Cyprus - Beaches
Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa's beaches are among the finest in southern Cyprus - and the
liveliest, with activities ranging from waterskiing to bungee jumping and
quad-bike riding. Nissi is the closest to town, and gets busy in high summer.
Makronissos, longer and less crowded, is 5 km (3 miles) from Ayia Napa proper
(see Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa
Protaras
Fig Tree Bay, this resort's favourite beach, has fine white sand and tropical
turquoise sea, and is usually a little less hectic than the youth-orientated
strands at Agia Napa, only 11 km (8 miles) away. In Protaras itself a range of
watersports are available.
Governor's Beach
A string of small bays of black sand offset by white cliffs, Governor's Beach
is a favourite with Cypriots getting away from it all, with plenty of snack-bars
and tavernas, sunbeds to rent and watersports..
Evdimou
Despite sea and sand as clean and clear as any on the south coast, Evdimou is
un-crowded and undeveloped - but it does have a couple of restaurants catering
to hungry sun-worshippers (see p88).
Pissouri
Pissouri is another great beach on Cyprus's southern coast and is popular
with families, water-skiers and windsurfers. There are plenty of places to eat
and drink along the beach and at Pissouri village inland (see p88).
Pafos
Pafos's best beaches are on the eastern edge of town, near Geroskipou, where
the Cyprus Tourism Organization maintains a well-managed, family-friendly
strand, and still further east at Floria Beach, next to Pafos airport. Close to
the centre of Kato Pafos, there is also a municipal beach beneath shady palm
trees, with loungers and umbrellas for hire, a snack bar and restaurant.
Coral Bay
Only 8 km (5 miles) north of Pafos, is called Coral Bay by everyone. The
sweep of fine sand, covered by rows of sunbeds all summer, is popular with young
Cypriots from Larnaca and Limassol. It also hosts live pop concerts on summer
evenings.
Lara Bay
Super beaches lie on each side of Cape Lara. South of the cape, there's
almost 2 km (1 mile) of uncrowded sand, while to the north there's a shallow bay
frequented by loggerhead turtles. The turtle protection group arranges
occasional night time walks along the beach in egg laying season.
Asprokremos
Those seeking Cyprus's best uncrowded beach need look no further than this
super stretch of sand on the north shore of the Akamas Peninsula.
A long sand-and-pebble beach stretches eastwards from Chryssochou, a 15minute
walk from the centre of Polis - the fastest-growing little resort in western
Cyprus. There are less crowded stretches of sand and shingle to the west of the
village too. If you're hungry there is a pleasant open-air bar/restaurant and a
picnic area beneath eucalyptus trees.
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