UPDATE ON SANTORINI EARTHQUAKES

March 19th 2025

Given the reduced seismic activity, authorities lifted all restrictions. Santorini is once again a safe and welcoming destination, with tourism infrastructure fully operational and reinforced with new safety measures. The government has implemented strict building inspections, removed hazardous structures, and introduced enhanced emergency protocols to ensure the well-being of both residents and visitors. Travelers can now enjoy the island’s breathtaking beauty with greater confidence and security than ever before.

Professor of Seismology at the Aristotle University, Kostas Papazachos mentioned, during his interview at the national TV that “The sequence in this phase has been completed and therefore there is no reason for schools to be closed”. He also added that “Right now, we have a capability to detect earthquakes and monitor activity that we didn’t have before the sequence began.”, reassuring that there is no concern for a stronger earthquake.

Santorini remains one of the top tourist destinations in the world, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said with optimism during her visit to the island, “and despite its recent seismic activity, it is gradually returning to normalcy and preparing for a dynamic tourism period.”

In light of the confusing fake news and all the misleading information that appears online about our beautiful island recently kindly find below a small summary of the legislation applied for the island of Santorini on March 14th 2025 and is the latest updated concerning the situation.

To enhance traffic flow and improve visitor experience, new measures are being introduced at Athinios Port, ensuring a smooth and organized disembarkation process. Private vehicles will be given priority, followed by buses and trucks, reducing congestion and allowing for a more efficient transition from the port.

Additionally, to ensure safety in key areas where landslides are common, temporary closure is applied in place for access and activities in the Old Port of Fira and locations of the island such as Korfos in Therassia, a part of Ammoudi and a small part of Armeni Bay.

Kindly note that the measures applied will not in any way affect your overall experience in Santorini.

These measures help protect the charm of these locations while maintaining a safe, peaceful and enjoyable atmosphere for visitors.

Our hotels are ready to welcome visitors for one more amazing season, starting with our group’s flagship property Canaves Oia Suites opening on April 1st.

At our hotels, your safety and well-being are our top priority. Santorini’s unique volcanic terroir has always experienced mild seismic activity, which has never impacted the safety or enjoyment of our visitors. In response to the recent events, we’ve enhanced our already established safety protocols to provide you with peace of mind during your stay. These measures include regular safety drills for our staff, clear and well-communicated emergency procedures, and easily accessible evacuation routes. Our hotels have undergone thorough inspections to ensure all structures are secure and compliant with the latest safety standards

To ensure reassurance and offer a peace of mind to our valued guests, we have updated our policies for both existing and future bookings.

UPDATED BOOKING POLICIES

Existing Bookings

For reservations with arrivals between April 1st and May 15th, 2025, that hold a non-refundable status or a deposit (such as Signature Room types), we are offering additional flexibility. One month prior to arrival, guests will have the option to reschedule their booking for up to 12 months if ongoing natural events (e.g., earthquakes, aftershocks) persist and safety remains a concern, even if no official restrictions are in place. We strongly encourage guests with arrivals in April and May with flexible cancellation policy (21 days prior) to maintain their reservations and reevaluate a month prior as well.

Future Bookings

For new bookings, we have introduced the following updated cancellation policies:

For stays between April 1st and May 15th, 2025:

Guests may cancel free of charge up to 7 days before arrival for all room types, except Signature Room types.
For Signature Room types, a 20% deposit will only be required 21 days prior to arrival, instead of at the time of booking.

For stays from May 16th onward:

Please refer to our standard booking policies for new flexible cancellation bookings with arrival after the 16^th of May 2025. canaves.com/policies
For Signature Room Types non-refundable 20% deposit will now be applied exceptionally 60 days prior to arrival, instead of upon confirmation.
In the rare case of a force majeure event occurring a month prior to the guests’ arrival— that will render the island closed to tourists, and the hotel unable to operate—guests will have the option to cancel at no cost and apply their deposit toward a future booking.
New non-refundable bookings for arrivals after May 16th will remain non-refundable, unless an official force majeure event prevents the hotel from operating during the guests’ travel dates.

These measures have been put in place to provide our valued clients with a peace of mind guarantee, ensuring they have flexibility should circumstances change. While refunds will only be issued if the hotel is officially unable to operate due to a force majeure event during the guests’ stay, we remain fully committed to supporting our guests by offering rescheduling and credit options where applicable.

All the above policies will be reassessed based on ongoing developments. We place our trust in the experts, collaborate closely with authorities, and remain dedicated to ensuring a safe environment for everyone visiting.

We look forward to welcoming you to our properties in Santorini soon!

Warm regards,

The Management
Canaves Collection

Read here the official press release from Ministry of Tourism.

More information

Over the last month, the steady decline in seismic activity near Santorini is signaling that the phenomenon is now entering its final phase. Scientists report a significant drop in both the frequency and intensity of tremors, reinforcing the view that the phenomenon is coming to an end. Given the reduced seismic activity, authorities lifted all restrictions. Santorini is once again a safe and welcoming destination, with tourism infrastructure fully operational and reinforced with new safety measures. The government has implemented strict building inspections, removed hazardous structures, and introduced enhanced emergency protocols to ensure the well-being of both residents and visitors. Travelers can now enjoy the island’s breathtaking beauty with greater confidence and security than ever before.

Santorini is a safe and welcoming destination, with tourism infrastructure fully operational and reinforced with new safety measures. The government has implemented strict building inspections, removed hazardous structures, and introduced enhanced emergency protocols to ensure the well-being of both residents and visitors. Schools and businesses are open again, and additional safety guidelines, including designated evacuation routes and reinforced public spaces, have been put in place. With seismic activity almost to its end and continuous monitoring by experts, travelers can now enjoy the island’s breathtaking beauty with greater confidence and security than ever before.

Your safety and well-being are our top priority. Santorini, with its unique volcanic terroir, has always experienced mild seismic activity, which has never impacted the safety or enjoyment of our visitors. The island’s hotels are required to implement strict safety protocols, ensuring a secure environment for all travelers. These measures include regular safety drills for our staff, clear and well-communicated emergency procedures, and easily accessible evacuation routes. In light of the recent events, we’ve enhanced our already established safety protocols to provide you with peace of mind during your stay. Additionally, our hotels have undergone thorough inspections to ensure all structures are secure and compliant with the latest safety standards. We are closely following government guidelines and updates, and our team is always available to assist you should you need any support. Rest assured; you can enjoy your time with us knowing that your safety is at the heart of everything we do.

We have implemented a new set of booking policies to give you peace of mind. For more information on our updated policies for new and existing bookings, kindly visit www.canaves.com/earthquakes .We are committed to ensuring a flexible and worry-free experience for all our guests.