Things to do at Palea Kameni and the hot springs

Palea Kameni is the smaller of the two black islets inside the caldera, and unlike Nea Kameni next door, no boat lands here. Caldera cruises anchor offshore and passengers swim roughly 50 to 100 metres to the hot springs, a shallow inlet where volcanic water mixes with the sea.

The water is warm at best, not hot, somewhere in the low-to-mid 30s Celsius near the source and cooler a few strokes out, and it carries enough dissolved iron to stain pale swimwear and skin a rusty orange that takes several washes to fade.

Most catamaran and sailing itineraries from Athinios or the old port pair this swim stop with Nea Kameni's crater walk, adding up to a half-day or full-day trip. Bring a dark or old swimsuit and a towel you don't mind marking.