Volcanoes, Hot Springs and Sunsets

Our final day in Santorini couldn’t have been more perfect slow starts, little surprises, and big adventures.

We began the morning just as we have most days with a simple but satisfying breakfast of yoghurt and muesli… yes again. But today came with an unexpected guest a curious little kitty who wandered over and tried to sneak into our room. He had the sweetest little personality, and after a few head scratches, I couldn’t resist sharing a bit of yoghurt with him. He devoured it happily, clearly deciding we were now friends. I’m hoping he will come back and visit tomorrow!

After packing our day bags, we wandered to the bus stop and caught the ride into Fira. With a couple of hours to spare before our boat trip, we slowly explored the winding streets and poked around the little shops. Fira has such a buzz that mix of locals, tourists, and cliffside views never gets old. For lunch, we grabbed some quick bites from the supermarket, before heading to the challenge ahead of us…. the infamous descent down 600 steps to the old port.

Let me tell you those stairs are no joke. Steep, slippery, and fully exposed to the scorching sun. Donkeys were available as an “alternative,” but it didn’t sit right with us to use them it feels cruel so we made the trek on foot. Sweaty, slightly wobbly-legged, but ecstatic that we finally reached the bottom and checked in for our boat excursion.

And then came the best part of the day our pirate-style ship adventure out to the Santorini volcano and hot springs. The sea was a little rough, but the trips between stops were short enough that it stayed fun. Our first stop was the volcano itself. We had about 90 minutes to climb, led by a guide who explained the history and geology of the craters. It was surreal to see the different layers of rock and hear about the volcano’s past eruptions. At one point, we were even able to stick our hands into a small vent and feel the heat still rising from deep underground. Such a wild reminder that this volcano is still alive. From the top, the views were unreal, Santorini’s whitewashed towns perched on cliffs, the blue Aegean stretching endlessly, and the surrounding islands dotting the horizon.

Next, our boat carried us around to the volcanic hot springs. The water shifted into a strange brownish yellow shade, with a faint sulfur smell that immediately reminded us of Hanmer Springs. We jumped in and swam toward the shore, where the water grew warmer with every stroke. The natural mud was said to be good for the skin, and Jayde had the time of his life smearing it across himself like a volcanic spa treatment. It even gave him a hint of tan so he was really getting involved.

After our delightful swim, the ship carried us back to the port where we finished our tour best $50 we have ever spent it was amazing! Now time to head back up the hill but this time we decided we’d earned a little break from the brutal stairs so we took the cable car back up the cliffside.

Back in Fira, hunger hit us quickly. So we opted for a quick and easy gyros followed by Greek frozen yoghurt for dessert. And let me just say Greek frozen yoghurt is next level!! Creamy, tangy, refreshing, the perfect finale.

As the sun started to dip we found ourselves watching our last Santorini sunset. It felt like the perfect end to our Santorini adventure.

Tomorrow is extra special as not only do we say hello to Milos, but we’ll also be celebrating Jayde’s 25th birthday. 🎉Read more