The Akamas peninsula is found on the west side of the island, covering around 230 square kilometres of untouched nature. It is a thick wooded headland divided in two by a mountain range. It is not easily accessible — and it is the only area in Cyprus that remains untouched.
The name Akamas comes from the son of Theseus, a hero of the Trojan war. Before 2000 the peninsula was used by the British Army and Navy for military exercises: under the 1960 treaty they were allowed the area for up to 70 days a year. That stopped after 2000.
Fauna, flora and coast
The peninsula has unique fauna and flora and many endemic plants growing naturally. Reptiles, foxes, fruit bats, lizards, snakes, hedgehogs and many bird species call this place home, and all of it plays a role in the habitats around the area.
Then there is the coast: Lara bay and the Blue Lagoon, mountain peaks for hiking, valleys to explore and sea caves to see from the water. Avakas Gorge is another well-known natural gorge here that many people come to walk.
Akamas is the last large unspoiled coastal area of Cyprus and part of the Natura 2000 network. Since 2017 there have been many fires on the peninsula — deliberately lit — destroying natural beauty and habitat. The government is working towards making the area a National Forest so that it is protected.
Getting around it
You can visit by jeep, quad bike, any car that can go off-road, and of course by boat. Many excursions run mini cruises and jeep trips, giving you a taste of the peninsula from land or water. Lara Beach, within the peninsula, is an essential breeding ground for green and hawksbill turtles — both endangered — where hatchlings are helped into the wild.
The Baths of Aphrodite are also on the Akamas, which most visitors do not realise. When you go, pack sunscreen, water and lunch so you can spend the whole day, wear comfortable shoes if you are going by land, and dress appropriately for a boat. You will be amazed how untouched everything is — so please leave it exactly as you found it.
- Size
- Around 230 square kilometres
- The name
- From Akamas, son of Theseus, a hero of the Trojan war
- Protection
- Part of the Natura 2000 network
- History
- Used by the British Army and Navy for exercises until 2000
- Wildlife
- Endemic plants, reptiles, foxes, fruit bats, many bird species
- Turtles
- Lara beach is a green and hawksbill turtle breeding ground
- Access
- Jeep, quad, off-road car or boat; excursions run by land and sea
- Take with you
- Sunscreen, water, lunch and comfortable shoes
More sightseeing around Paphos
Avakas Gorge
A 3km limestone canyon on the edge of the Akamas — two to three hours on foot, best in spring and autumn.
Lara Beach
Turtle bay in the Akamas — no facilities, a rough track in, and nesting loggerheads.
Baths of Aphrodite
A natural grotto on the east side of the Akamas where legend puts the goddess bathing.
Tombs of the Kings
A Hellenistic necropolis cut into solid rock, with underground peristyle atriums — and, despite the name, no kings.