Palea Kameni Island

Palea Kameni is a small volcanic islet located within the Santorini caldera in the South Aegean. It is one of the older lava islands formed inside the caldera and is characterized by dark volcanic rock and fumarolic activity.

The islet’s main attractions are volcanic vents and marine hot springs in its surrounding waters, which draw boat excursions from Santorini’s ports and harbors. Short guided visits or anchored stops for swimming in warm springs are common on round-trip caldera tours.

Palea Kameni formed through successive submarine and subaerial eruptions within the caldera and sits alongside other volcanic islets such as Nea Kameni and Aspronisi. The group records the caldera’s post-collapse volcanic activity over the Holocene.

It lies in the central basin of the Santorini caldera and is reached only by boat from Santorini (Thera) ports such as Athinios and Ammoudi.

• Visitor note: Small volcanic fumaroles and warm sea spots are present around the islet; many tour boats include brief stops for views and short landings where permitted.
• Relation to nearby islets: Part of the Santorini caldera group of islets, it is distinct from the younger Nea Kameni which lies nearby and is more frequently visited for recent lava flows.

Most visitors reach Palea Kameni on organized boat excursions that depart from Fira (Thira) or the old port at Ammoudi Bay beneath Oia and Fira. Tours typically combine a stop at Nea Kameni (the larger volcanic islet) and a brief swim near Palea Kameni’s hot springs; independent landings are discouraged due to the unstable shoreline and local regulations.

• Go on a small-group boat tour from Santorini (Fira or Ammoudos) that includes a stop to swim - the best operators will anchor off the hot-sand beach so passengers can enter the water safely.
• Bring water shoes: the shoreline is a patchwork of pumice, black sand and sharp, glassy basalt fragments that can slice through flip-flops.
• Avoid solo landings. Local regulations and the island's unstable volcanic terrain mean licensed skippers and guides know which coves are safe.
• Respect the geology: do not remove rocks or take samples. The islet is part of an active volcanic complex and its fragile character is protected.