pours unlimited white wine and soft drinks. A live English-speaking guide, snorkel gear, towels and blankets are included, and the group is capped at 20. It holds 4.82 on 3,573 GetYourGuide reviews, and it still had dates on sale for late October when we checked on 27 October 2026.
Compare Catamaran CruisesKey facts
day-catamaran- Duration
- 5 hours
- Meeting point
- Hotel pickup and drop-off; the boat leaves from and returns to Vlychada Marina
- Price
- $95 per person
- Languages
- English
- Group size
- Up to 20 people
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation - Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Included
- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off
- ✓ Experienced guide
- ✓ Greek "meze" (fingerfood)
- ✓ Lunch or dinner (depending on starting time selected)
- ✓ Open white wine bar
- ✓ Unlimited soft drinks & bottled water
- ✓ Snorkeling equipment
- ✓ Restrooms on board
- ✓ Life jackets
- ✓ Pool noodles
- ✓ Towels
- ✓ Blankets
Meeting point
Hotel pickup and drop-off; the boat leaves from and returns to Vlychada Marina — The listing shows the pickup details for your date. Bring a passport or ID card.
Morning or afternoon: which departure this is
The listing sells more than one start time, and the meal is lunch or dinner depending on which you pick. This page is about the daytime run, with lunch served at the last swim stop. An earlier start gives you the swims in full sun and the strongest light on the red and white cliffs. Two of the 10 latest reviews took a later boat and saw the sunset on the way back, so check the times on the listing for your date. When we checked on 27 October 2026, the next start on sale was 12:30 that day. Our day or sunset comparison sets out the trade-off.
The route, stop by stop
The boat leaves from and returns to Vlychada Marina on the south coast and makes three swim stops on a loop of the south and west coasts. Catamarans swim from the boat, not from the beach.
- Welcome — A glass of wine or a soft drink and a safety briefing.
- Red Beach — First swim and snorkel stop below the red cliffs, with Greek meze served on board.
- White Beach and the Venetian lighthouse — A sightseeing pass with the guide's commentary.
- Hot springs — Second stop: a swim in the warm, sulphur-rich water off the volcano.
- Caldera cliffs — A view of the cliff-top villages from the sea.
- Mesa Pigadia beach — Third stop: swim, snorkel and a barbecue lunch with Greek dishes and dessert.
- Back to Vlychada — Transfer back to your hotel.
What the live guide adds
This is one of two catamarans on this site with a live guide, not just a host or a crew. The guide covers the volcano's history and points out the lighthouse and rock formations along the way. On the luxury catamaran, by contrast, the listing says plainly that no tour guide is included. The other cruise with a live guide is the small-group catamaran, at $50 more per person.
What is included, and what is not
Included: hotel pickup and drop-off, the guide, meze, lunch, an open white wine bar, unlimited soft drinks and bottled water, snorkel gear, life jackets, pool noodles, towels, blankets and restrooms. Beer and cocktails are not on the list; the luxury catamaran names both. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available if you give the details at checkout. Bring a passport or ID card, sunglasses, swimwear, a camera and sunscreen.
Group size and what you pay for it
The group is capped at 20, so you share the boat with at most 19 others for $95. That is $7 more than the sunset catamaran, which takes up to 55, and $28 less than the luxury catamaran, which also takes 20. For most people this is the middle choice: a smaller deck than the budget boat without paying for the extras of the luxury tier.
Who should book a different cruise
Book the sunset catamaran if the sunset is the point and a crowd does not bother you. Book the small-group catamaran if 20 still feels like too many. Book the sailing catamaran, from $85, if you want a boat sold as a sailing catamaran and a no-transfer option. Book the volcano and hot springs boat, from $34, to walk the crater. If you get seasick, read our seasickness guide first.
| Compared on | This cruise (Gold) | Luxury catamaran | Sailing catamaran |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person | from $95 | from $123 | from $85 |
| Guests on board | Up to 20 | Up to 20 | Up to 22 |
| Duration | 5 hours | 5–6 hours | 5 hours |
| Guide | Live guide, English | No guide; captain and crew | Host, English and Greek |
| Drinks | Open white wine bar, soft drinks, water | Wine, beer, soft drinks, a cocktail | White wine, soft drinks; beer and cocktails on higher options |
| Swim stops | Red Beach, hot springs, Mesa Pigadia | Red Beach, White Beach, hot springs | Three, including Mesa Pigadia and the hot springs |
| Rating on GetYourGuide | 4.82 (3,573 reviews) | 4.78 (4,446 reviews) | 4.76 (1,803 reviews) |
What reviewers consistently say
- All 10 of the latest reviews (9 to 20 October 2026) give 5 stars
- 8 of 10 praise the crew, several by name
- 4 of 10 praise the food
- 3 of 10 say it was worth the money
- 2 of 10 mention on-time pickup and drop-off
- 2 of 10 took a later departure and saw the sunset on the way back
- GetYourGuide's review summary says some travelers want more time at each swim stop
Who should not book this
- Anyone who wants beer or cocktails included
- Travelers set on watching the sunset from the water on a daytime start
- Anyone who wants to hike the volcano: the hot springs are a swim stop, not a landing
- Groups who want the boat to themselves
-
Private catamaran
from $1294.9 181 reviews
Sold as a private cruise from Ammoudi via Thirassia and the hot springs, 4.94 on 181 reviews. Check the listing for the minimum party.
Read the full page -
Santorini: Catamaran Caldera Cruise with Meal and Drinks
from $67The cheapest well-rated catamaran on the island, 4.72 on 3,120 reviews. It leaves from Ammoudi in the north and takes up to 50 guests.
Check availability -
Santorini: Catamaran Cruise with Meal & Open Bar
from $111A similar 5-hour loop from Vlychada with its main stop at Thirassia, up to 18 passengers, 4.88 on 636 reviews.
Check availability
How to book
Use the button on this page to open the listing on GetYourGuide and pick a start time: earlier slots come with lunch, later ones with dinner. Add any vegetarian or vegan request at checkout. Pickup and drop-off are included, and the listing shows the details for your date. Reserve now, pay later is available, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start. This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the morning catamaran cruise worth it?
It suits swimmers. You get three swim stops in daylight, a barbecue lunch and a live guide for $95, with up to 20 guests. All 10 of the latest reviews give 5 stars, and 3 of them mention value.
What time does the day cruise leave?
The listing sells several start times and shows them for your date. On 27 October 2026 the next start on sale was 12:30. Hotel pickup is included.
Where does the boat leave from?
Vlychada Marina on the south coast, where it also returns. The included transfer takes you there and back.
Do I need my passport?
The operator asks you to bring a passport or ID card.
Can I get a vegan meal?
Yes. Vegetarian and vegan diets can be accommodated if you add the details at checkout.
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