Santorini Catamaran in a Small Group: Snorkel Gear and Dessert

The same coast the private charters work, taken in a small group instead, which is what keeps the price where it is. Hotel pick-up is included, in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the boat leaves from Vlychada. Red Beach first, for a swim and a snorkel under the red cliffs. Then White Beach, seen from the deck, with its white volcanic rock and the blue and white churches above the water. Past the Akrotiri lighthouse, one of the oldest in Greece, and along the Akrotiri coast, which is the quiet side of the island. At Nea Kameni the water is warm and heavy with minerals, and the boat gets in without the crowds the bigger operators bring with them. Mesa Pigadia is the long stop: swimming and snorkelling in the clearest water on this coast, with the gear provided, and then the BBQ. Grilled chicken, rice, pasta with a Mediterranean sauce, fresh salad, traditional dips, bread and a dessert, with drinks and local wine. Departures run in the morning and at sunset, and dolphins turn up on the route often enough to be worth watching for. The meeting point at Marina Vlychada is the ATM behind the mini market building, where a guide waits with a sign.