Blue Lagoon and Caves Wooden Boat Cruise Morning or Sunset Protaras

Famagusta coast and Varosha from the sea

The cruise begins by heading north from Pernera towards Famagusta, where the high-rise hotels of Varosha stand empty along a long sandy beach. In the early 1970s Varosha was the island's most fashionable resort quarter; in 1974 its residents left, and for decades the district stayed fenced off and frozen in time, which is why people still call it the ghost town of Cyprus.

The boat sails as close as the rules allow and pauses for about ten minutes, giving you time for photos while the crew explains the history of the town and of the island's division. It is one of the most talked-about sights on the east coast, and seeing it from the water gives a clear sense of its scale. After this stop the boat turns south along the Protaras shoreline.

Fig Tree Bay and Green Bay

Fig Tree Bay is the best-known beach in Protaras, a curve of golden sand and shallow, clear water with a small rocky islet that strong swimmers can reach from the shore. It takes its name from a fig tree that has grown by the beach for centuries, and it is often listed among the finest beaches in Cyprus.

The boat passes slowly along the bay so you can admire it from the sea, then continues to Green Bay, a small sheltered cove where the water is so still and clear that the seabed seems close enough to touch. Sea turtles are sometimes seen in this area, and the crew points out the spots along the way. These are short scenic passes rather than stops, leading to the first swim at Konnos Bay.

Konnos Bay

Konnos Bay lies inside the Cape Greco National Forest Park, between Protaras and Ayia Napa, a sheltered cove framed by pine-covered slopes and pale cliffs. Its sandy beach is reached on land by a steep road, but from the sea it opens up in full, and the water is famous for its gentle turquoise shades and calm surface, even when the open sea has a breeze.

This is the first swim stop of the cruise, about thirty minutes long. You can jump in from the boat, snorkel along the rocky edges where small fish gather, or stay on deck on a sunbed and enjoy the view. Snorkelling equipment is available on board against a refundable deposit, so you do not need to bring your own. Morning departures usually find Konnos at its calmest and clearest.

Cape Greco: Agioi Anargyroi and the Love Bridge

Cape Greco is the south-eastern tip of Cyprus, a protected headland of limestone cliffs, sea caves and wild scrub. On its edge stands the small white chapel of Agioi Anargyroi, built above a cave chapel that opens towards the sea, and further along the coast the waves have carved the Love Bridge, a natural rock arch that is one of the most photographed spots near Ayia Napa.

From the boat you see both landmarks from below, the angle few visitors on land ever get. The crew slows down for about ten minutes at each, telling the stories of the chapel and the arch while you take photos of the cliffs and the caves beneath them. On the sunset cruise this part of the route is especially beautiful, with the cliffs glowing warm in the low light.

Blue Lagoon at Cape Greco

The Blue Lagoon near Ayia Napa is a shallow stretch of sea along the Cape Greco coast where pale rock and sand under the surface turn the water a brilliant turquoise. It can only be reached comfortably by boat, which makes a Blue Lagoon cruise from Protaras one of the most popular summer activities on the east coast of Cyprus.

The boat anchors here for the second swim stop of about thirty minutes. Swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear water, relax on board, or simply take in the view of the cliffs. Afterwards the boat cruises back along the coast to Golden Coast Harbour, about thirty minutes away. Snacks and drinks are available to buy on board, and the onboard entertainer keeps the atmosphere relaxed and friendly for all ages.