Santorini parasailing is a 10-minute flight under a parachute towed by a boat off the black sand beaches of Perissa, Perivolos and Agios Georgios, about 100 metres above the sea, with take-off and landing on the boat deck. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.
The sections below cover the flights you can book, the beach bases, how a flight works, the view, what is included, who can fly, safety, the months and booking, with links into the Santorini pages. The flights shown are checked on GetYourGuide.
What is Santorini parasailing?
Santorini parasailing is a ride under a parachute towed by a speedboat off the south coast beaches. Riders fly about 100 metres above the sea for 10 minutes. They take off from the boat and land back on it.
A long rope links the parachute, called the canopy, to a winch on the stern of the boat. The winch lets the rope out to lift riders up. It then reels them back down to the deck.
Riders sit in a harness below the canopy and do no work in the air. A certified crew runs the whole flight from the boat. Santorini parasailing needs no skill beyond basic swimming.
Parasailing differs from paragliding. A paraglider flies free from a hill. A parasail stays tied to the boat for the whole ride.
The flights leave from the black sand beaches below Mesa Vouno, the rocky mountain on the south-east coast. Wind, sea and daylight set the timetable, so each session runs at a fixed slot.
Which Santorini parasailing trips can you book?
Two Santorini parasailing trips are listed on GetYourGuide. One is a 10-minute flight from Perissa, Perivolos or Agios Georgios. The other pairs a kayak rental with a shared flight for two, over 1.5 hours.
- Parasailing Experience Perissa, Perivolos, St. George: a 10-minute flight up to 350 feet, with an optional photo package
- Kayak Rental and Parasailing Adventure for 2: a paddle along Perivolos beach, then a flight for the pair
- Wave Sports at Perivolos: flights at set times, with a second base at Perissa
- Santorini Water Sports at Agios Georgios: flights for 1 or 2 people
Both GetYourGuide trips start on the south coast, where the beaches face the open Aegean. The 350-foot figure equals about 107 metres. Wave Sports gives its own flight height as 300 feet, which it lists as 100 metres.
Santorini parasailing runs as a single or a tandem ride. Tandem means two riders fly together under one canopy. Separate rides need separate bookings and separate time slots.
The kayak combo suits two riders who want a longer session on the water. The paddle along the Perivolos coastline comes first. The shared Santorini parasailing flight follows from the same beach.
Where does Santorini parasailing take off?
Santorini parasailing takes off from the south-east coast. Wave Sports flies from Perivolos beach and keeps a second base at Perissa. Santorini Water Sports works from Agios Georgios beach, at the southern end of the same black sand strip.
Perissa beach and Perivolos beach form one long stretch of black volcanic sand. Beach bars and sunbeds line the strip. The water-sports huts sit among them, right at the water’s edge.
The Wave Sports meeting point at Perivolos stands opposite the beach bars Chilli and JoJo. Its Perissa base faces the beach bar Tranquilo. The boat collects riders from the shore at each base.
The south coast flights face the open sea, away from the caldera cliffs of Fira and Oia. Other swims and sands across the island are on the Santorini beaches page.
How does a Santorini parasailing flight work?
A Santorini parasailing flight starts with a safety talk from the instructor. Riders board the boat and clip into a harness on the deck. The boat speeds up, the canopy fills with air and the rope lifts them off.
- Meet the crew at the beach base before the start time
- Hear the route and the safety rules from the instructor
- Board the parasailing boat and put on a life jacket
- Clip into the harness on the flight deck at the stern
- Rise to about 100 metres as the rope pays out
- Land back on the deck as the winch reels the rope in
The whole Santorini parasailing session takes 20 to 30 minutes. That time covers boarding, the ride out, the flight and the return. Each group flies only with its own companions.
Riders do nothing during the flight, since the crew steers the boat and works the winch. Bring the booking confirmation, in digital or printed form, to the meeting point.
What do you see from the air on Santorini parasailing?
Santorini parasailing shows the south coast of the island from about 100 metres up. Riders see the black sand of Perissa and Perivolos, the rock of Mesa Vouno and the open Aegean. Afternoon flights catch the sunset.
Mesa Vouno rises straight behind Perissa. The ruins of Ancient Thera stand on its ridge at about 360 metres. From the canopy, the mountain splits the Perissa side from Kamari to the north.
The GetYourGuide listing names panoramic views of the volcanic island. Wave Sports times its late flights for the sunset over the island. On Santorini parasailing, these sights fill the view:
- The black sand strip from Perissa to Agios Georgios
- Mesa Vouno and the ridge of Ancient Thera
- The boats and swimmers along the beach
- The open Aegean to the south and east
How long does Santorini parasailing last, and what is included?
Santorini parasailing keeps riders in the air for 10 minutes. The full session lasts 20 to 30 minutes with the boat ride. The kayak and parasailing combo runs 1.5 hours. Equipment and a life jacket come with every ride.
- Life jacket and flight harness
- A wet suit on request
- Safety lockers for bags
- A shower on the beach
- Free parking at the base
Photos and a video of the flight cost extra on the Wave Sports booking. The GetYourGuide listing also calls its photo package optional. Guests bring a beach towel, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Santorini parasailing flights on one listing start at 10:30, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 17:00. In late spring, the first start moves to 11:00. The combo adds a kayak paddle along Perivolos before the flight.
Who can do Santorini parasailing?
Santorini parasailing takes riders from age 14. The total weight of everyone on one flight stays under 180 kg. Basic swimming skills are needed. Riders fly alone or in pairs, and no earlier flying experience is needed.
The 180 kg limit counts all riders on one flight together. Two adults of 85 kg each fit under it. A heavier pair flies as two single rides.
Children under 14 do not fly on Santorini parasailing. Family days for younger children are on the Santorini with kids page.
Santorini Water Sports also sets 14 as its minimum age. Its listing gives no weight limit, so riders ask the crew at the base.
Instructors speak English and Greek. Booking platforms advise riders to call the base before the day. The sea and wind set each slot.
Is Santorini parasailing safe, and when is it cancelled?
Santorini parasailing runs with a certified crew, a dedicated parasailing boat and life jackets for every rider. Operators cancel flights in unsafe wind or after an equipment fault. Local authorities also stop flights in bad weather.
- A safety briefing before each flight
- Life jackets for every rider
- A harness fitted by the crew
- Flights only in safe wind and sea
- Riders as passengers, with no tasks in the air
A cancellation by the operator brings a full refund of any advance payment. A weather ban from the local authorities gives a full refund or a new date.
Rider cancellation terms differ by seller. One platform refunds in full at 72 hours or more and half from 24 to 72 hours. Wave Sports keeps the deposit inside 48 hours, unless the ride moves to a new slot.
Which months suit Santorini parasailing?
Santorini parasailing runs from April to October. July and August bring the strongest summer wind, the meltemi, which can ground flights. Late spring, June and September give calmer air and a warm sea for the boat ride.
The meltemi is a dry north wind of the Aegean summer. It blows from late spring to mid-September and peaks in July and August.
Morning Santorini parasailing flights start at 10:30, and the last slot leaves at 17:00. Afternoon flights in summer meet the sunset over the south coast.
Santorini Water Sports keeps its base open from 10:00 to 18:00, Monday to Sunday, through the season. Its jet skis, boats and parasail boat all leave from the same beach.
How does Santorini parasailing compare with other water sports, and how do you book it?
Santorini parasailing flies riders above the sea, while jet skis, paddleboards and kayaks stay on the water. Bookings run online, and a phone e-ticket works at the beach base, with the meeting point and time.
- A Santorini jet ski trip rides the coast at speed
- Santorini SUP sessions paddle the calm bays
- Santorini sea kayaking tours reach caves and coves
- The Santorini watersports page lists the other rides
The e-ticket shows the meeting point, the time and the operator’s phone number. A no-show at the meeting point counts as a full charge. Book-now, pay-later options let riders pay closer to the flight date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can three people fly together on Santorini parasailing?
One booking platform mentions up to three riders at once, but it only sells single and double rides. Santorini Water Sports lists rides for 1 or 2 persons. Larger groups book flights one after another, and each group flies only with its own companions.
What happens if you arrive late for Santorini parasailing?
Riders arrive at the meeting point before the start time. The boat runs to a fixed timetable, so a late arrival can miss the slot. One seller counts a missed meeting point as a no-show and charges the full amount.
Where do you park for Santorini parasailing at Perivolos?
Wave Sports offers free parking at its Perivolos base. The base sits on the beach road, opposite the Chilli and JoJo beach bars. Riders staying in Fira or Kamari reach it by car, taxi or the local bus to Perissa.
What do you wear for Santorini parasailing?
Beachwear suits the ride, as the listings advise. Riders board from the beach and land on the deck of the boat. A wet suit is available on request at the Wave Sports base. Lockers and a beach shower handle bags and salt water afterwards.
Which other rides run from the Santorini parasailing beaches?
Santorini Water Sports at Agios Georgios also runs jet ski safaris and jet ski rentals. Flyboard and e-foil lessons start from age 14, and hoverboard rides from 18. Water tubing, boat rentals with a captain and licence-free boat rentals complete its list.