The Akamas: Cyprus's last wild peninsula

At the north-western tip of Cyprus the development simply stops. The Akamas peninsula is what the whole island's coast once looked like: a roadless expanse of scrub and gorge and cliff, where turtles nest, wildflowers riot in spring, and the sea glows an improbable turquoise in hidden coves.

What to see

The prize is the Blue Lagoon, a shallow bay of impossibly clear water usually reached by boat from Latchi or on foot along the coast. Inland, the Avakas Gorge narrows to a slot between towering walls, and the Baths of Aphrodite mark the gentle start of the trails. It is a place for walking boots and a mask, not for heels.

Going lightly

The Akamas is protected and fragile, so it asks for a little care: stay on the tracks, take your litter, and consider a licensed boat or guide rather than forcing a hire car down the rough trails. Go early, carry water, and leave it as you found it.

A day in the Akamas — boat to the lagoon, a walk in the gorge, a long fish lunch in Latchi — is one of the island's finest. Tell our concierge and we will set it up.