Tembea : The Akamas Peninsula

Located in the west of Cyprus, the Akamas peninsula is wild untouched landscape, amazing natural beauty, deep gorges, and stunning sandy bays. The beautiful wilderness of the Peninsula at the most westerly tip of Cyprus covers six per cent of the island and is home to turtles, rare birds and butterflies. It represents the unique position of Cyprus - at the crossroads of three major flora zones - Europe, Africa and Asia. As a consequence Cyprus has a high number of plant species, 1750, of which 127 are endemic. The number of species found on Akamas runs to approximately 530, of which 33 are endemic. The variety of fauna is equally impressive - 168 birds, 12 mammals, 20 reptiles and 16 butterfly species. The region of spectacular, rugged scenery, sandy coves where turtles nest and dolphins occasionally frolic, clear water, seaside villages and hillsides covered with thick woodland where the last flocks of wild moufflon roam. Tempting empty beaches lie besides ancient Stone Age dwellings, remnants of Byzantine and Classical settlements and starkly beautiful sea cliffs on the westernmost extremity of the island. Named after the son of Theseus who was famed for his part in the Trojan wars, the Akamas peninsula is also extremely important due to its diverse community habitats. These include pine and juniper forests, maquis forests, gorges, cliffs, and sand dunes. Lara Bay located in the Akamas peninsula is an extremely important turtle breeding ground and here you can find the green turtles and hawks-bill turtles. These turtles are on the endangered species list and Lara Bay is a safe haven for them It has a unique but fragile beauty and it is the last coastal region on the island of Cyprus to remain largely untouched by mass tourism and development but not completely. Exquisitely contemporary villas on these secluded stretches abound. Near the cliff top Anassa Hotel, the Akamas Bay Villas by Cybarco, the developers behind Cyprus’s five-star Aphrodite Hills sports resort, include split-level pools and front lawns that run down to the beach. Around the peninsula, nearer Paphos, is the similarly designer Cap St Georges Villa Club, with 50 sleek stone and glass villas overlooking the sea. Akamas is not just about the steep gorges but also a place where hair raising rocky mountain bike descends and leisurely strolls on the nature trails await. Ends

Lifestyle

Tembea : The Akamas Peninsula