Hello, I read on a web site tonight that on Santorini there are red and white beaches that are accessible by boat. This sounds like something I would like to try. Here are my questions:

How is this possible... meaning where do you go to get on a boat and is it like a boat taxi? can you just take a boat to the beach and then leave when you want? are there chairs to rent on these beaches and places to eat and get drinks or do you need to bring a picnic? also, is there any shade? (chair with umbrella or something like that is fine too) also do these beaches tend to be less crowded? What is your favorite beach and why? I don't mind crowds, but some days the family and I just need to be quiet and relax..suggestions? (we will be in Oia for 11 days this July) Some days we will have just public transportation.. and we plan to rent a car for a few days as well.

thank you for any advice and for your help viv

There is a water taxi that goes from Kamri Beach to Perissa beach and when we were on the Red beach a water taxi came there as well. I am not certain where that boat originated from.

Kari, Perissia and the Red Beach are reasonably close together and are easily accessible by rental car.
Red beach is near Acroteri and is probably about a kilometer hike from the parking lot.
There are chairs and umbrellas at all three beaches with Red beach having far less services than the other two.
The 16th through the 19th pictures on this album are the red beach and Kamri.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/563...KqudI?start=12

We really liked the red beach as it is much smaller and has far fewer people.

stanbr,
Thank you for your reply! and for sharing your pictures. they were all very nice and I am quite excited to go


thanks again
vivian

oh no.. when i did that smiley face I didn't know it would do a clown.. sorry lol

When we visited Kamari and Perissia in May 2006 it was possible to hire 2 chairs, a little table and an umbrella for 7 euros for the entire day!! There is a lovely village atmosphere at both beaches with restaurants that will provide drinks, snacks and meals. Lots of souvenir opportunities. It's an interesting contrast, as Oia and Thira seem to have lots of Australian and US tourists, but the other side of the island had lots of Brits and Germans. There must be a demarkation line somewhere!! The water is hell to get to as the beaches are very pebbly. Those in the know were wearing funny beach shoes that they wore into the water and were certainly more dignified than I was as I slipped and slid my way into the water!! Wouldn't have missed it though.

We hired a car and drove ourselves one day and another day we took the bus - both were easy. We did see the ferry coming and going but don't really know where the final destination might be.

Vivian, Cathie is right, that most Americans come to Santorini -- and indeed to Greece -- with very little notion of what beaches are like, outside of the western hemisphere, where almost all beaches are sandy. Many many beaches elsewhere in the world, even good ones, are rocky, pebbly or (as in Santorini's volcanic beaches) made of volcanic "grit." They are not foot-friendly.

Therefore, the savvy traveler brings along "water shoes." They are not funny, they are functional. I don't mean flip-flops, which would fall off. These are slip-on rubber-sole items usually with a mesh top. You wear them INTO the water. If you buy them at CVS or Rite-aid in April or May, they sell them for about $6-7 a pair for adult, less for children. At sporting goods stores, they go for about $12+. If you Google "water shoes" to buy online, you find they usually cost quite a bit more, because they are used in sport, such as kayaking. NOTE: somehow, when you reach Greece, you cannot find them in tourist shops, only flip-flops. But they are essentials in Greece, enabling you to enjoy any beaches. AND you can use them as "shower shoes" around the hotel etc.

travelerjan and cathies,
thank you for your replies... The water shoes are all ready in the suitcase waiting.. We swim in the clear beautiful rivers in the White Mountains up in NH and they are needed there as the rocks are quite slippery and there is no sand of course just pebbles on the banks. I use them also at the gym as they give my legs added weight for swimming and it is more resistance for a workout. I have traveled a little, so I know that won't be sandy beaches but that is ok by me. all I need is a view, the sun, and safe water to cool off in I can't wait! I don't mind crowds, but some days I like to get away and try to be quiet. (if that is possible on Santorini in the summer lol)

Not very possible Viv in July unless u are booked in one of the exclusive places on the tip of Oia, or quite the reverse, some spots way down by Akrotiri ... but relax & go with the flow...

travelerjan,
thank you for your post again.

Oh no worries.. I was kidding about it being quiet.. I knew what I was getting into when we booked... You can't travel in high season and then complain about the crowds.

I am the queen of going with the flow... However, I find if I do a little research sometimes I find things that the average person hasn't taken the time to discover...

Have a nice weekend and thanks for your help again
Vivian

Hi, I guess 'funny' was the wrong word to describe the beach shoes. I was actually quite envious and wished I had some. Here in Sydney we are lucky enough to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world with lovely white sand. So...... I actually didn't know that these shoes existed - I think they are brilliant!

I'm really pleased that you are going to explore Santorini properly - it is truly lovely!! Cathie

Cathies no worries.. I never noticed the "funny" word with the shoes until your last post. They are really a brilliant invention. As a child we would swim in the same clear rivers up in the mountains and believe me I have taken quite a few spills on the rocks. Having shoes back then would have saved my legs and feet a few scars.. LOL. Sometimes we would use old sneakers to swim with but the water shoes today are quite better

I would love to visit Sydney one day and your description of the beaches have raised it high on my to see list. thanks I am quite excited to see Santorini and all it has to offer.
Thank you again for your help!
Cheers
Vivian

yes and dont forget to do the beautiful walk from fira to oia

lanejohann,

thank you for the suggestion. I did hear about the walk and it is on our list... one question I have, is this something like a hiking path or is it on the road, or a combination of the two... also what kind of things can you stop at along the way? How long is the hike with children? Meaning, stops for drinks, looking around and going at a slower pace. They are 10 and 12 and very active..

can you stop anywhere along the way to hike down to a swimming hole/ beach? and we may do the hike in reverse from Oia to Fira and then take a taxi back. thank you (and everyone for any help)

The hike is a safe dirt/rock pathway between Oia and Imerovigli, with a diversion out to the main road about halfway between the two villages where there is a small cafe and bus stop. Other than that there's nothing in between the villages. There's no way down to the water. Take water, a snack, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and your camera.

From Imerovigli to Fira the pathway is paved and developed and runs through the village of Firostefani.