THE AKAMAS PENINSULA CYPRUS

EXPERIENCE THE OUTSTANDING BEAUTY OF THE AKAMAS PENINSULA

One of the most breathtaking and unspoilt areas of Cyprus is the Akamas Peninsula, covering some 230 km2 and situated in the north-west of the island, at the meeting point of three continents; Europe, Asia and Africa.

It's not far from Paphos and Polis but whichever part of Cyprus you're visiting the Akamas Peninsula is something you must see. Its scenic beauty is unmatched and it has rugged coastlines, sandy bays and brilliant turquoise waters.

You can either hike or bike around the area, following a network of trails organised by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, or you can bump along in a four-wheel drive vehicle or, best of all, do it the easy way and sail the dramatic Akamas coastline in a tour boat that leaves from Latchi.

The Akamas Peninsula is a unique area and one that conservationists are keen to keep that way. It's fairly large and enjoys a diverse mix of wildlife, geology, unparalleled landscapes and traditional villages which make it a joy for nature lovers, walkers and birdwatchers alike.

The best times to visit Akamas are during spring or autumn. It's far cooler then and you will be able to see hundreds of birds migrating between Europe, Asia and Africa. The area is also at the crossroads of three major flora zones and so is home to many rare plants which you can only see in Cyprus, one of the most famous being the Cyprus orchid. There are 45 species of orchid on the island including some that can only be found in the Akamas area.

Hiking Tours of the Akamas

One of the most popular ways to see this region is to go on one of the organised hiking trails of the region. Full details are available from the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (www.visitcyprus.com) which also provides a booklet entitled Nature Trails of the Akamas which tells you about all the flora and fauna along the way.

The most walked trails are the ones that start and end at the Baths of Aphrodite and which take the names of the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite and appropriately, that of her lover, Adonis. The Aphrodite and Adonis Trails both take around 3 hours and follow a 7.5km circular route.

Other slightly shorter trails are the Smigies Trail which begins at the Smigies Picnic area, near Neo Chorio. There are two versions of this trail, one which is about 5km and takes around 2 hours and the shorter 2.5km route which takes around an hour.

There's also he Pissouromouttis Trail, which leaves from the same point, is 3km and takes 1.5 hours and finally the Kathika Trail towards Peyia which takes about an hour.