The Akamas jeep safari is the way into the wild north-west corner of Cyprus: a 4×4 climbs rough dirt tracks from Paphos to Avakas Gorge, Lara Bay and the Blue Lagoon. Want a different day out? Compare the tours in Greece we list.
This page covers what the day includes, the off-road tracks, the protected Akamas coast, Avakas Gorge, the turtle beach at Lara Bay, the boat ride to the Blue Lagoon, the Baths of Aphrodite, lunch in the villages, who the trip suits and the season.
What does an Akamas jeep safari with a Blue Lagoon cruise include?
This Akamas jeep safari includes pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in the Paphos area. A Land Rover Jeep drives off-road through the peninsula, and a boat then sails to the Blue Lagoon.
Hilde Jeep Safari runs this day under the name Wheels and Waves. It joins an off-road Land Rover drive with a boat trip. You see the Akamas Peninsula by land and by sea.
The operator says this trip also goes by the names Jeep and Deep, Surf and Turf, and Earth and Water. The listing for this Akamas jeep safari names these inclusions:
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in the Paphos area
- A Land Rover Jeep ride with off-road driving
- Visits to Avakas Gorge, Lara Bay, a viewpoint, the Baths of Aphrodite and traditional villages
- The boat trip to the Blue Lagoon
- Experienced staff on board
- Snorkels, masks and floats
The operator says it is the only land-and-sea tour that takes you to both Avakas Gorge and Lara Bay. That puts the gorge, the turtle beach and the cruise into one day.
The operator’s own page adds a bar, a sun-deck, toilets and a shower on the boat. Drinks and snacks from the bar are not included.
Lunch is not included either. The tour stops at a traditional taverna, and you buy your own meal. In short, the Akamas jeep safari covers the transport, the stops, the boat trip and the snorkel gear.
How does an Akamas jeep safari day run, from hotel pick-up to drop-off?
The Akamas jeep safari day lasts 7.5 hours. A Land Rover Jeep collects you at your accommodation and drives off-road into the Akamas. After lunch in Latchi, a boat takes you to the Blue Lagoon.
The listing shows the starting time of the Akamas jeep safari when you check a date. Pick-up is included, and the listing says to check availability for the details. The first stop is the Sea Caves near Coral Bay. The operator names them Thalassines Spiles. Wind and waves have shaped caves, ledges and small islets along this coast.
Next comes a short walk through Avakas Gorge. Then the Jeep drives off-road to the Lara Bay Turtle Conservation Area and climbs to a viewpoint over the peninsula. The operator calls it one of the highest points in the region. On clear days the view stretches across Chrysochou Bay as far as the Troodos Mountains.
The next stop is the Baths of Aphrodite. Legend says the goddess of love bathed there. Before the boat, you break for lunch at a restaurant on the beach in Latchi. The listing gives 15 minutes at the Baths and 50 minutes for lunch. You board the boat at Latchi harbour.
In the afternoon, the boat cruises along the Akamas coast for about 2.5 hours. You pass cliffs and sea caves and reach the Blue Lagoon. There is time to swim, snorkel or relax on board. This is the water half of the Akamas jeep safari.
After the cruise, the Jeep takes you back through the traditional wine villages of the Paphos region. Then comes drop-off at your accommodation, and the Akamas jeep safari day ends. The listing marks the itinerary as for reference only, so the order and timing can change.
Which off-road tracks does the Akamas jeep safari follow across the peninsula?
The Akamas jeep safari follows rough off-road tracks, because no road runs through the heartland of this wild peninsula. On this tour a Land Rover drives off-road to remote Lara Bay, then climbs to a viewpoint.
Wikipedia notes that not every road marked on Cypriot maps of the area is sealed. One travel site says rough tracks lead into the interior and reach the northern coast. Standard hire cars are not insured on them, because the limestone surface destroys tyres. An Akamas jeep safari puts a driver and a 4×4 on this ground.
This Akamas jeep safari starts at the sea caves near Coral Bay. The coast there is shaped by centuries of wind and waves. Later the jeep climbs higher into the Akamas region to a panoramic viewpoint. On a clear day the view crosses Chrysochou Bay and reaches the Troodos Mountains. Expect off-road driving on the way.
You can hire a proper 4×4 and drive the tracks yourself. It needs ground clearance and low-range gearing, so an ordinary SUV will not do. The same site says mobile signal is absent in the interior. It also lists sharp limestone shards and steep descents. On an Akamas jeep safari the driver handles the terrain.
In the afternoon the route reaches the Latchi area, and a boat takes over from the jeep. Latchi is a small fishing village in the municipality of Polis, the town on the northeast side of the peninsula. Small cruises to Akamas depart from Latchi. The Akamas jeep safari with a cruise joins rough tracks and open sea in one day.
What makes the Akamas Peninsula a protected wild corner of Cyprus?
The Akamas Peninsula is a protected wild corner of Cyprus, with no road across its heartland. The Natura network of the European Union protects its turtle beaches and its birds. An Akamas jeep safari crosses this protected land.
The peninsula sits at the north-west end of Cyprus and covers 230 square kilometres. Ptolemy described it as a thickly wooded headland. The British Army used it for exercises and as a firing range until the turn of the century. One tour listing for an Akamas jeep safari calls it the last undeveloped coastal frontier of Cyprus.
To prepare for joining the European Union, the larger part of the peninsula was proposed for protection. Two turtle-nesting beaches became Sites of Community Importance in the Natura network. The Polis-Gialia area became a Special Area of Conservation. The peninsula itself became a Special Protection Area for birds. Later the government designated only half of the land first proposed.
Tourist development and a planned motorway between Polis and Paphos threaten the area. Groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are taking action to protect it. Wikipedia says visitors here seek culture, biodiversity and hiking more than sun, sea and sand. An Akamas jeep safari visits a place that people are still working to protect.
Because the area is relatively hard to reach, it keeps a wide diversity of plants and animals. The European Environment Agency counts it among only 22 areas of endemism in Europe. Thirty-nine of the 128 endemic plant species of Cyprus grow here. An Akamas jeep safari shares the land with foxes, hedgehogs, fruit bats, griffon vultures and Cyprus scops owls.
What do you see at Avakas Gorge on an Akamas jeep safari?
The Avakas Gorge is the walking stop of an Akamas jeep safari. You leave the jeep for a limestone canyon. Its walls rise about 30 metres, and fresh springs and rich plant life line the path.
Operators describe the walk in simple terms. One calls it an easy walk to see the flora and fauna of the gorge. On the tour that ends with a Blue Lagoon cruise, the walk is short and led by the tour leader. That listing names towering limestone walls, rock formations and plant life.
Wikipedia describes the same canyon. Its high, sheer cliffs come closer together until they meet. That leaves a tunnel formation in the rock, and a stream runs through it. On an Akamas jeep safari with another operator, the group stops for a walk deeper inside.
One travel site puts the gorge walk on an Akamas jeep safari at 30 to 45 minutes. One operator advises shoes or sandals that hold the foot well, so wear a pair that grips.
The gorge is not always open. One operator warns that it can be closed in winter after heavy rain, for safety. The tour keeps the same length on those days, because the tour leaders add extra stops. Ask your Akamas jeep safari operator about it in the cold months.
Why is Lara Bay known as a turtle nesting beach?
Lara Bay is a turtle nesting beach because green turtles and loggerheads lay their eggs there. A hatchery protects the eggs, and an Akamas jeep safari that stops here visits a protected nesting shore.
The drive to the bay is part of an Akamas jeep safari. On the tour with the Blue Lagoon cruise, the jeep goes off-road to the remote Lara Bay Turtle Conservation Area. An operator whose tour starts in Limassol adds one fact. Cyprus was among the first Mediterranean governments to protect the turtles and their nesting beaches.
Two turtle species breed on the beaches of Cyprus, the green turtle and the loggerhead. Sea turtles and their eggs have been protected by law for more than fifty years. The nesting season runs from late spring to the end of September. One operator says hatchings fall between June and September.
The Cyprus government set up its first turtle station in the Lara area more than forty years ago. Its Marine Turtle Conservation Project guards nesting beaches, eggs and hatchlings, and it counts turtles and nests. An Akamas jeep safari stop here lets you learn about that work.
Rules keep the shore quiet. From 1 June to 30 September, the Lara and Toxeftra shore bans camping, umbrellas, sunbeds and people at night. The rules also ban boats entering or anchoring, and fishing except with a rod and line. Driving on the beaches is banned all year.
The turtles follow a simple routine. A female green turtle comes up the beach at night and digs a hole above the high-tide line. She lays 85 to 200 eggs, covers the nest and returns to the sea. The eggs hatch after around 50 to 70 days, at night, and the hatchlings head straight for the water.
The bay is a nature conservation area. One operator says that with luck you see turtles there, and that good weather allows a swim at the stop. Bring swimwear and a towel on that Akamas jeep safari.
How does the boat trip from Latchi to the Blue Lagoon work?
An Akamas jeep safari with a cruise swaps the jeep for a boat at Latchi. The boat sails along the Akamas coast to the Blue Lagoon. The trip takes about 2.5 hours, with swimming and snorkelling built into that time.
The boat is the afternoon part of the day that the operator calls Wheels and Waves. Before it, the tour stops for lunch at a local restaurant on the beach in Latchi. The itinerary sets 50 minutes for that break, and the boat on this Akamas jeep safari leaves after it.
Latchi is the departure point. It is a small fishing village in Polis municipality, close to the Akamas Peninsula National Park and the Blue Lagoon. Small cruises to Akamas leave from there. The marina accommodates 220 pleasure boats.
Latchi is also the closest departure point to the lagoon, at around 30 minutes by boat. Boats from Paphos harbour need 1.5 to 2 hours each way. This Akamas jeep safari boards at Latchi harbour.
On an Akamas jeep safari the boat matters, because the lagoon has no beach bars, sunbed rentals or toilets. Your boat has a bar, toilets and a shower, a sun-deck and experienced staff. Drinks and snacks at the bar are not included. On the way you pass rugged cliffs and sea caves along the Akamas coast.
What is the swim stop at the Akamas Blue Lagoon like?
The swim stop is a sheltered bay on the Akamas coast where the boat holds its position at anchor. On an Akamas jeep safari with a cruise, you swim, snorkel or relax on board, and the water is clear.
The colour is the first thing you notice on an Akamas jeep safari. It looks strongest in high sun, from late morning to early afternoon. The sun angle shifts the water between vivid turquoise and deep cobalt. Against the cliffs and scrub around the bay, the colour stands out. The tour listing calls these waters “50 Shades of Blue”.
Passengers swim off the stern or bow of the anchored boat. Near the shore the lagoon is shallow, and past the shelf the water deepens quickly. The current is gentle. Swimmers on an Akamas jeep safari can ask the staff about the depth. One travel site lists a clear water-safety briefing as a sign of a good operator.
The same travel site puts visibility in the lagoon at 10 to 15 metres. It tells swimmers to confirm that snorkelling gear is included. On this tour the listing includes snorkels, masks and floats. A first-time snorkeller on an Akamas jeep safari can start at once. The shoreline is not groomed.
The swim sits inside the 2.5-hour cruise, and the listing gives no separate swim time. Other boat tours from Latchi also moor in the bay. In July and August dozens of boats arrive together. Even then, the lagoon is large enough for a quiet corner of water. Ask the staff how long your Akamas jeep safari swim lasts.
What is the story of the Baths of Aphrodite near Latchi?
Legend says the goddess Aphrodite bathed in a spring shaded by an old fig tree. There she met her lover Adonis, who stopped for a drink while hunting. Operators list this grotto as a stop on the Akamas jeep safari near Latchi.
The Cyprus tourism website tells the tale behind this Akamas jeep safari stop. Aphrodite used to bathe in these waters. Adonis drank from the spring after a hunt and fell in love with her at once. Wikipedia places their meeting on the Akamas in Greek mythology.
It also names a second spring near Polis, the Fontana Amorosa, said to be her Fountain of Love. Anyone who drinks from it is said to be overcome with youthful desire.
The natural grotto and its botanical garden lie past the fishing harbour of Latchi, towards the tip of the peninsula. The site belongs to the Aphrodite Cultural Route. Marked walking trails of the Akamas also start here.
On an Akamas jeep safari the stop is short. One jeep and cruise listing calls the place a tranquil grotto among lush greenery and gives it 15 minutes. A coastal Land Rover listing gives it 20 minutes.
Operators lean on the legend. Stevie’s Taxi and Jeep Safaris invites travellers to splash the water on their face for eternal youth and beauty. Another listing says the waters are rumoured to have rejuvenating qualities. The Akamas jeep safari doubles as a short myth lesson.
Which villages and tavernas break up an Akamas jeep safari for lunch?
Latchi is the lunch stop on three listings for an Akamas jeep safari. The meal comes at a taverna or a beach restaurant by the sea. Other routes name a family restaurant with a sea view or a forest barbecue.
Latchi is a small fishing village with a marina and fresh seafood tavernas. It was once a port that exported carobs, and the old stone carob warehouses are now restaurants and fish taverns. Stevie’s lists a traditional Cyprus meze lunch here.
The Hilde jeep and cruise day stops at a beach restaurant in the Latchi area before the afternoon boat. The Land Rover coastal listing gives one hour at a traditional taverna.
Both Hilde listings say lunch is not included, so travellers order their own meal. The Akamas jeep safari of Stevie’s marks its meze lunch as optional too.
Other operators choose other places. A Limassol-based day lists a Cypriot family restaurant with a sea view, after the Baths of Aphrodite. A Hungarian-language tour names a special taverna, then a village stop for strong Cypriot coffee or Zivania, the local spirit. One more listing ends the day in a village with a traditional coffee shop.
Inland choices exist on the full-day Akamas jeep safari. One Cyprus travel site lists a wine village or Kathikas lunch on the longer route. Kathikas sits on a plateau 23 kilometres north of Paphos, at 655 metres.
The Hilde barbecue day is the Akamas jeep safari that cooks souvla instead. It happens at the Smygies picnic area in the Paphos forest, and the group helps prepare it. On the drive home that route passes the traditional villages of the Paphos wine region and visits a local winery.
Is an Akamas jeep safari right for children and older travellers?
An Akamas jeep safari suits active children and older travellers who can walk a short, uneven trail. Tour pages set limits for babies, pushchairs, wheelchairs and back problems, so check your group before you book.
The tour page for the Akamas jeep safari with a cruise flags five groups. They are pregnant women, babies under 1 year, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments and non-swimmers. The last flag fits the day, since the boat trip includes a swim at the Blue Lagoon.
Other listings name the same limits. Isango calls its 4-hour Akamas jeep safari not suitable for people with walking difficulties. Ciprusi Nap, a Hungarian-language operator, calls its tour not strenuous at average fitness. It adds that very tall guests and people with serious back problems can find the ride a little uncomfortable.
Age rules for a child on an Akamas jeep safari depend on the operator. Isango does not allow anyone below 2 years. Musement calls its tour unsuitable for infants under 3 years, expectant mothers and guests with back problems. Both say wheelchairs, pushchairs and car seats cannot go on the jeep.
Ciprusi Nap welcomes children and says a full day can tire small ones. It says a pushchair is no use off-road and suggests a baby carrier. Thalassa Travel offers baby car seats on request on its Limassol day. Hilde Jeep Safari asks you to carry a copy or photo of each child’s ID. Staff can ask to see it.
When is the right season for an Akamas jeep safari, and what do you bring?
Spring and autumn suit an Akamas jeep safari well, with a quieter Blue Lagoon than in summer. Summer brings heat, and winter swimming is not always possible. Pack swimwear, a towel, sun protection, water and walking shoes.
Paphos has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The greatest rainfall comes from November to mid-March, and heatwaves in July and August are relatively common. Cyprus Spirit advises an early departure in July and August, to get ahead of the heat and the crowds.
Cyprus Spirit calls spring the top season for an Akamas jeep safari. It says the weather suits the gorge walk and the lagoon is quieter than in summer. Wildflowers carpet the plateau in March and April. It calls autumn quieter too, with the sea still warm in September.
Swimming on an Akamas jeep safari depends on the month. Stevie’s Taxi and Jeep Safaris offers its swim in the summer months only. Hilde’s coastal tour visits a winery in winter when the lagoon swim is not possible. Ciprusi Nap says Avakas Gorge can close after heavy winter rain, and tour leaders add extra stops instead.
Tour pages for the jeep and cruise day list what to bring:
- Swimwear and a towel for the Blue Lagoon
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- Water
- Comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for walking
Pack light for an Akamas jeep safari. Hilde Jeep Safari asks guests not to bring a suitcase, because the Land Rover Jeeps have limited space. Its coastal tour page lists luggage and large bags as not allowed. Ciprusi Nap adds a light layer for spring, since windy weather can feel cool, especially on the boat.
What else do travellers ask about an Akamas jeep safari?
How big is the group on an Akamas jeep safari?
One Paphos operator’s coastal Land Rover tour takes up to 24 people in a standard group. Its review summary calls the off-road driving a highlight, yet it says the jeeps can feel crowded. A route site advises vehicles with a maximum of 8 to 12 people.
A reviewer of the same operator’s jeep-and-boat day calls it a small group. The seats were swapped so that everyone sat more comfortably for a while.
The operator also runs a private Akamas jeep safari day. You charter a whole Land Rover for up to 10 passengers, and you plan the stops with your driver.
Does an Akamas jeep safari start only from Paphos?
No. Operators run the tours from Paphos, Coral Bay and Latchi. A Limassol firm, Thalassa Travel and Tourism, runs a full-day jeep safari from Limassol. The day runs from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. It uses a Land Rover Defender and picks you up at any Limassol hotel.
The day opens at Petra tou Romiou, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite. It then visits Avakas Gorge, Lara Bay and the Baths of Aphrodite. Its page sells group packages for at least 15 guests. It also states that the jeep company must hold insurance.
Can I drive the Akamas tracks in my own car?
You need a proper 4×4, and an ordinary SUV is not enough. The tracks call for ground clearance and low-range gearing. Rent it from a firm that specialises in off-road vehicles, which is separate from the standard hire car fleets.
Mobile signal is absent in the peninsula interior, so carry an offline map or a downloaded GPS track. Expect sharp limestone shards and steep descents.
Driving yourself gives full control over stops and timing, but it brings no commentary on wildlife and geology. An Akamas jeep safari removes that planning, because the driver handles the terrain.
Can I take an Akamas jeep safari in another language?
Yes. The Hungarian site Ciprusi Nap sells the day with a Hungarian-speaking tour leader. The tour leaves Paphos between 8:30 and 9 in the morning and returns around 5 in the afternoon. It runs every day except Sunday, and it starts once at least four people have booked. Other listings name an English-speaking driver for their tours.
Do you tip the driver at the end of the day?
One operator’s page says guests can give a small tip. The thanks are for a tour leader who was attentive, kind and entertaining, answered questions and shared interesting facts. A tip on an Akamas jeep safari is a thank-you for good service.