Aphrodite walking trail near Baths of Aphrodite in Akamas
-
It is 7 kms long. 7 kms is not a big deal for the regular rambler, but half of this trail is uphill and the other half downhill. The uphill section is through dozens of switchbacks thus easing out the strain of climbing.
-
Do not attempt this trail in summer. You may not make it to the top! We did this trail in early winter and were lucky enough to have a cool breeze throughout the day. The climb to the top is out in the open without any shade and it can be excruciating in summer. Winter or Spring is the best time for this trail.
-
Do not forget your camera. The views are awesome. If you have never been to Akamas before, then you will enjoy the views even more.
-
The whole trek could take anywhere between 3-5 hours depending on the number of stops you make.
The starting point of this trail is right next to Baths of Aphrodite. From the parking lot, there are a series of steps to Baths of Aphrodite. An earthern road to the right goes to Fontona Amarosa. Once you climb the steps to Baths of Aphrodite, you will see a board (to the right) marked as “walking trail” or something like that. Once you go on that path, you will join a wide road (which would have come from the fontona amarosa exit). This road is the trail. After a while, the road branches off to the right towards fontona amarosa, while you start to climb up towards the top of the trail.
The mid-point of the trek is a well signposted place. There is a huge tree with a bench below it, for resting i presume. This is the intersection point of the Aphrodite and the Adonis trails. We spent a while at this place fooling around and also conveying some words of appreciation for the people who we felt would not have lasted this far!
The second half of the trek is downhill through a rugged path which is supposed to resemble a trail. This path looks more like the mess caused by water running downhill, but it is fun clambering over the rocks. This path finishes close to the parking lot. Actually, the moment you see something which you recognise from the start of the trek, take a deroute and cut across the bushes.
It was cloudy and it started drizzling. Vidhya commented that the only thing that was missing to make it perfect was a rainbow and lo! we turned ahead and saw a rainbow. One end of a rainbow seemed to finished right on a big rock close to the coast.
After the trek, if you have time, you can go to the restaurant opposite the parking lot and climb down the stairs to the sea. The waves are pretty good here and it is a nice place for a cool down after the trek!
Technorati Tags: aphrodite cyprus baths of aphrodite trekking walking trail cyprus adonis baths trail aphrodite trail
that sounds like so much fun! we spent two weeks near polis in summer, 2006, and swam & snorkeled every day at beaches off of akamas. it was much too hot for walking far, but it sounds like an exquisite winter hike. lovely photos. i also walked through the avakas gorge with my aunt, visited the turtle hatchery, and drove all around the lovely villages in that area.
I have never been to the turtle hatchery. Should visit once!
Very interesting site that I find rich, pleasant and well organized!
Honour for me if you include it in my “Multilingual” topliste Panorama
http://everyoneweb.fr/topliste
Best continuation!
Sincerrely Yours! Kamdou
we didn’t see turtles while there, but there are protected areas along the beach where they nest (or lay egss). it is a lovely beach for swimming!
there are some nice photos here: http://nicosia.usembassy.gov/EmbatWork/SAVEturtlesAug07.htm
i hope you’re staying warm!
Lovely pics!
I miss those beautiful places sometimes 🙂
Hey Rajaram,
I am Nayan, once working with you in Amdocs 🙂
How are you doing?
See problems with gals, all Vidya could ask for was rainbow.
considering it was fulfilled, she should have better tried for something more materialistic 😉
nice blog n pics.
Took that ascent/descent today although took the same route down as up. Agree that you have to appreciate that there is some ‘climbing’ involved but the views across the island are breath taking as are the sounds of nature! Must also comment on the local goats that roam the surrounding area, managed to get very close to them as they walked around us! And yes we too said that to attempt it in the summer would be foolish.
Looks amazing… We are planning a trip over to Cyprus this year, and just beginning to delve into the different options for our visiting pleasure. It seems like we won’t run short of options.