Natural attractions on the island of Cyprus

The beautiful island of Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, southeast of Greece and south of Turkey. The island enjoys a temperate climate and has a rich natural heritage.

The following are just a few of the many natural attractions that visitors can explore during their Cyprus holidays.

Beaches

Cyprus offers a variety of different beaches to suit all tastes. These include golden, white and dark sand beaches, pebble and rocky beaches, secluded green or desert environments, lagoon-style to rough water; This list goes on and on. All the beaches are very clean, more than 50 have been awarded the Blue Flag. More than 30 of the islands’ beaches have facilities for disabled visitors.

Ayia Napa Nissi Beach, Protaras Bay Beach and Konnos Beach in the east have soft golden sands and calm, clear waters, while Larnaca’s beaches have much darker sands. Limassol’s beaches have many hotels right on the coast, while Pissouri has high cliffs on both sides of the bay. The beaches in Paphos are similar to those found in Limassol, but if you are looking for more secluded beaches, you should go to Latchi or Polis. For complete seclusion, the Lara coast, west of the Akamas Peninsula, will give you the complete solitude you are looking for! Some of the beaches east of Limassol are quite amazing with a combination of white rock and dark sand. Note that on the west coast, north of Paphos, the sea tends to be much rougher than in other parts of the island.

To the west of Paphos in Ayia Napa and Cape Greko there are some very interesting sea caves with great surroundings to explore. It should be noted that if you enter the caves, you should make sure not to disturb bats and other animals that use the caves for shelter.

Walks and Hikes

Walkers and hikers are spoiled for choice in Cyprus. The Troodos Mountains and Paphos Forest offer many walks in lush green surroundings including the Platy Valley, Cedar Valley and The Caledonia Waterfalls. The Akamas peninsula offers the perfect setting for walking along the coast in the northwest of the island. Between Ayia Napa and Protaras is Cape Greko Park which, although quite small, is ideal for the whole family to explore. While hiking through the Troodos Mountains, you will come across some interesting Venetian (man-made) bridges, small waterfalls (the best ones are in the Platres area) and ancient trees. Around 30 of these trees have been declared “natural monuments” and they are all over 100 years old and some over 1000 years old.

Dams and Lakes

Many visitors to Cyprus do not realize that the island has many wetlands and dams. Many of the wetlands attract avid bird watchers, while the dams attract fishermen. The most important wetlands are located in Akrotiri and Larnaca, and some of the most interesting dams are the Lefkara Dam, the Evretou Dam, and the Xyliatos Dam.

Many walkers find the summer heat too hot for anything too strenuous and prefer to visit the island in early spring when the mountains are green and verdant with fruit trees in full bloom. Temperatures in the spring are in the 20s with lots of sunshine, perfect for discovering Cyprus on foot. There are always plenty of last minute Cyprus tours on the internet, perfect for discovering the natural wonders of the island.