Cyprus: an island made for beauty
Cyprus, the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, is attractive not only because of its history but also of its pristine beaches with turquoise sea and white sand. During the summer months, the sea temperature reaches 29 degrees, making it clearly close to the Caribbean islands.
Aphrodite is the main protector of the island, and it is said that it was here that she was born from sea foam after a severed limb of the god Uranus fell into the sea near Paphos. Aphrodite is still commemorated here today, and Cyprus exemplifies the values with which the goddess herself was associated. Beauty is the word that best describes the island. Aside from the beaches, you can observe beauty at one of the many archaeological sites, the Byzantine churches, or on the hiking trails that take you through the changing natural scenery.
In recent years, a large number of resorts have been built here, but you can still find nooks and crannies where you won’t meet a human being and you’ll be kept company by various animals.
Which part of Cyprus to visit
The advantage of the island is that
each part offers a mix of beaches and sights. Historical and cultural heritage
can be found everywhere and so it doesn’t matter whether you head to Paphos, Larnaca or Turkey
northern part. Each has its own unique charm and it’s difficult to determine which is
better. I guess it also depends on preference. A different perspective is if you go to
Cyprus for the beaches.
The best hotel resorts can be found in the Turkish part. The public beaches in the north are almost completely empty. At Alagadi Turtle Beach, we were almost alone, and we were lucky to see a baby turtle. Girne town will charm you not only with its fortress and atmosphere but also with the monastery on the hill, which offers a panoramic view of the sea. In addition, you can visit the ghost town, Famagusta.
Protaras and Ayia Napa in the southeast of the island offer a beautiful turquoise sea and white sand. However, the price you pay for this paradise is the masses of people you’ll be sharing the beach with. Although the beaches are not reserved for hotels, they are frequented by travellers who want to spend a day or more on the island’s most famous beaches.
Nissi Beach is beautiful, but you have to get up and arrive early in the morning. Makronisos Beach and Fig Tree Bay are similar. Yes, they are beautiful and definitely a must-visit if you don’t mind lots of people. These locations are also the most expensive in terms of restaurants and shops. Still, you can find secluded hidden coves, like Konnos Beach, where we swam with turtles, or the incredible Παραλία Βυζακιά Beach.
In the western Greek part of the island, the Akamas National Park attracts visitors with its beautiful beaches. However, access to them is not via normal roads, so you can only explore them by quad bike or boat. Canyon Beach, near the Blue Lagoon, was one of the most beautiful we visited and reminded us very much of Crete’s Seitan Limani.
Avakas Canyon definitely deserves your attention. Further down, you’ll find the beautiful White River Beach, where there are thousands of stone towers, as well as the turtle beach of Lara Beach.
Nicosia - underated city
Only a fraction of visitors head to the Cypriot capital, which is a pity. The city pulses with a vibrant atmosphere, rich history, great gastronomy and friendly people. It’s divided into Turkish and Greek sections, and if you have your passport with you, you can walk between the two via a crossing right in the centre of town. Cats can also pass through without papers 😊. They were showing us in a big way how it’s done.
You can also find the largest museum of the island’s history in Nicosia. Surprisingly, it is free and offers many artifacts we have never seen before.
Cyprus is the home of the kareta kareta turtle
Cyprus is an important breeding ground for these rare creatures, and its beaches are a critical egg-laying ground. In August, when we visited Cyprus, you can encounter small, freshly hatched individuals as well as ‘pubescent’ turtles, which are no longer small but have not yet reached adult size.
Unlike Zakynthos, where you can find karetas almost exclusively on Laganas Beach, in Cyprus, you will find them all over the island. In the west, Lara Beach is an important egg-laying site, which is only accessible by boat, quad bikes or an approximately 1.5-hour trek. Don’t be fooled by Google Maps; the roads it shows are rough and impassable for a regular car.
Most easily found on Konnos Beach
In the north, the best place to see turtles is the aforementioned Alagadi Turtle Beach, which is very isolated from hotels and tourist traffic. Although there is a direct road leading to it by car, you will meet only a minimum of people here.
On the east of the island, just off Protaras, is Turtle Bay, where large boats with tourists head to see the turtles. However, they are usually scared of boats, and if you want to swim with them or pet them, head here yourself. You can reach the beach by car, from where you’ll have a 5-minute walk. We met a few turtles there, which we petted, and laughed as they made room among the smaller fish.
Cyprus - Europe or Asia?
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, geographically part of Asia but politically part of Europe. Greek and Turkish influences mix on the island, creating a unique fusion of the two cultures. This is most evident in the number of cats and dogs on the streets, just waiting to be petted. Also, in the mix of Christian monasteries and mosques standing side by side, or in the mix of gastronomy. Our kids were disappointed that gyros pita in Cyprus is different than in Greece 😊, but the variety of grilled meats, vegetables and fish, combined with traditional hummus or tzatziki, made for a great gastronomic experience.
At a height of 1 952 metres above sea level, Mount Olympus in the Troodos Mountains is the highest peak. There are ski slopes in winter and pleasant hiking trails in summer,
How to get around the island?
On the island, driving on the left can be a challenge. Fortunately, traffic is light, and you just have to follow the rule that the steering wheel must be in the middle of the road. The first roundabout can be a bit of a struggle, but you’ll get used to it after that. We already had experience driving on the left, so we didn’t find it challenging at all, but we remember what it was like the first time 😊. If you plan to visit only the main places, you don’t need a car. Buses connect all the main sights with the big cities like Paphos or Larnaca, sometimes you will have to change buses. Tickets are cheap and buses run frequently.
But if you’re looking to escape the crowds, a car will be your best companion. It will help you escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy peace of mind. Cyprus offers plenty of car rental services, and a car cost us €24 per day in the high season.
How many days do you need for Cyprus?
For a long time, I considered Cyprus an overrated place with nothing to offer us. I thought we would go for 3-4 days to see Aphrodite’s Rock and the most famous places. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I’m glad I ended up buying flights for the whole 10 days, and even that wasn’t enough. It’s a beautiful, magical island, and you need at least 9-10 days if you want to see it all and enjoy it. From my point of view, 12 days would have been ideal. I’m sorry we missed Golden Beach on the Turkish part, and the Troodos area would have deserved an extra day as well. There, we just did a quick tour of Olympus and Caledonian Waterfall and missed the hiking trails and painted churches.
