Santorini extreme sports
and so much more!
By Faye J. Vasiliadis
Santorini is undoubtedly a fascinating island. Some
people might think it’s a couple’s only paradise. Truth is that there is so
much more than scintillating sunsets, romantic sea view dinners, and
stargazing. What most don’t know is that excitement sees no limits in this
volcanic jewel. From freerunning, to cliff jumping and rock climbing, and from
scuba diving to volcano and hot springs touring, adrenaline junkies will find
their own sanctuary here, in the heart of the Aegean.
The steep volcanic cliffs that submerge in the deep
blue waters surely create a stunning landscape, not to mention a rock climber’s heaven. The peculiar geomorphology, however, in conjunction with the
mazy town planning also create the ideal conditions for a plethora of extreme
sports. Cliff jumping can take various forms, including tombstoning,
coasteering and base jumping. Best places to do all that in Santorini? Ammoudi
Bay, Perissa and Kamari. The Red Bull Art of Motion, which is the ultimate freerunning competition, shall take place for the 6th consecutive year in
Santorini in October 2016. If you happen to be there, it will be your chance to
watch some of the best athletes in the world do their tricks, with the stunning
Caldera in the background. The mystery of the lost Atlantis still fascinates
not only archaeologists, but also divers from all over the world. You will
never know what you might stumble upon when scuba
diving in
Santorini! It could be an ancient shipwreck, a two thousand year old amphora or
the extremely interesting volcanic seabed.
If you are more into touring, then you will surely
enjoy a boat trip and tour of the volcano and the hot springs, a tour of the
island’s famous and forgotten castles, such as those in Emporeio, Pyrgos and
Agios Nikolaos, the notable wineries, and the archaeological attractions and
monuments, such as the prehistoric settlement discovered in Akrotiri. Just make
sure you wear comfortable shoes and clothes, and have water with you,
especially when you visit the islet of Nea Kammeni, where the volcano is
located. When the boat reaches the island of Palaia Kammeni, make sure you make
your way to the hot sulfur springs. You have to swim for about 100 meters, to
reach them, but it’s so worth it. You can stay and relax for about 10-15
minutes. The water is medicinal, warm, reddish, and with a peculiar smell.
Nature has been so vindictive, and yet so generous
with this Aegean island. Who would have thought that an eruption so catastrophic,
dated back to the mid-second millennium BC, so as to affect the global climate
and destroy coastal areas in Crete, and quite possibly Egypt, would have left
behind such a breathtaking scenery that inspires so many myths, legends and
mysteries, but also extreme sports aficionados?
