Blue Lagoon

Tucked into a kink in the rugged coastline of Akamas National Park is an isolated lagoon where the warm turquoise blue sea is crystal clear. Not surprisingly it’s called the Blue Lagoon and some visitors say it’s a magical highlight of their holiday in Cyprus.

This beautiful natural swimming pool is on the wild Akamas Peninsula which protrudes like a little finger between busy, bustling Paphos and the small fishing village of Latchi. Boat trips sail to the lagoon from both those places.

Latchi is closer but the longer excursions from Paphos provide a chance to see more of this stunning coastline. The boats drop anchor in the lagoon so passengers can swim in the sea that is said to be warmer there than anywhere else in Cyprus. That’s warm. The smaller the boat the closer it can get to the shoreline.

There are other ways of getting there and experiencing the stunning countryside on a peninsular that has been described as the last wilderness on Cyprus - by walking or driving.

Park near the Baths of Aphrodite, another of the island’s hugely popular attractions, and it’s about a three-mile walk. Driving there is best done from Latchi in a 4x4. The peninsular roads are not good. There are Jeep Safaris and hiking tours that visit the bay, Jeep taxis can be hired, so can self-drive boats.

A tip from locals: the calmer the day the bluer and clearer the lagoon. But whenever or however you go you will find what some visitors have described as the most beautiful place on Cyprus.