Lara Beach

Lara beach lies on the west of the island in the Akamas peninsula, in the Paphos district. It is also known as Turtle Bay, because this is where the turtles come to lay their eggs.

Getting there

Take the road from Peyia and make your way to Agios Georgios, then continue on the dirt road — you need a 4x4 for that stretch. The effort is the point: the beach is a protected area, so it is undeveloped and often close to deserted. Sand, clear water, wild goats, birds and turtles.

Many turtles nest here, and the nests are covered with white metal cages so that nobody stands on them accidentally and animals are kept off.

The conservation station

There is a turtle conservation station at Lara, which helps the eggs hatch and sees the young turtles out to sea; it is reached on foot from the parking area. The turtles lay from May to mid-August. Volunteers monitor the females, and in June and July the eggs are collected and moved to the hatchery for protection.

Green and loggerhead turtles both nest here. The station also carries out research alongside the protection work, and a visit shows how much of it there is. Guided tours must be booked; there is no entrance fee.