Things to do

"Kalosorisate" - welcome to our island!

Cyprus really does have it all.

Crystal clear sea, pristine beaches, verdant valleys, mountain villages, delicious food, wonderful wines and spectacular landscapes combine to create the perfect holiday destination, all bathed in 340 days of brilliant sunshine. Cypriot people are renowned for their hospitality, promising visitors a genuinely warm welcome throughout the island.

Cyprus lies at the crossroads of three continents and is so much more than a beach holiday destination. Due to its geographical location, the island's cultural identity is an enticingly heady mix of east and west. Cyprus boasts a rich and varied cultural heritage, reaching back thousands of years and encompassing spectacular remnants of ancient civilisations, Greco-Roman art and architecture and strategic medieval military installations.

A mosaic of a fish from the floor of a Roman house at the ruins of Kourion

Pillars lining the road at the Roman Ruins of Salamis, Famagusta, Cyprus

Highlights include:

• Choirokoitia, one of the most well preserved prehistoric settlements in the Eastern Mediterranean
• The exquisite Roman villa mosaic floors at Kourion, heralded as the best in the region
• Sumptuous Byzantine artworks and mystical Greek Orthodox religious festival pageantry in Cyprus's famous painted churches. The quality of the frescoes in 10 of these churches has resulted in them being placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
• The Crusader castle at Kolossi, said to be the eastern Mediterranean seat of power for Richard the Lionheart, who took control of Cyprus on his way to Jerusalem in the Third Crusade
• Archaeological museums in the main towns of Limassol, Paphos and Larnaca and alongside the main historical tourist sites, richly stocked with priceless collections of artefacts including pottery, coins, jewellery, tombstones and statues
• The rugged scenic beauty of the Troodos mountain range, with good skiing in the winter months and spectacular mountain scenery and trail walking in summer
• Once essentially closed to visitors by road, Northern Cyprus is now easily accessible from the south of the island. Access to the Turkish controlled border is through the ancient city of Nicosia, itself well worth a visit for its historic significance and wealth of cultural attractions
• The spectacular Crusader castles of Kyrenia, St.Hilarion and Famagusta are among Northern Cyrpus's key cultural sites. Other places well worth visiting include the exotic and historically rich city of Famagusta and the hilltop town of Bellapais with its ruined 13thC Premonstratensian abbey and museum, and its delightful village square featuring The Tree of Idleness under which British writer Lawrence Durrell wrote "Bitter Lemons" in the 1950s

Troodos Mountains, the biggest mountain range in Cyprus

Local activities and attractions

Villa guests will find that there is also plenty to see and do closer to home. Just 200 metres from the beach, Sandy Beach Villa is only five minutes' drive from the picturesque Latchi village, with its pretty harbour and many small seafood restaurants and souvenir shops. We can particularly recommend the 'Zouk' bar, which attracts a lot of locals and offers visitors a typically lively Cypriot-style evening. Another of our favourites is 'Faros Restaurant', the perfect venue for a long, relaxing seafood lunch overlooking the harbour and enjoying the host's uniquely entertaining brand of hospitality.

Beautiful Paphos harbour

Water sports

All water sports are well catered for in Latchi, with the professionally run 'Latchi Watersports Centre' offering state-of-the art equipment and expert instruction for sailing, motor boat and jet ski hire, banana boat rides, parasailing and SCUBA diving.

Watersports in the Akamas peninsula

Off-road driving

Off-road driving through the rugged terrain of the Akamas peninsula is highly recommended as an unusual and rewarding activity. This can be organised through a professionally run jeep safari bookable in Latchi or for the experienced off-roader by hiring a 4-wheel drive vehicle and heading for the hills.

Off road driving

A wide choice of restaurants and shops

The charming town of Polis is about 10 minutes drive from Akamas Villa, and here you will find a wide choice of restaurants for dinner. 'Chix-Chox Restaurant' in Polis Square is our particular favourite, offering excellent food and wine, with traditional Cypriot entertainment and dancing often featured during high season.

There are a wider choice of shops in Polis than in Latchi, including 'Bits & Pieces' for souvenirs and gifts and 'Forza 9', a small but delightful gallery just off Polis Square.

Slightly further afield, about 40 minutes by road, is the bustling city of Paphos, home of marvelous archaeological treasures and claiming the healthiest year-round climate in the Mediterranean. Here you will find shops and restaurants catering to the mass tourism market but also specialist boutiques, galleries and museums stocked with priceless artifacts and antiquities. Paphos harbour, with its imposing waterfront medieval castle, beautiful churches and monasteries, has been designated a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.

The superbly elegant 5-star Anassa Hotel is within walking distance of the villa, and has a range of world-class restaurants offering what many consider to be the best food and wine on Cyprus.

Walking trails

A comprehensive network of established walking trails criss-cross the Akamas peninsula. There are routes to suit every level of fitness: from a gentle stroll through spectacular scenery to the Baths of Aphrodite nearby; to hard-core trekking in challenging mountain terrain.

Scenic views

Cypriot wineries

Cypriot wines are fast gaining respect in the international wine market and the industry as a whole makes a significant contribution to Cyprus's economy. Chronologically, Cyprus belongs to the "Old World" of wine producing countries but recent developments in Cypriot wine industry bring it more into line with wine production practices in the "New World". New grape varieties have been introduced alongside the traditional strains and there has been widespread investment in the development of an international market for Cypriot-produced wines, with the introduction of new Appellation of Origin standards and controls.

Oenophiles will find much to enjoy in Cyprus, with an impressive variety of world-class wines just waiting to be sampled. There are a number of wineries worthy of a visit within easy reach of the Akamas peninsula, including the Vouni Panayia Winery in Panayia and the Kolios Winery situated near the ancient Agia Moni Monastery a short distance from Paphos.