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Along the Southeastern coastline of Cyprus lies the stunning national forest park of Cape Greco. Some of the national park’s most famous features are the Blue Lagoon, host to translucent blue water, and the Lover’s Bridge, a stunning natural rock bridge set by the ocean. These sights attract both locals and tourists to experience its alluring natural beauty and recharge amongst nature.
While Evan and I were road tripping through Cyprus, we stopped at Cape Greco a couple of times. You can find our exact itinerary here.
The national forest park debuted in 1993 and has been popular ever since. It’s open for free 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. It’s located on one of the most Southeastern points on the island spanning over 385 acres of land, with two major cities just miles away.
On one side of the park lies Ayia Napa, the party beach town. It’s a quick fifteen minute drive away and about 7 miles. The other side of the park is home to the charming city, Protaras. Here you’ll discover quieter beaches, a beautiful boardwalk along the ocean (perfect for rollerblading and running) and a quaint downtown area. It’s about 7 miles away as well.
Both of these cities are great places to stay and rent an Airbnb while visiting Cyprus. We stayed near Protaras and really enjoyed the peaceful setting.
In fact, we visited the park several times, both with our car rental and by taking the bus. The car rental is definitely easier, as you can travel according to your own time schedule.
Alternatively, the buses are really nice, clean and giant charter buses. Be aware that the buses can sometimes run a bit late. Don’t let it alarm you, just arrive on time and keep waiting patiently. The best bus to take to get to Cape Greco is bus 101 to the Nissi 2 Bus Stop.
What to do in Cape Greco
Below, I’m going to share with you the best things to do at Cape Greco when exploring Cyprus by car. Along with this post, here are a couple of other resources to help with travel planning to Cyprus and Cape Greco.
- The Ultimate Road Trip Guide to Cyprus
- How to Forage Wild Asparagus in Cyprus
- What to Add to Your Travel Checklist
Address: Sea Caves, Agia Napa, E307, Ayia Napa, Cyprus
Best time to visit: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm (While its open 24-hrs, these were the times we found it best to visit. However feel free to visit during whatever time works best for you.)
How long should you stay: Either a full day or half a day is plenty of time to see the park. If you want to explore more of the nature hikes and walks, I would recommend staying a full day.
The Blue Lagoon
Contrasting shades of blues make up the exquisite Blue Lagoon. Ranging from turquoise to clear sky blue, to a mystifying dark blue, the Blue Lagoon offers a body of water that entrances the eye of the beholder.
The Blue Lagoon is one of my favorite beaches in Cyprus and one of the most famous beaches on the island. It’s also a romantic and adventurous milieu for nature enthusiasts. There’s swimming, snorkeling, sun bathing and more.
Forage wild asparagus
Did you know foraging for wild asparagus is a popular activity to do at Cape Greco? It’s completely legal (as I’ve been told by a local) and fun way to connect to this divine natural wonder. Here are a couple things to note if it’s your first time foraging asparagus in the wild.
First, go with a foraging expert so they can demonstrate how to forage properly. Secondly, don’t eat too much of the wild asparagus plant if it’s your first time. The plant can be bitter and it’s best to give your body time to adjust to eating wild plants. Third, don’t take more than you need. Leave some for the wildlife, other foragers and enough so the plant can properly grow back to replenish itself.
I won’t go into detail here, but for more foraging tips, you can read this beginners guide to foraging.
Take a coastal hike
Throughout Cape Greco you’ll find several nature trails spanning over 10 miles. Some hiking trails follow along the oceanfront front, while others zig-zag up the Cape Greco mountainside, scaling rocks.
We absolutely loved the hiking trails in Cape Greco!
Each of nature trails led to gorgeous views of the ocean or of the vast green wilderness. Our favorites were the Agioi Anargyroi trail (circular trail, 4.3 km), the Konnoi – Agioi Anargyroi trail (out and back 2.8 km) and the Kavos trail (circular 2.5 km). In sum, Cape Greco has 9 trails to hike/walk with the difficulty ranging from easy to moderately easy.
Other hiking trails in Cape Greco:
- Profitis Elias – Konnoi trail (approximately 5.3 miles)
- Thalassines Spilies trail (approximately 2.2 miles)
- Konnoi – Spilia Kyklopa trail (approximately 1.5 miles)
- Panagia-Agioi Saran trail (approximately 1.5 miles)
- Panagia-Agioi Ioannis trail (approximately 1.75 miles)
- Agioi Anargyroi – Thalassines Spilies trail (approximately 2.5 miles)
While hiking shoes work great here, I felt extremely comfortable wearing either my Chacos or a pair of running shoes since the trails aren’t too intense.
Also, more information about the nature trails can be found here.
Side Note: If you love hiking adventures, here are a couple other hiking related posts you may like: Best Hiking Quotes and Trekking Quotes to Inspire Adventure.
Climb to the top of Cape Greco
The views are insane at the top of Cape Greco! It’s a relatively easy climb up the mountain and not as steep as other hikes we’ve done, such as the Mist trail in Yosemite National Park. At the top is a sweet spot to overlook the national forest park, the blue lagoon and watch the picturesque sun set beneath the clouds.
Overall, this is the best place to get a 360 view of the park.
Watch the sunrise or sunset
Any place in Cape Greco can be one of the best places to watch the sunset. After all, Cyprus is known for its breath taking sunsets! If you’re a sunset enthusiasts, I highly recommend watching one or two sunsets here while visiting Cyprus.
However, my favorite places to watch the sunsets are at the top of Cape Greco, at the Blue Lagoon, and near the British radar station and Lighthouse. Also, the views here are unparalleled with contrasting colors and panoramic views.
Witness Lovers Bridge
Lovers Bridge, Kamara Tou Koraka, is a beautiful natural bridge found in Cape Greco. This famous bridge attracts tourist year round to gaze at its spectacular glory amidst the bright blue sea.
In addition, it’s easily accessible via car with a dirt parking lot just a couple hundred feet away from the bridge. If you’re on a time crunch, you can park here and get out, or hike the Agioi Anargyroi trail. We loved hiking this trail as it takes you right near the bridge and to the beautiful Agioi Anargyroi Church.
While you cannot walk across the bridge, it’s an astonishing place to explore within the park.
Have a seaside picnic at Cape Greco
Tasty food, great company and awe-inspiring backdrop… what more could you need! Pack your favorite lunch items to have a delightful beach picnic at Cape Greco.
We did this at the Blue Lagoon and it was an incredible mindful experience. It challenged us to further embrace slow travel, be present, connect intimately with each other, and soak up some much need vitamin D. After spending the holidays in Kiev with little to no sunlight, we were definitely deficit in vitamin D.
If you’re planning a picnic, here are some of my easy go-to vegan meals I like to prepare during trips. They’re super easy and you can find the ingredients in almost any country.
Make sure to pack out your trash to keep this park clean!
Cliff jump into the ocean
Have you ever thought about cliff jumping? Well, here’s your chance. Just be mindful of the rocks and have fun! We thought about cliff jumping, but we visited during late winter and early spring. It was a tad too cold to swim for us, but as it started warming up in March we did see several Cypriot teenager swimming and cliff jumping.
Agioi Anargyroi Church
Tucked on the northern side of the park lies the Agioi Anargyroi Church — a pristine white church with an striking azure roof. Located right next to the water, this Greek church is a popular spot for locals and tourists. The excellent location makes it a surprisingly attractive spot for photography, photo shoots, and weddings.
Explore the giant sea caves at Cape Greco
photo credit
Right next to the Agioi Anargyroi Church you’ll find some extraordinary seas caves. To access these caves after witnessing the beautiful church, you’ll want to head toward the water and cliffs. Here, you’ll find a descending staircase and at the bottom you’ll find ginormous sea caves.
We loved visiting the sea caves, but quickly found that it’s best to go mid-day, not at sunrise or sunset. While the rosy backdrop of the sun is gorgeous, the tide and waves are quite high. Therefore, to avoid this, it’s best to go anytime between the late morning to early evening.
What spot would you visit first in this beautiful national forest park?
Travel and outdoor resources
- Easy Vegan Meals To Make In Airbnbs
- Guide To Plitvice Lake National Park
- What Is Slow Travel & Here’s Why I Love It
- Here’s What You Should Avoid in Singapore
- Inspirational Waterfall Quotes
15 Of The Most Amazing Beaches In Southern California