Cyprus Holiday Apartments

An Advertising Feature

Cyprus has long been a favourite destination for British holidaymakers and travellers with an eye for a bargain can get good value holiday deals virtually all year round.

Most tourists head straight from the airport to the famous resorts of Protaras, Paphos and Larnaca, or the rather more infamous resort of Ayia Napa. They know pretty much what to expect – great weather, a friendly welcome, a vibrant nightlife.

Few, however, will head towards the Akamas Peninsular, situated at the very westernmost point of the island. This isn’t completely surprising. Had you found yourself there anytime before 2000 you’d have risked more than sunburn – the area was used by the British military as a training ground and firing range. But as has been seen in parts of Dorset and Salisbury Plain, long-term military occupation of an area can have a beneficial side effect.

The absence of tourism and associated development means that the Akamas Peninsula is today an area of outstanding natural beauty. The landscape is wild and rugged, with dramatic gorges and stunning, sandy bays. It’s also home to more than 500 plant species, many of which are unique to Cyprus. The diversity of fauna is equally impressive, with a rich variety of birds, reptiles and mammals.

The beautiful Lara Bay is an important turtle sanctuary and breeding site, being home to the endangered green turtle and hawksbill turtle. Loggerhead turtles can also be seen. Even if you have zero interest in turtles, Lara Bay is that all-too-rare phenomenon – a picture-postcard beach that is almost deserted, even in high season.

The area is rich in mythology, too. Aphrodite is supposed to have met her lover Adonis here. Fontana Amoroza (‘Love’s Spring’) is said to be Aphrodite’s Fountain of Love, although don’t expect anything too magical or romantic. This is despite the local legend, which holds that anyone who drinks from the spring will become ‘overcome with youthful desire’. Nearby there’s Aphrodite’s Rock, where Aphrodite came ashore after her birth. More local legends jostle for credibility: Swim around the rock naked and you’ll either be fertile for life OR you’ll enjoy good luck OR you’ll look ten years younger. Our money’s on none of the above, but you never know.

You can explore the area by car (a 4×4 is crucial) but it’s better for your health, your bank balance and the environment if you book one of the many walking or cycling tours available. You’ll also see much more than you would by car. As a sidenote, there’s a lot of pressure from Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and others for the Akamas Peninsula to be declared a National Park. If they fail, the developers may well move in and the unspoilt beauty of this near-wilderness will be lost forever.

So if you’re holidaying anywhere near Paphos, Pegeia or Polis, why not allocate at least a day to explore the Akamas Peninsular? You’ll be amidst natural beauty, ancient legends and stunning scenery. Not to mention the turtles.