Following Aphrodite within the wilderness and her sacred waters

After a rich breakfast, change in your most comfortable clothes and shoes, take your sunglasses and join on a 4X4 road adventure to discover the untouched wilderness of the Akamas Peninsula with its lush foliage, unique fauna and flora.

The gorgeous Akamas Peninsula, on the north western tip of the island has a unique beauty. This peninsula is named after Akamas, son of Theseus, who in Greek Mythology, landed here en route from the Trojan War, and is purported to be one of Aphrodite’s lovers.

Akamas National Park lies on the west coast of Cyprus, a truly pictorial part of the island, an area of great natural beauty enlisted in the Natura 2000 network. The diversity of wildlife in this area is of outstanding ecological importance for Mediterranean. The area coverage of 230 square kilometers contains of valleys, gorges and wide sandy bays.

On the way to Akamas Peninsula, close to Kili village, visit Adonis Baths and waterfalls. Legend says that Adonis maintained his great beauty by bathing in these baths. Adonis and Aphrodite were spending most of their time here giving birth to their children.

Entering Akamas, don’t miss the chance to walk through the Avakas Gorge and take a moment to enjoy the local Flora and Fauna and most definitely the Lara Bay – one of the last breeding grounds for the Green (Chelonia Mydas) and Loggerhead (Caretta Caretta) Turtles.

Take a coffee break at one of the many traditional coffee shops in the area and get treated with the local confectionery product Loukoumi Geroskipou which is the first Cypriot product to be registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in the European Union.

Moving on towards the edge of the Northern Peninsula, you will visit the Baths of Aphrodite. According to legend, after swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Bay, Aphrodite used to bath in this pond, surrounded by idyllic landscape with the sweet smell of the wildflowers. It is here she met her beloved Adonis for the first time. Adonis was hunting in the Akamas forest when stopped over the wonderful spring to quench his thirst. He was struck by the sight of the naked goddess bathing in the crystal waters. Aphrodite and Adonis were instantly bewitched by each other’s extraordinary beauty. Take the opportunity to dip in the clear waters which according to the myth, will help you remain young.

After an adventurous morning, take a fishmeze lunch break at a traditional tavern in Latchi area, before experiencing a fantastic mini cruise to visit the most popular place of Akamas, the Blue Lagoon. The crystal blue waters in this small bay are so clear, you can see all the way to the underlying seabed.

End this amazing adventure by visiting the last of the ten ancient-city kingdoms of Cyprus known as Marion. The kingdom of Marion was founded by the legendary King Marieas and was an important commercial centre in the Classical and Hellenistic periods, with close ties with Athens. During the Hellenistic-Roman period, Marion was renamed to Arsinoe and is now the small town of Polis Chrysochous, commonly known as ‘Polis’. Discover the secrets of this kingdom in the Local Archaeological Museum of Marion-Arsinoe which is part of the island’s Route of Aphrodite that connects important sites across Cyprus related to the myth of the Goddess of Love.