Akamas / Lara

The Akamas national park is a splendid 155sq km area of hills and rocky shores, and a habitat for species of flora and fauna unique to the Mediterranean.

Only a few dirt tracks penetrate the peninsula, only fit for four-wheel drive vehicles, although nature trails have been established for walkers.

The beaches at Lara are splendid, these being two sandy sections on either side of a bushy headland. The northern one is the most extensive. Here the coast faces due west, towards the open Mediterranean, and the waves tend to be bigger.

As wonderful scenery is, Lara has another claim to fame. Loggerhead turtles lay their eggs in the golden sands. Access to these shores by land is poor, the track from Agios Georgios being too rough for cars. The perfect way to see this coastal strip is by boat from Paphos.