The Chantara waterfall sits near the village of Foini, below Platres in the Troodos mountains, connected to the Dhiarizos river and fed by the Chantara stream. It is one of the quieter places on the island to spend an hour.
The name derives from the Cypriot word for “the noise of water”. The stream falls eight metres over the “gavro”, one of the main rock formations in the area, into a small pool at its base — and you hear it before you see it.
Getting there
Access is easier than the remote setting suggests. A short, easy dirt road runs directly to the site and ends a few metres from the falls, with a good number of parking spaces when you arrive. For those not driving, buses and taxis run from the nearby towns and villages at reasonable rates. A small entrance fee is payable on arrival.
When to come
Spring is the peak season: the snow melts off the surrounding mountains and the flow is at its strongest. Summer works too — the cool mist off the falls is a relief from the heat, even if the water is lower.
Around the falls
The Troodos range is the highest on the island and the villages around the falls are worth the detour for their stone houses and traditional architecture. A network of hiking trails crosses the area with routes for every level of walker. The Troodos Botanical Garden is a short drive away, and Platres itself — narrow streets, cafés, shops and restaurants — is a good place to end the day.
Written for Cyprus Passion by Jonathan Beattie.
More sightseeing around Troodos
Millomeri Waterfall
A tall, narrow fall a short walk from Pano Platres.
Caledonia Waterfall
The best-known waterfall walk in the Troodos, on a shaded trail above Platres.
Platres village
Pine air on the southern slopes of Troodos, waterfalls a short walk away, and cool nights in high summer.
Trooditissa Monastery
A centuries-old pilgrimage monastery high in the pines above Platres.