A jeep safari in Cyprus: Akamas on dirt tracks

Ask me about a jeep safari in Cyprus and my answer has a name, Akamas. It’s the peninsula in the north-west of Paphos district, almost uninhabited and with no road crossing it, and the only ways into its interior are on foot, by mountain bike or in a 4x4. Here’s what the official sources say, where you get in, what to check on the insurance and why I’d go with an operator rather than on my own.

Why Akamas?

Akamas Municipality describes it as one of the most beautiful places on the island, a mountainous and relatively inaccessible area home to hundreds of animal and plant species, a paradise for hikers and for anyone wanting to explore by jeep or four-wheel drive along dirt tracks and footpaths in search of crystal-clear bays. The Paphos Tourism Board says much the same, a wild peninsula of picture-postcard landscapes, flawless beaches, deep valleys, caves, islets and gorges, to explore on foot, by trail bike or bumping along in a sturdy four-wheel drive. What you see from the 4x4 makes the dust worthwhile. There are more than 600 plant species, two flowers found nowhere else, gorges such as Avakas carved by water into the limestone, and coves no road reaches. Geology, plants and access points are covered in the Akamas peninsula.

Ways in

Akamas has two road entrances. From the north, from Latchi, about 5 km from the Baths of Aphrodite, served by Pafos Buses route 622 from Polis. From the west, from Coral Bay and Peyia towards Agios Georgios, on route 616. There’s a third way in through the centre, from the Smigies picnic area 2.5 km from Neo Chorio, mainly for walkers. There’s no bus into the interior. If you’d rather go by sea, the Blue Lagoon is best seen from a boat, which for me is the easiest option.

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My hire car or an operator?

This is the crux, so I’ll be straight with you. Gov.uk warns that hired motorbikes and quads often have only third-party insurance, and that fines are heavy for riding without a helmet or driving without a seatbelt. The Limassol Tourism Board lists a car-share service that won’t let you go more than 2 km down unsealed roads, which tells you how vehicle rental firms see dirt tracks. I wouldn’t take an ordinary hire car along the Akamas tracks without written confirmation of what the insurance covers, and even then I’d prefer a 4x4 with a driver who knows the ground. Hire basics are in car hire in Cyprus.

Booking a tour? See whether the company appears among the agencies the government has licensed, the simplest check on who you’re riding with. I’d also ask how many people share each vehicle, whether there’s a swim stop and lunch, and what happens if the tracks are closed, because a day bouncing along gravel with strangers is only fun if you know what you’ve signed up for.

Respecting the peninsula

Akamas is a fragile natural area. The Lara coast is a turtle nesting beach, and no vehicle belongs on that sand. Between April and October a single spark can start a wildfire, gov.uk warns, so keep barbecues to designated areas. And carry plenty of water, because there’s nowhere to buy any. More in Lara beach.

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

What about the Troodos?

I haven’t found an official source describing 4x4 safaris in the Troodos, so I won’t recommend one with details. The Paphos board warns that winter rain and snow make the mountains hard going. In the Troodos I’d stick to tarmac in an ordinary car and walk.

When to go, and what the tracks are like

Spring and autumn. High summer pushes Paphos past 30°C on average, and the Akamas interior offers almost no shade. The Paphos board describes the terrain well, though it has cyclists in mind. Most of the old donkey trails are now wide gravel tracks, with stretches of gorge, loose rock and steep descents. In summer the surface is dry, loose and dusty; in winter the rain packs it down. The same board says Akamas and the Paphos forest can be explored all year round, unlike the mountains.

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