Need help shifting itinerary - dropping Santorini and probably Naxos due to earthquake risk

Am I correct???? You are making all of these changes out of concern for earthquakes? That is cautious. Earthquakes don't even make my list of something to worry about because it is so random and well beyond my control. All of Greece tend to have earthquakes from time to time so I don't know how you could plan around them.

Frank - are you dismissing the current situation out of hand? The "swarm" of seismic activity has experts uncertain of the situation, locals evacuating, cruise ships changing routes, on and on.

Google Santorini earthquakes for up to date thinking. Here are a couple articles
https://travelnoire.com/is-santorini-safe
https://earthquakeinsights.substack.com/p/the-seismic-swarm-in-greece-gets

US advisory:
https://gr.usembassy.gov/natural-disaster-alert-u-s-mission-greece-february-7-2025/

With the situation so uncertain, I think the OP is doing the right thing in researching substitutes. I fact, I have also put a Plan B in place which may replace my Santorini plans. Decision to be made closer to my departure date.

Frank - I do agree with ORDtraveler. According to the seismologists, what is happening right now with this seismic swarm is apparently not so common, even in that part of the world. If you yourself have any plans to travel in that area in the near fur=ture, please do look at those sites that ORDT mentioned.

In the meantime, does anyone have any input regarding how we might best shift our itinerary? Maybe hanging onto our original Meteora dates (and AirBnb) is unrealistic. :( We could, theoretically, set things this way:

Athens (don't stay over) to Napflio via car rental (although hard to drive after a roughly 13 hour flight) for 4 nights, visiting Epidaurus and possibly the Corinth Canal (somehow around that time) to Meteora (driving) (or to Delphi overnight and then to Meteora) for 3 nights, to Corfu (driving) (for 3 nights), flying back to Athens (for 3 nights). Lots of driving unfortunately, but we're kind of used to that after traveling around Ireland via car last spring.

Again, please, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

dd65, Eagerly following along as we are in the same boat!

I think the concern isn’t so much being injured in an earthquake - just pitch a tent at a camping area away from any trees and you’ll be fine no matter what happens- as it is that tourism infrastructure like restaurants, shops, sites to visit, etc will be closed if local residents evacuate. The authorities may not allow nonresidents to go to the islands. And you won’t know for sure what’s happening until the day you go. So altering plans now to avoid being suddenly stuck on the mainland is a good plan.

jandee: I read your post to my husband who responded "No pun intended!" (Thought you'd get a kick out of that. Laughter is good medicine?)

johnt: I'm sure that could be another issue as well. Regarding the possibility of additional earthquakes in May, I'm frankly not really interested in risking more Santorini landslides, etc...having reserved a "cave house" in Oía of all things. And we're traveling light. No camping equipment on this trip.

Still hoping someone has some input regarding my specific question and alternate itinerary suggestions. Thanks!

We are planning a visit to Naxos in a few months. While Naxos has not yet been mentioned as being at risk we have a back up plan to visit Crete.

I wish I could help, DD, with your specific alternate itinerary, but I'm not knowledgable enough. I have personal back-up plans on the mainland.

I suggest you start a new thread titled something like: Please review this itinerary for Greece, then list your new thinking. There are a number of knowledgable Greek travelers who might be tempted to take a look.

Perhaps those who might be helpful with a definitive itinerary don't feel comfortable without a crystal ball. They maybe haven't read your original post referencing the current earthquake situation as it is anyone's guess. Don't want to speculate, etc.

I will be in Greece in May too. As usual I have no plan B except vaguely planning what to do in case of ferry delays of a few hours or a day.

Planning alternatives in case of earthquakes, floods, wild fires, which are common in Greece is useless because anything can happen at any time. That would mean having plans C, D, E, F, etc.
I will not go to Meteora either because there are also too many earthquakes in that area.
In short I would not leave my house at the risk of breaking a leg by slipping in my bathroom.

More seriously, if I went to Santorini like you the only thing that would worry me would be to know in what condition is the structure of the building/house that I have booked. Especially if it is located near a cliff or in a place that can suffer landslides.
The building inspection has not yet been done for security reasons. There will be some.

Another thread to follow. I was starting to think along the same lines as dd65 as far as removing Santorini from our trip and looking for a "replacement" island. Presently set to arrive on Santorini on May 16 and stay in Firostefani and leave on May 19 for Naxos for few days before flying to Athens to pick up rental car and drive to Nafplio for a few days before returning to Athens for four then coming back to US. Will keep my eye on Greek news and if quakes continue on next week will probably ask agent about options. Got flex ticket from Athens to Santorini so hoping no real issues with change to another location if necessary.
John

Santorini is a (current dormant) volcano. Also Greece is on the border of where the African tectonic place is sliding underneath part of the Eurasian tectonic plate. I didn't think to worry about the risk of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions when I went to Greece in October 2018. But I don't remember any warnings or major earthquakes just before I left home. I went to southern California in 2021 without worrying about the risk of wildfires or earthquakes. I went to Mexico 12 weeks after my original flight was cancelled due to ash from a volcano near the airport I was supposed to fly to. I went to Naples and Pompeii in Italy in 2017 even though there are volcanos nearby and Italy is prone to earthquakes but I don't remember any warnings or earthquakes or volcanic eruptions shortly before my trip. I went to Florida twice even though sometimes Floriday has hurricanes. A lot can change in 11 to 12 weeks. You don't have to change your itinerary (yet).

Following as we are in the same boat. Watching everyday and trying to figure it out.

Wish I knew more to give advice.

Ah wow. See I wanted to pair Paros and Naxos as the back up if Santorini did end up having a mass earthquake in fact. But can someone please explain further, how Naxos would be affected? Is it because of the proximity to Santorini?

But can someone please explain further, how Naxos would be affected?

The distance between Naxos and Santorini is only about 75 km.

In 1956 a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in the Santorini area caused a tsunami in the Aegean Sea with wave heights of up to 22 metres.

Sometimes, earthquakes can be associated with underground magma movements, and although it is not necessarily a sign of a volcanic eruption, know that about 3600 years ago the volcanic eruption on Santorini (the Minoan eruption) caused major destruction from Crete (more than 100 km away) to the Turkish coast and caused significant ash fallout over most of Europe.

There haven't been any big earthquakes greater than 5 , and the small tremors noticed in early February have already lessened. There's no proof that a major earthquake is about to happen, and it certainly won't affect your time in Naxos or even in Santorini. I know reports sound scary, but they're probably exaggerated. Since you have options that can be cancelled, and you are going to make this trip to Greece either way, wait until last minute to decide. In my opinion, everything will be ok.