Even though I often travel alone, I still appreciate a beautiful romantic spot.  In this guest post, learn about four spots on the island of Cyprus to spend a romantic getaway.  The special ingredient beyond natural beauty… seclusion.

Cyprus’s most romantic beauty spots

Whether or not you believe in Greek mythology, Cyprus most certainly does have a natural beauty entirely befitting of the supposed birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.

When Aphrodite rose from the sea off the coast of this Mediterranean island, even she must have been impressed by what she saw, from the tree-lined peaks of the Troodos mountains running down to the crystal-clear water along the coastline.

With so much to be admired and such a romantic history, Cyprus holidays really are perfectly suited to loved-up couples looking for a peaceful and charming getaway.

Let’s take a look at the most romantic places on the island to visit.

Aphrodite’s rock

The most obvious place to start is Aphrodite’s Rock, which is known as Petra tou Romiou (Rock of the Greek) among locals.  Situated on the south-west coast of the island, this large rock stack just offshore from a pretty pebbly beach is said to be the spot where Aphrodite herself was born. If you’re both strong swimmers, swimming around the rock seven times is said to be a good omen – but do be careful as the current can be strong here.

As one of Cyprus’s best-known landmarks, the beach can get quite crowded so for a more secluded experience, you’ll need to go elsewhere.

Akamas Peninsula

If peace and quiet is what you’re after, then the Akamas Peninsula is for you. As it is accessible only by 4×4 along a very rough track, most visitors to the area simply plump for the main beach in the town of Polis – meaning the peninsula itself is very quiet.  Drive as far as you can go along the road from Polis, leave your car in the parking lot and then set off on foot around the headland. After about 45 minutes, the clifftop path begins to drop down towards sea level, allowing you to clamber down into one of the numerous rocky and sheltered coves.

Enjoy sunbathing and swimming in the calm, clear water all by yourself, but make sure you bring enough water for the walk back as you’ll be heading uphill and there are no facilities the whole way.

Troodos Mountains

Nothing is quite as romantic as a stunning vista, and there are plenty of those on offer in the Troodos Mountains. Hire a car and take the twisting mountain road from Polis via Lysos into the heart of this tree-lined range, stopping at your leisure to admire the sweeping views from the roadside.

Again facilities are at a premium, so make sure you take supplies and that your car is fueled sufficiently for the return journey to Polis where the petrol station is located.

Lara Beach

Another great romantic excursion in the east of the island is the drive to Lara Beach, which is some 45 minutes from the main road along a very bumpy track, which is just about doable in a regular car at a slow pace.

Your efforts will be rewarded once you reach this sweeping sandy bay where you’ll be able to count the number of other beachgoers on two hands. A turtle nesting site, Lara Beach has the potential to further charm its visitors with a glimpse of some of these wonderful sea creatures during season.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Lara Beach is another totally secluded place with no facilities whatsoever – but that’s what makes it so romantic.

 

All photos sourced from ThinkStock/iStock.