Eco tourism in Cyprus

Keeping the Akamas Peninsula Wild

The Akamas Peninsula lies to the west of Paphos, and currently is one of the last truly wild areas of western Cyprus left. The locals want it to become a national park, but that is constantly under threat from developers. Help keep the Akamas wild by joining an environmental education course run by the Cyprus Conservation Foundation, an ideal introduction to the Akamas Peninsula. These areas can be driven comfortably in a 4X4 from AutoDirect Car Hire.

If you are looking for more information about Paphos, Troodos and Akamas, Foxy's holiday guide to Cyprus is worth a look with lots of photos and interesting writing style.

Save the Animals

As coastal developments creep ever inland, several Cyprus residents have found their traditional homeland diminishing. The shy mouflon, or Cyprus goat, is normally found perched high in the Troodos Mountains, and a reserve at Platania aims to help keep their numbers at a sustainable level.

Equally at risk at the rare green and loggerhead sea turtles that come ashore to nest on the sandy beaches of Cyprus. Confused by the onshore lights of developments, the danger is that the tiny hatchlings head for the nearest disco rather than the fluorescent rim to the waves. Various turtle conservation projects operate in both North and South Cyprus, and welcome visitors to information centers set up on the edge of nesting beaches.

Cypriots have no love of snakes, but the rare reptiles have found a champion in Hans-Jörg Wiedl, commonly known as ‘Snake George’. His Reptile Park at Coral Bay is helping restore populations of the rare Cyprus grass snake, a harmless snake previously believed to be extinct.

Ecotourism in North Cyprus

Interestingly, North Cyprus is also heavily promoting ecotourism by sharing the delights of a simpler lifestyle. The village of Büyükkonuk on the Karpaz peninsula is offering eco-friendly accommodation and activities, including cycling and walking tours.

Bird Watching in Cyprus

Cyprus is a major stopping point for migrating birds, and there are ten species of bird found only in Cyprus. From magnificent Griffin vultures, to more modest songsters, the island is an ideal location to spot birds among the forest of the Troodos Mountains. Try to join an organised bird-watching trip if you can, since the more people that come to watch, the more unlikely it is that the locals may refrain from hunting the birds, a favourite national pastime.