The Ultimate Guide to Akamas National Park!

The Akamas National Park was one of our favourite places to visit whilst we were in Cyprus. There are so many cool and exciting places to visit within this park.  It is definitely the type of place you can keep returning to and finding new places to explore!

The Akamas Peninsula National Park covers an area of 230 square kilometres on the western tip of Cyprus.  It is just north of Paphos and can be easily reached from Paphos or even from Limassol.

Within Akamas National Park, precious flora and fauna are preserved and protected.  We are told that it is home to 168 varieties of birds, 20 types of reptiles, 16 butterfly species and 12 different mammals!

As well as nature, it is also home to some incredibly beautiful bays, gorges and beaches.  The highlight for me has to be the incredible crystal clear waters that surround the coast here. I have never seen water like it! 

As there are so many things to do in Akamas National Park, I have put this blog together to help you decide what to see first.  Let’s take a look!

Things to do in Akamas National Park

There is so much to do in Akamas National Park!  So much in fact that is probably not possible to do it all in one visit!  I have picked out my favourite activities and spots in Akamas National Park.  

If you’re staying in Paphos or Peyia, and are looking for things to do in Paphos, a day trip to the Akamas National Park is a must. It’s also around a 60-90 minute drive from Limassol and should not be missed.

Hopefully, this will help you plan your first visit to the Park.  It may not be your last!

Blue Lagoon Akamas

The Blue Lagoon in Ayia Napa may be more famous but having visited both, Blue Lagoon Akamas is definitely the best!

If you are entering overland, Blue Lagoon Akamas is one of the first places you come to when you are exploring Akamas National Park.  Equally, you can visit Blue Lagoon Akamas by boat.  I talk more about Latchi boat trips to the Blue Lagoon later in the blog!

The Blue Lagoon Akamas has some of the clearest water I have seen anywhere in the world!  It is a small bay within Akamas National Park.  There is a very small shingle/stony beach.  Then you are met with incredibly blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. 

During the middle of the day, there are a number of Latchi boat trips on the water.  However, if you arrive overland, earlier or later in the day you may get the lagoon to yourself!

The beach is small but not often very busy so there is enough space for you to leave your stuff.  It isn’t really the type of place to sunbathe on the beach.  So once you have cooled off in the blue waters, it is time to explore some more!

Lara Beach

Lara beach is on the opposite coast of Akamas National Park.  As a result, it is one of the more remote attractions within Akamas. 

However, for those adventurous enough, it is well worth the visit!

Lara beach is a soft sand beach with beautiful blue waters.  Due to its location, it is not commercialised.  You are likely to have the beach to yourself at times!

This beautiful beach is also home to the Akamas Peninsula turtles!  This is due to its soft sandy beach and the horseshoe bay which protects it from the sea.  It is a protected breeding ground for Loggerhead and Green Turtles.  If you arrive during May and August, you may be lucky enough to see some! 

If you don’t see the turtles, you will see an incredible and remote beach.  Picture worthy and worth the effort to get here!

Akamas National Park Viewpoint

For some of the most incredible views on the entire island, head up to Akamas National Park viewpoint.

It is not an officially marked viewpoint per se.  Nothing in Akamas National Park is signposted.  But it is one of the highest points in the Park.  As a result, the views are spectacular!

I talk about getting around Akamas National Park below.  It is not on the bus/jeep route so you will either have to walk or take a quad bike.

It is, as you can imagine, quite a climb up!  If you are going to walk then set off early in the morning or late at night to miss the hottest part of the day. 

Alternatively, hire a quadbike and power your way up the steep tracks.  It is not easy, with lots of loose rocks to bounce over but the quads will get up.

Once you reach the top, you get to see these amazing views over the whole of the Akamas Peninsula.  Again, there are no signposts so take a map and plenty of water!

Baths of Aphrodite

The Baths of Aphrodite are one of the most popular attractions in Cyprus.  Given its important links to the Greek goddess of love and beauty, it is no surprise!

The Baths of Aphrodite are also a good starting point for exploring Akamas National Park.  The Baths are located on the edge of the National Park.  There is a paved road from Latchi the tourist information point. 

At the information point, you will find the Baths of Aphrodite.  It is also the end of the paved roads into Akamas Park and the departure point for the bus/jeep into the Park.  So it is very likely you will pass the Baths of Aphrodite if you head to Akamas.

Inside the Baths of Aphrodite, you will come across a small waterfall-like bath.  Water flows into a small pool of around 5 metres in diameter and 1 metre in depth.  The baths are surrounded by wildflowers and trees which keep the Baths cool. 

Entry is free and it is an interesting place to visit.  It is not, for me, a highlight of a trip to Akamas National Park.  There are more impressive attractions in Cyprus.  But it is highly likely you will pass the Baths anyway, so it is worth a quick visit.

Fontana Amoroza

Fontana Amoroza is a beautiful remote beach within the National Park.  If you decide to take the bus/jeep into the National Park then this is the stop after the Blue Lagoon Akamas.

It is a popular stop because it can be reached by bus/jeep which runs from the Baths of Aphrodite to Fontana Amoroza via the Blue Lagoon. 

As this suggests, it is not far at all from the Blue Lagoon and is known as the spring of love.  It is, as you may have guessed, associated with Aphrodite. 

The waters are crystal clear and the bottom of the sea is sandy.  It is not your classic sand beach as it is more rugged and wild than that.  But it is a nice place to stop off after Blue Lagoon Akamas before catching the jeep/bus back to the start of the loop.

Avakas Gorge

Avakas Gorge is an impressive gorge carved into the rock within Akamas National Park. 

It is fairly remote as it is located on the western tip of Akamas.  It is not reached by bus/jeep trips into the National Park so through the park it is really only accessible by quadbike.  Alternatively, you can drive to Avakas Gorge, but it is along dirt roads so a 4×4 is advisable.      

It is approximately 2.5 kilometres long and up to 260 feet at its highest.  At its narrowest, it is only 10 feet wide!  This makes for a really impressive sight as you are walking through the gorge. 

It is an impressive natural formation and a great place to visit.  As it is more remote, it is usually not too busy either.  Inside the gorge, you can find mountain goats as well as rare reptiles and plants.

A more remote part of the Park but definitely worth a trip if you can get there.  Take plenty of water and walking shoes!

Getting to Akamas National Park

I would suggest that the Baths of Aphrodite, or the tourist information point, which is outside the Baths, is the best place to start your trip to Akamas National Park.

This is also the point at which the paved roads end.  So the only vehicles which can access the Park from here are jeeps and quad bikes. 

How to get to Akamas by Car

The easiest way to get to Akamas National Park is by car.  Head to the tourist information point which is also at the entrance to the Baths of Aphrodite.  There is parking by the Baths.

How to get to Akamas by Bus

There is a local bus which runs from the nearby town of Polis to the tourist information point.  This is bus route 622 which starts at Polis Bus Station.  

The bus runs hourly every day between 6 am and 6 pm.  It will take around 30 minutes from Polis to the information point.

To reach the bus station in Polis, you can catch buses from Paphos or Coral Bay.  Polis is around 40km from Paphos.         

From Paphos city centre take bus 645 or 641.  From Coral Bay, take bus 648.  Head to Cyprus by Bus for full information about the buses. 

Getting around Akamas National Park

Once you reach the tourist information point or the Baths of Aphrodite, you can head into the Park along the dirt tracks.

There are four main ways to get around the Park from here.

Exploring on Foot

This is the easiest route, at least in terms of preparation!  From the tourist information point, you can follow some of the Akamas national park trails.  More information on these is on Choose Your Cyprus.  

It is around 1 hour from the information point to Blue Lagoon Akamas.  It can be very hot and there is not a lot of shade so make sure you take plenty of water.  You can also pick up an Akamas National Park map from the tourist information point which I would recommend. 

Alternatively view the Akamas Peninsula map here. 

If you are a serious hiker, then you could arrive earlier or later in the day to walk up to the viewpoint at the top.  Make sure you scout out the route beforehand and take plenty of supplies!

Bus/Jeep

There is a public jeep that runs from the tourist information point into the Park.  It runs fairly regularly during the day and does a loop from the information point to Blue Lagoon, then to Fontana Amoroza before heading back. 

The timetable is set out at the information point.  It usually runs from 10.30 am with the last trip back at 5 pm.

Quadbikes!

My favourite way of exploring Akamas National Park is by quadbike!

These can be hired at the Park but I would suggest hiring these in the nearby town of Latchi at Cyprus Rent a Car.

Here you can park your own car and jump on a quadbike.  After a quick overview of the controls, you can take the quad on the road up to the information point.

The quads are sturdy and can handle anything inside the park.  The guys at Cyprus Rent a Car will give you a map of the Park so you can find your way around!  They cost around €70 for the day and can seat 2 people. 

If you prefer, you can book a guide with Cyprus Rent a Car to make sure you tick off everything spot on your to-do list!  Get in touch with Cyprus Rent a Car for a quote. 

Jeep Safaris

There are plenty of jeep safaris in Akamas National Park.  These start from around £40 per person for a day safari.

There are lots of different options depending on what you want to see.  We didn’t take a safari when we visited but we have heard good things about them.  They are small group sizes and you can arrange to be collected from your hotel.

If you want to find out more, have a look at some of the offerings on Viator such as this safari which takes in Avakas Gorge and Lara Beach.

Latchi Boat Trips

If you prefer to explore Akamas National Park from the sea then grab one of the Latchi boat trips.

Latchi is a town close to the National Park with a beautiful harbour and plenty of places to park and eat.  Book a cruise from here and it will take you out to Blue Lagoon Akamas.

Latchi boat trips cost around £15-£20 and include drinks and snacks.  You will anchor off shore at Blue Lagoon Akamas and have around an hour to swim and enjoy the lagoon.

Check out the various Latchi boat trips on Viator such as this one.  Alternatively, turn up at the harbour and book the next available tour.  I would recommend booking ahead in the summer months.

Go and Explore!

So there you have it!  My quick guide to Akamas National Park.  As you can see, there are a lot of things to do in the Park.  My advice would be to pick a couple of main attractions and then decide how you are going to get around. 

If you are heading around on quadbikes then you have the freedom to explore on your own.  That said, there are no signs within the Park so you may prefer to take a tour and ensure you make it to those must-see spots!

If you have any queries at all about a visit to Akamas National Park then leave me a comment.  Or message me on social media and I will be more than happy to help!

If you are planning a trip to Cyprus this summer then check out my other blogs below!

Have a great trip!

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