Quad or Buggy Tour from Coral Bay to Akamas Forest
Description
The best way to see Akamas! This tour is the most adventurous way to explore the Akamas Peninsula and the National Park. The quad bike will give you the feeling of freedom and the buggy will give you the comfort to enjoy this ride. You can both get the experience of driving an off-road vehicle in the dusty streets but also swim in the blue waters of Lara bay and Turtle beach. Our professional guides will lead you on an informative and exciting excursion in the beautiful surroundings of Akamas National Park.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The tour starts at 10:00, but drivers must be here at least 20 minutes in advance to complete the paperwork, meet the drivers who will instruct the vehicles and safety regulations. In the middle of the route, there will be stops in cafes for water and restroom. Keep in mind that off-road driving can be dusty, so we recommend face cover and informal clothing. For those who plan to swim, please bring with you anything you consider necessary, such as swimwear, towels and sunscreen.
Pegeia is situated mainly on the steep slopes of the coastal hills inland from Coral Bay, at the southern end of the Akamas Peninsula. The origin of the name Pegeia is said to derive from the Latin word Baia (Bay). The village itself was first settled by Venetians, during the Venetian Domination of Cyprus (1489-1570).
The Sierra Leone-flagged EDRO III ran aground on 8 September 2011 in heavy seas, during a voyage to Rhodes with a cargo of plasterboard. At the time of the accident, the ship had nine crew members – seven Albanians and two Egyptians. The crew were rescued and airlifted to safety. The EDRO III weighs about 2.5 tons and is over 80 meters in length. Embarking on the ship is no longer permitted as it is dangerous.
The area boasts caves, as well as spectacular rock formations, which have taken thousands of years to form. Earlier, when the human presence was less prominent, there were seals (Monachus monachus) inhabiting the caves, which added to the popularity of the area among the sightseers.
Here, you can buy drinks/snacks and use the restroom. In this area, between 1952 and 1955, the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus excavated three Early Christian basilicas and a bath, all dated to the 6th century AD. The settlement was probably a port of call for the ships that transported grain from Egypt to Constantinople. The archaeological site next to St George’s is considered to be the most significant early Byzantine site in Cyprus. Off of the coast lies Yeronisos Island (Holy Island) that is supposed to have been part of the mainland at some point. The archaeological findings have shown three major periods of settlement: Chalcolitic, Hellenistic and Early Byzantine. There is a church you can visit, as well as catacombs, which are thought to have belonged to the earlier version of it, as well as a little scenic marina adding to the charm and the spectacular view of St George’s.
At this stop, we swim and info about the turtles. We stop in a cafe near Lara Beach were you can enjoy your lunch or have a snack/drink (not included in the price). Akamas is the last large unspoiled coastal area remaining in Cyprus and one of the very few important sea turtle nesting grounds in the Mediterranean. Both the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta-caretta) and the rarer Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest in Turtle Bay; the latter depends on the Akamas beaches for its very survival in this region. The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) lists Loggerheads as “vulnerable” and Green Turtles as an “endangered species”. According to the IUCN, the annual number of Green Turtle nesting females in the entire Mediterranean could be as low as 325-375. From end of May to September, you can see the nests that are protected by little enclosures. In 1989 the Lara coastal region and adjacent sea was declared into a Protected Area. We explain more about the turtles as well.
Akamas is named after the son of Theseus, the mythical king of Athens. The main vegetation of Akamas forest consists of very rich, bush-like flora, and the most dominant trees are pines, wild olive-trees, and wild carobs. Many Magnesium mines used to be operated in the region of Akamas. Today, one can come upon abandoned mines’ galleries, close to which stand the remains of furnaces and kilns that were used for the on-sight processing of the ore. There are no settlements in Akamas today. However, there are remains of many churches; today most of them are known as names of places or are deserted.
A short break for refreshments to one of the most beautiful stone built villages on the north-eastern slopes of Paphos.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A driver's license is mandatory
Reviews(27)
Very friendly staff. High quality quads and buggies. Our buggy was brand new and perfect for three of us. Very informative guide on the tour. Plenty of stops on the 5 hour tour to take in the sights. The lunch (you can purchase) was delicious. I would definitely reccomend this trip.
We booked this 5 hour tour on a spur of the moment And what an amazing adventure it turned out to be from seeing the sea caves and shipwreck to Lara bay and on seeing turtles the turtles in the water at Lara bay was brilliant then to go onto some other amazing places stopping for a lunch with a view then onto the mountains and the views are to die for From the very start to the end our guides were absolutely great would highly recommend 10/10
Not a great experience too many mechanical issues with 2 quads and a buggy that has limp mode issue for three house ruined the experience - no offer to refund or anything poor and ruined our day
My partner and I had the best day yesterday on this trip. The buggies are so much fun and a great way to see lots of this beautiful island. The stops were great and have a good amount of time at each. 5 hours flew by and we were sad to get back. All of the staff we're really friendly and accommodating, even when we were a little late due to taxi delays. Thank you so much.
the worst company I've ever driven with, doesn't let you go faster or have fun even 1%, everything is very strict and unpleasant, money spent in vain and I don't recommend it to anyone! My friends were all sad and had a bad time!
Hello, thank you for your feedback. We would like to clarify that this tour was booked directly through our website, where all important information, including the itinerary, route, and speed limits, is clearly provided. Before the tour started, the contract outlining these details was shared and signed. We followed the tour exactly as described. Our guides are instructed to stop any unsafe driving, including drifting or speeding, to ensure the safety of all participants. This is standard procedure and non-negotiable for everyone’s protection. Safety is always our top priority, and we cannot compromise on it. We are sorry if this did not meet your expectations, but our tours are designed to be safe, enjoyable, and fully in line with the advertised itinerary.
We booked the tour privately with a buggy (5 hours, 350 €) and had a guide who drove ahead. The route was varied and offered insights into the landscape of Akamas National Park , not far pure, but up to Larabay – overall a beautiful experience. However, we would have expected more individuality from a private tour. It was only operated according to plan, with long, specific stops and a 35-minute lunch break in a less attractive place with groups – although we had explicitly stated that we did not want lunch. Especially with a private booking, it would have been nice if something more had been taken into account – for example, more driving, less waiting. Overall good, but with room for improvement in the flexibility and service thoughts of the young guide.
Hallo, vielen Dank, dass Sie sich die Zeit genommen haben, Ihre Erfahrung zu teilen. Wir freuen uns, dass Ihnen die Strecke und die Einblicke in den Akamas-Nationalpark gefallen haben. Wir verstehen Ihren Wunsch nach mehr Individualität bei einer privaten Tour. Unsere Touren folgen jedoch einem klaren Plan, der Sicherheit, Pausen und das Gruppenerlebnis berücksichtigt. Wir nehmen Ihr Feedback zum Service unseres Guides gerne auf und werden daran arbeiten, die Balance zwischen Flexibilität und Sicherheit künftig noch besser zu gestalten. Vielen Dank für Ihre Anmerkungen, sie helfen uns, unsere Touren weiter zu verbessern.
A fun way to visit the Turtle Beach site, lunch at Lara bay and the off into the hills above the Akamas Penninsula. This is the way to go to this beach. A few people were heading with cars but the track is very rough. Our guide was very relaxed and friendly. A very dusty ride so take a face covering and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dusty. A great, fun day out
Thank you for your great review! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring Turtle Beach, Lara Bay, and the hills above Akamas.Thanks for the helpful tip about dust, we’d love to welcome you back for another fun day!
A fun day out for anyone. We went as a couple but equally as good for families of all ages. We had been due to go on the Akama tour but were told that we would be the only ones on the tour and asked whether we would go on the Adonis baths tour instead. We agreed, and whilst it wasn't exactly what we had planned, it was great to see scenery and more rural Cyprus. Tip - If travelling by car or taxi, go straight to the Agios Georgios Road address. This is where the tour starts and will avoid having to get a lift from the showroom.
Booked these through TUI and the team did not disappoint they made it fun and very enjoyable, staff were very attentive and extremely polite, there was 2 buggys in front of my son and i with young french men messing about and the team dealt with it swiftly and took action. I cannot recommend this enough and I will certainly be back and one of my excuses to come back to Cyprus as that's the best excursion and experience my son and I have had. Thank you so much to the team You are a credit to your business explaining the history and giving us time to explore with enough time. As well as looking after our safety at all times. Thank you for a great day See you next year Jonny and Mackenzie
I had an amazing day out with my son exploring some hidden gems. It was a real treat to see these off-the-beaten-path sights. One tip I can give you is to grab a cheap T-shirt and shorts from a local store. It can get a bit dusty out there, you don’t want to trash your best kit. The guides were fantastic! They had a wealth of knowledge and made the tour really enjoyable.
