Myrto & Demetra

Region

The Peyia (Pegeia, Peiga, Peigia) village centre a its trdititional excellent eating places, and useful shops is only 1 km away.
The Coral Bay "high street" with its selection of bars, restaurants, tavernas and shops is only 2.5 km away.
The famous Coral Bay beach is less than 3 km away.
Paphos and Kato Paphos with a variety of cultural offerings and a more diverse nightlife are only a 15 min car ride away.
The Akamas National Park starts here
All 3 of Cyprus' world class championship courses (Tsada, Aphrodite Hills and Secret Valley) are within 25 min drive.
This Coral bay villa is a 25 minute drive from Paphos airport and 1½ hour drive from Larnaca airport

Peyia (Pegeia) Peyia, a hillside village about 15 minutes by car from the town of Paphos, is a favourite retreat for those seeking an escape from their usual routine. It is sheltered by the green mountains on its northern side and overlooks the full expanse of the Mediterranean to the south. It has grown a lot in recent years it is now designated a town with its own municipality, but in its centre it retains its quaint village image.

There are several coffee shops, grocers, a chemist, a bakery and a number and heartily welcoming tavernas, which provide simple but excellent food at very reasonable prices. A picturesque drive North along winding roads through the Pegia forest and pretty villages brings you to the Akamas Peninsula and Latchi's beaches, giving the possibility of countless memorable days out.



3.5 km from the superb beaches of Coral Bay and a short drive from charming Ayios Georgios harbour and the fascinating area of the sea caves.. Local amenities and sports include cycling, tennis, horse riding, paragliding, go-karting, swimming and a variety of beach activities. Safaris run regularly to all parts of the island from here . There are also rock-hewn tombs of the Roman period scattered throughout the area. Pegeia is also well-known for its fountains in the stone paved village square.

Coral Bay
The popular resort of Coral Bay is less than 5 minutes away and it offers everything you need for a perfect holiday. The resort centre is lined with shops, bars and restaurants serving a choice of local and international cuisine.

In the day, life is based around the idyllic sandy bay, where the calm shallow waters makes excellent bathing for children and there is a wide selection of water-sports available on the beachfront.

Kato Paphos
The capital of the west and positively teeming with history is Paphos, site of the island's second international airport. The resort town (Kato Pafos) has as its focal point a charming fishing harbour by Paphos Fort, lined with open-air cafes and tavernas that serve a tempting menu of the day's It was on Paphos shoreline that the mythological Goddess Aphrodite was born, a legend that spawned a massive wave of cult worship from neighbouring countries that lasted several centuries. The large rock that juts from the sea is known as 'Petra tou Romiou' - The Venus Rock - while the Baths of Aphrodite at Polis also echoes her apparent penchant for the island. At Palaepaphos, Kouklia lie the remains of the Goddess' earliest Sanctuary. Another 'first' for Paphos was its early recognition of Christianity. While under Roman rule in 45 A.D., it was here that Saint Paul converted the first ruler to the faith.



The legacy from its remarkable history adds up to nothing less than an open museum, so much so that UNESCO simply added the whole town to its World Cultural Heritage List. Among the treasures iiiK-arlhed, are the remarkable mosaics in the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus and Aion, beautifully preserved after 16 centuries under the soil. Then there are the mysterious vaults and caves, the Tombs of the Kings, the Pillar to which Saint Paul was allegedly tied and whipped, the ancient Odeon Theatre and other places of interest including the Byzantine Museum and the its Archaeological Museum.



Unavoidably, sooner or later, the children in the group will have had enough of culture, nature and "old ruins", and a day at Aphrodite's massive water park (a few minutes drive away) will get everybody excited for days before and thrilled and content for days after. Of course you can join in as well (if you dare!).

Akamas Region
The rugged Akamas peninsula is home to a huge variety of fauna and flora. The protected status of the peninsula has preserved the area's natural beauty and, perhaps even more than in the Troodos Mountains, nature reigns supreme. Its coastline is still largely pristine and its littoral and marine life little impacted by the advance of civilization.

		The diversity of wildlife in this area ranks it as an area of outstanding ecological importance, not only for Cyprus but for the whole of the Mediterranean

Akamas is also the reproductive grounds for "Chelonia mydas" and "Caretta caretta", two species of turtles that have been identified as "near extinction" in the Mediterranean.





In spring it provides a spectacle of breathtaking beauty with colours and shapes long lost in most of the rest of the island; a reminder of the island's original identity An area of approximately 250 square Km, surrounded by 12 traditional villages, displays a great variety of habitats and is home for 530 different plants (among these are 39 endemic plant species), 168 kinds of birds, 20 kinds of serpents, 12 different mammals and, 16 kinds of butterflies.

Driving within the actual Akamas Park is definitely the prerogative of a 4x4 but in summer there are several boats which cruise from Latsi (Latchi) if you prefer not to wrestle with your car's steering wheel. Cruising gives you the opportunity, too, to see some of the shipwrecks - the peninsula is treacherous in bad weather conditions.

One way to explore is to pack a haversack and hike as only in this way will one really appreciate the rich and diverse wildlife. Another enjoyable way to see the region is using a strong mountain bike.

The Cyprus Forestry Department has established some nature trails but there are many unmarked tracks to follow. The Laona Foundation, a non profit making trust, was set up in 1992 to manage a preservation programme originally instituted by the Friends of the Earth (Cyprus) and financed by the EEC. The project involved the renovation of 26 buildings - homes, churches, tavernas etc. in a number of villages all situated about 10 km south of Polis and 20 km North of Paphos. The Laona district in which these villages are located varies in landscape from coastal to hill country. It is abundant in flora and fauna and is particularly attractive in the spring where wild flowers may be appreciated between March and May. The area in general offers excellent walks. Villages benefiting from the Laona project include: Kritou Terra , an attractive village just five minutes drive from Droushia set on a hillside amid fruit and nut trees. The village hosts the Cyprus Environmental Studies Centre. Pano Akourdaleia , a tiny village set amongst vineyards in which the Project has established a herb garden at the old school. Excellent walking area with spectacular scenery. Kato Akourdaleia , set on a hillside facing the Troodos Mountains hosts The Folk Arts Museum. Pleasant walks to the restored Miller's House and to a Byzantine chapel set on the edge of a spectacular 'undiscovered' gorge. Miliou , a small village set amongst orchards. Close by, the hotel offers therapeutic sulphur-spring baths. Two traditional weavers work here. Kathikas offers a visitors' centre and several tavernas. The mild weather, the variety of landscape, vegetation and wildlife and the relatively unspoilt state of the coutryside and villages make it a real delight for the walker and naturalist, all year round.

Myrto & Demetra

Coral Bay