Santorini Kamari

beach report and Kamari map

Kamari Santorini

The traditional settlement at KAMARI is on the southeast coast of Santorini and was completely rebuilt after the 1956 earthquake.
Kamari has since become a tourist hotspot, noted for its long black beach of volcanic sand. Serried ranks of sun beds pack the beach which is backed by tree-shaded hotels, restaurants and bars.
Kamari beach is a coarse-grained black sand that absorbs the heat of the sun and so can become insufferably hot by the middle of the day and requires some sort of footwear both as protection against the heat and the sharp stones.
There is a long paved promenade at Kamari that runs parallel to the beach that is traffic free for the summer. Kamari offers a wealth of cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and supermarkets, as well as a lively nightlife.
Kamari beach is organized, with sunbeds, umbrellas, watersports and diving. There are frequent buses to Fira and the place has all the usual tourist facilities such as car hire, gift shops, bars and nightclubs.
The official name for Kamari village is Episkopi Gonia, which takes its name from the local church which is the focus of a major village festival on August 15.
Kamari is also noted for its annual jazz festival and for the outdoor cinema on the road to Fira. Above Kamari are the ruins of Ancient Thera on the impressive mountain of Mesa Vouno, up a narrow and twisting road and always worth a visit not only for the archaeological treasures but also for the amazing views.