Prepare to be enraptured by Cyprus
A jewel of the Mediterranean, Cyprus has long magnetized visitors. You, too, are likely to be dazzled by the backcountry – think carved peaks and cedar-sprouting ridges, valleys of pistachio forests and bucolic farms untouched by the centuries. The coast has other powers to enchant. Shimmering sands line all shores, spilling into resplendent blue seas by lively Ayia Napa and tumbling down from pinewoods across the wild Akamas Peninsula. Cyprus vacation rentals are also a ticket to some seriously enthralling history. Tales of ancient kings and Turkic sultans waft between the hammams and castles, punctuated by halloumi grills and hummus-touting tavernas.
An active adventure in Cyprus
Packing the swimming costume? Great idea – Cyprus has Blue Flag beaches and hidden bays that glimmer in aquamarine hues. Every water-based activity under the sun is on the menu here, whether diving to long-lost shipwrecks or tacking on yachts to secluded coves. If there's room to fit in the hiking boots, the Troodos Mountains await. Up there, cedar woods and rural hamlets offer country cooking classes and long treks to mystical Orthodox monasteries. Turtle-spotting, snorkeling through reefs and biking on muscle-stretching mountain paths are also all possibilities.
The varying climates of Cyprus island
If you're heading to Cyprus for a bout of Mediterranean sand, sea and sun, there's no time better than the summer. This far south, that starts as early as May and lasts into September – expect temperatures in the 80s and maybe not even a drop of rain for the whole time. If you prefer hiking and exploring the history sights, spring or fall could be better picks. Months like April and October are cooler and have far fewer crowds. Up in the mountains, winter can bring snow. A short season between December and March even heralds a ski resort.
From cedars to brilliant bays in Cyprus
Cyprus vacation rentals are a ticket to one of the Med's most beautiful islands. A few reserves stand out. There's the Akamas Peninsula in the north-west, home to pine forests that crash down to glowing horseshoe bays. You'll find the so-called Baths of Aphrodite within – mythical waterfalls where the goddess is said to have washed. And you'll sometimes catch turtles crawling up the beaches. Inland are the Troodos Mountains, topping out at soaring Mount Olympus. The mountain region contains Paphos Forest, with its old-growth cedar woods and babbling creeks.
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