Boat trips in Cyprus worth booking

Some coastlines make more sense from the water, and in Cyprus there are two in particular, Akamas in the west, with no roads running along it, and Cape Greco in the east, with its caves and cliffs. Here are the boat trips I’d book, when they sail, what you see on the way and what to check before stepping aboard. Prefer solid ground? Land-based outings are in Cyprus day trips.

Latchi and the Blue Lagoon, my favourite

Latchi, the small port serving Polis on Chrysochou Bay, is where it all starts. The operator that publishes the most detail, a family firm going since 1982, runs four formats, set out in the table above, two short ones with fruit and wine, a traditional trip that fills the morning and an evening sailing that ends with souvla as the sun goes down.

What you’re really paying for is the coastline, with no road along it, taking in the Baths grotto, the islet of St George, the coves of Manolis and Blaji and the fountain of love before a stop in the turquoise water with mask and snorkel. By land you’d be on dirt tracks, which is why I pick the boat. Prices aren’t online, so ask on the quay and compare with the other operators. Everything about the lagoon is in the Blue Lagoon in Cyprus.

Ayia Napa and Cape Greco from the sea

Across the island, Visit Famagusta recommends giving a whole day to cruising the shoreline. You see the sea caves, Love Bridge and the cliffs of Cape Greco National Forest Park, then stop to swim at the area’s own Blue Lagoon and Konnos beach, and with luck spot turtles. The Palatia caves, between Ayia Napa and the cape, look far better from below, as I explain in the Ayia Napa sea caves.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Latchi on Expedia and filter by area before price.

Limassol, sailing and sunsets

The Limassol Tourism Board bills the city as Cyprus’s premier sailing and yachting destination, with calm waters, steady winds and two marinas, Limassol Marina and St Raphael. It lists catamaran cruise firms and motor and sailing yacht charters, from a romantic sunset cruise to a day’s fishing or a private charter. For me it’s the choice if you want something quieter and less of a group outing.

Paphos, boats, fishing and wrecks

The Paphos Tourism Board offers boat days with lunch on board, sunset cruises and deep-sea fishing trips. For divers, some sites can only be reached by boat, such as the wreck of the Vera K, 25 minutes from Paphos harbour and 11 metres down. If what’s underneath interests you, see diving in Cyprus.

Anglers should know the rules the board sets out. No licence is needed for rod fishing from the shore or in the sea, for spearfishing without an aqualung, or for trolling and vertical lines. Special sport-fishing licences are required for anglers fishing from boats with nets, longlines or traps, or using spearguns with an aqualung. Freshwater fishing in the island’s dams needs a licence from the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. If you book a deep-sea fishing trip, the skipper should handle the paperwork, but it’s worth asking.

Where the bus does not go, a car does: compare car hire in Latchi before you arrive rather than at the desk.

When is it best?

From May to October, when you’ll want a swim at every stop. The Paphos board gives its sea temperatures as 16 to 27°C across the year, so a winter dip is for the brave. In July and August I’d take the morning sailing, before the sun is at its strongest, and bring a hat, sun cream and water even if the boat has an awning. If anyone in your party gets seasick, choose the shorter two-and-a-half-hour trip over the long one. With children, the lagoon swim and snorkelling are usually the highlight; more in Cyprus with kids.

Before you board

Three things. Ask what’s included and what it costs, because the Latchi operator I cite doesn’t publish prices online and I have no official source with fares. Check the operator is licensed; as the government’s business portal sets out, boats rented from beaches need a municipal licence and registration with the Deputy Ministry of Shipping. And swim sensibly, as gov.uk warns that waves and currents can be strong.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Latchi on Booking.com and filter by area before price.