Akamas, Adonis Waterfalls and Blue Lagoon Jeep Tour Paphos

Avakas Gorge

Avakas Gorge is the most dramatic natural site on the Akamas coast: a narrow canyon cut by a seasonal stream through limestone, with walls rising tens of metres above a rocky path. In the lower section it is wide and shaded by fig and plane trees; further in, the walls close in until you walk through a slot barely a few metres across, with cool air even in summer.

On this Avakas Gorge tour you spend about fifty minutes on the trail, enough to reach the narrowest and most impressive part and walk back at an easy pace. The path is uneven and crosses the stream bed, so hiking shoes or closed-toe shoes are essential, and the guide sets the pace for the group. Spring and autumn are the best time to visit Avakas Gorge, when the stream may still run and the heat is gentle.

Lara Turtle Bay

North of Avakas, the coast opens into the long sandy beaches of Lara, one of the most important nesting grounds for green and loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean. The area is protected, and between late spring and late summer female turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs, while conservation teams mark and guard the nests.

The tour stops here for ten to fifteen minutes, so you can walk to the edge of the bay, look over the untouched shoreline and hear from the guide how the turtles are protected. It is a viewpoint stop rather than a swim. After Lara the jeep turns inland across the Akamas forest, on tracks that only four-wheel-drive vehicles can manage, passing banana plantations with a short photo stop on the way.

Blue Lagoon of Akamas

The Blue Lagoon sits at the northern tip of the Akamas Peninsula, a sheltered cove where a pale sandy seabed and a small offshore islet turn the water an intense turquoise. There is no road for regular cars along the final stretch, which is why most people reach it by boat or by jeep, and why it remains one of the most beautiful swimming spots in Cyprus.

This is the swim stop of the day. You can dive in from the shore, float in the calm water or snorkel among small fish around the rocks if you bring your own mask. The guide gives the group time to relax before the drive back over the tracks. Bring swimwear, a towel and water shoes if you have them, and keep some food and water with you, as there are no shops at the lagoon.

Baths of Aphrodite

On the edge of the Akamas, near the fishing harbour of Latchi, a shaded path leads to the Baths of Aphrodite, a small natural grotto where spring water drips into a pool framed by fig trees and ferns. Local legend says the goddess of love bathed here, and the spot has drawn visitors for generations because of the story and its cool green setting.

The tour visits the grotto and its surrounding botanical garden, where labelled plants of the Akamas grow along easy footpaths. Swimming in the pool itself is not allowed, so this is a stop for walking, photos and the views over the sea from the nearby coast. The area is a good place to understand how rich the plant life of the peninsula is before the final stop at the waterfalls.

Adonis Baths Waterfalls

Inland from Coral Bay, in a green valley above the village of Kissonerga, a stream drops over rock ledges into a series of natural pools known as the Adonis Baths. The main waterfall falls about ten metres into a deep green pool, surrounded by trees and boulders, and myth links the spot to the love story of Adonis and Aphrodite.

Entrance to the Adonis Baths is included in this tour, so you simply follow the guide down to the pools. You can swim in the fresh water, sit by the falls or take photos of the cascades; the water is noticeably cooler than the sea and very refreshing after a day outdoors. The rocks can be slippery, so take care at the edges. From here it is a short drive back to Paphos or Coral Bay.