Maria Petrenko

Santorini fixer · Location coordinator

I read the place
and the people.

Most fixers ignore one or the other. I've fixed TV shoots on Santorini for Colombia's Caracol Televisión and Latvia's Ceļot Bez Robežām, in October wind and on festival night. You get someone on the ground who already knows who to call.

Send me your brief See the productions
EN · ES · EL · RU on set Santorini, year-round Caracol Televisión · TV3 Play · ReTV Quote on request

Productions

Two crews, four years apart

Here's what each one needed, and what I did about it.

2022

La Vuelta al Mundo en 80 Risas

Caracol Televisión · Colombia

The presenters on the catamaran deck while a crew member films, La Vuelta al Mundo en 80 Risas, Santorini, October 2022
FR 01 · On the catamaran
The crew filming the presenters on the catamaran's bow, anchored off Red Beach, Santorini, October 2022
FR 02 · Anchored off Red Beach
The crew filming the presenters in life jackets on Perivolos black-sand beach, with the rental boat and jet skis, October 2022
FR 03 · Water sports, Perivolos
The crew and cast in red and blue gowns beside a blue-domed church on the caldera edge, Santorini, October 2022
FR 04 · On the caldera edge
Shot
October 2022
Crew
10
My role
Fixer on the ground
On camera
Mabel Cartagena, Camilo Cifuentes

What I handled

  • Private catamaran
  • Sheltered-bay locations
  • Water sports, Perivolos
  • Greek wedding show
  • Crew meals
  • Permits

We had one day for the boat. There was no other slot in the schedule, and the October wind was up.

I hired a private catamaran from Spiridakos Sailing Cruises and insisted we sail. We couldn't reach the hot springs, so I picked sheltered bays and we filmed there. That's where Mabel Cartagena pushes Camilo Cifuentes overboard.

By late October most of the island had closed for the season. The shoot needed water sports, so I called around the whole island to find who was still running. One family-run company on Perivolos beach was.

For the Greek wedding show, I got the crew in on regular tickets, like any guest, and helped them set up their gear. Meals and permits I sorted on the day.

2026

Ceļot Bez Robežām

Travel Without Borders · TV3 Play & ReTV · Latvia

Ifestia festival night over the Fira caldera, seen from the crew's camera position at the Atlantis Hotel, 19 September 2026
FR 01 · Ifestia night, from the Atlantis Hotel
Filming at Kissiras Microgreens in Pyrgos, September 2026
FR 02 · Kissiras Microgreens, Pyrgos
A host hands up a bottle labelled Ceļot Bez Robežām from a round underground cellar while the crew films, September 2026
FR 03 · A bottle labelled for the show
Pressing fruit on a traditional wooden press in a vaulted canava while the crew films, September 2026
FR 04 · At the press, inside a canava
A craftsman heats a reed with a torch to shape a flute while the crew films, September 2026
FR 05 · Shaping a reed flute
A sit-down interview among wine barrels and bougainvillea, September 2026
FR 06 · Interview among the barrels
Shot
14–21 September 2026
Crew
2
My role
Fixer and location coordinator
Airs
December 2026

A full week on the island, timed around Ifestia, Santorini's volcano festival. 90% of the plan made it to camera.

Three hotels hosted the crew: Athina Luxury Suites on the caldera in Fira, Voreina Gallery Suites in Pyrgos, and Elements Cave Suites in Megalochori, which I chose so they'd also live inside a village. Every stay came with breakfast and cost the production nothing.

I coordinated the week with Georgia Nomikou, President of the Thira Municipal Council Tourism Committee.

Doors I opened

  • 19.09.2026 · Fira Ifestia night, filmed from the Atlantis Hotel by invitation from islanders.
  • Before opening day Adonis Orfanos's family canava, before he opened it to visitors.
  • Akrotiri Arsenios Matsanto in Akrotiri, the first person to grow dragon fruit successfully on Santorini.

Airs December 2026 on TV3 Play and ReTV.

Upcoming · In front of the camera

Volcano Voices

A documentary by Fakos Productions

This time I'm on the other side of the lens. I'm one of the characters in Volcano Voices, an upcoming documentary by Fakos Productions.

How I work

How I got here

15 hours a day, three days running.

I started in-house at one company, as a tour leader and operations manager. My first shoot landed on me because nobody else wanted to spend 15 hours a day with a crew, three days running. I did.

I read the place: the October wind, and which beaches have already closed for the season. I read the people: who has to hear from me before a camera turns up, and who'll open a door once the season's over.

Maria Petrenko, Santorini fixer and location coordinator

Kit list · What I handle

  • Location scoutingrecce on the island
  • Boats and captainswith a plan for wind
  • Crew staysincl. hosted hotel deals
  • Crew mealson schedule, on location
  • Permitssorted ahead or on the day
  • Shows and performersmusic, dance, events
  • Accesswineries, farms, galleries, studios
  • Translation on setEN · ES · EL · RU
Scouting a wedding shoot with a photographer at a chapel above Skaros Rock, Imerovigli, at sunset
Location scouting · A chapel above Skaros Rock, for a wedding photographer

Destination expert

Off camera

For journalists, press trips, tourism boards and advisors.

Press hosting

I hosted Penny Fitton, writing for Santorini Dave, on a wine tour. I also hosted travel writer and photographer Monika Tarkowska-Carter for a private day on the island. See the post ↗

Tour leading

From big-bus groups to solo travellers: my own private walks at Santorini by Maria, shore excursions, and groups for operators including Santorini Experts.

Training hosts

I'm a certified Mindful Escape Tourism trainer. In October 2026 I co-led The Guest You Don't Know, a two-hour working session for Santorini hosts at Historical Villa Santa Croce, with MET founder Maria Athanasopoulou.

Writing and social

I'm a Deep Travel Ambassador for One Planet Journey, and I run social media for Domus K 1885 in Oia and Villa Santa Croce in Pyrgos.

Who I work with

The people who open doors with me

On the island

Kissiras Microgreens · MATI Gallery · Symposion · Domus K 1885 · Villa Santa Croce · Oia Maritime Museum · Spiridakos Sailing Cruises · Atlantis Hotel · Athina Luxury Suites · Elements Cave Suites · Voreina Gallery Suites · Santorini Experts

Media and networks

Caracol Televisión · TV3 Play · ReTV · Fakos Productions · Santorini Dave · One Planet Journey · Siren by Wanderful · Appetito Magazine · Mindful Escape Tourism

Writing

Published

Siren by Wanderful Three million people a year visit her home on Santorini. Almost none know her name. Oct 2026 Appetito Magazine Lolita's Gelato: Italian Gelato in Santorini, Greece Aug 2026 One Planet Journey Deep Travel Santorini – Going Inland for Authenticity May 2026

Contact

Send me your brief

Tell me your dates, your crew size and what you need. I'll come back with questions and a quote.

What you need