Cyprus Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

Limassol to Aphrodite’s Rock and Paphos

Board your yacht at Limassol Marina by mid-morning. After a welcome briefing and champagne on the flybridge, cruise west along the southern coast. The first stop is Petra tou Romiou – 20 nautical miles, roughly an hour at cruising speed. Anchor offshore from Aphrodite’s legendary birthplace for a swim around the sea stacks in warm, clear water, then continue west to Paphos – another 22 nautical miles along a coastline of golden cliffs and wild scrubland. Anchor off Paphos harbour and tender ashore for a late-afternoon tour of the UNESCO Archaeological Park: the Roman villas’ mosaic floors (House of Dionysos, House of Aion), the Tombs of the Kings and the remains of Aphrodite’s temple. Dinner at one of Paphos’s harbourside restaurants – perhaps Antigo Mezedopoleio for a traditional Cypriot meze. Overnight at anchor off Paphos.

Akamas Peninsula, Blue Lagoon and Lara Bay

Depart early and cruise 33 nautical miles north-west along the coast to the Akamas Peninsula – the wildest and most beautiful stretch of Cyprus’s coastline. Anchor off the Blue Lagoon on the peninsula’s western edge for a morning swim in startlingly clear turquoise water, sheltered by rocky headlands. Your crew sets up paddleboards and snorkelling gear while the chef prepares a Mediterranean lunch on the aft deck. After lunch, cruise south along the peninsula to Lara Bay – the only remaining green-turtle breeding site in the Mediterranean. If you’re visiting between May and August, your crew knows the respectful viewing distances, and you may spot turtles from the tender or the swim platform. The beach is wild, empty and framed by low cliffs – no buildings, no roads, no other boats. Return south to anchor off Paphos or in a sheltered bay on the peninsula’s southern coast for the night.

Avakas Gorge Coast and Return to Limassol

Cruise along the western coast past the dramatic Avakas Gorge – visible from the sea as a deep cleft in the limestone cliffs. Active guests can take the tender ashore for a morning hike into the gorge (a scenic river valley through Pegeia forest), while others swim off the yacht in the clear offshore water. Continue east along the southern coast, pausing at Pissouri Bay for a final swim and a farewell gourmet lunch on the aft deck. Cruise the remaining 20 nautical miles to Limassol, arriving by late afternoon. Disembark at Limassol Marina, sun-kissed and thoroughly spoilt.

Limassol to Governor’s Beach and Larnaca

Board at Limassol Marina and cruise east along the southern coast. The first stop is Governor’s Beach – roughly 15 nautical miles, where white limestone cliffs meet dark volcanic sand and the water shifts between jade and turquoise. Anchor for a morning swim and explore the contrasting geology from the swim platform. Continue 23 nautical miles east to Larnaca, passing the resort coastline and arriving by early afternoon. Berth at Larnaca Marina or anchor offshore. Spend the late afternoon exploring Larnaca’s palm-lined Finikoudes promenade, the medieval fort and the Church of Saint Lazarus (9th century, built over the tomb of the biblical Lazarus). Dinner at Shiftouris – a family-run taverna for over a century, famous for kleftiko baked in a traditional wood-fired oven.

Ayia Napa, Nissi Beach and Cape Greco

Cruise 20 nautical miles south from Larnaca to Ayia Napa. Anchor off Nissi Beach for a morning swim in the famous turquoise shallows – 500 metres of white sand, a tiny island connected by a sandbar, and water so clear you can see every shell on the bottom. After a chef-prepared brunch on the aft deck, continue east to Cape Greco’s sea caves. Your crew takes you by tender through the rock arches and into the limestone tunnel network, snorkelling in 25–40-metre visibility over colourful reef fish and underwater formations. Spend the afternoon exploring the quieter coves on Cape Greco’s eastern shore before anchoring for the night in a sheltered bay. Dinner on the aft deck beneath the stars.

Protaras and Relaxation Day

A shorter day focused on swimming, water sports and relaxation. Cruise north from Cape Greco to the golden bays of Protaras – Fig Tree Bay (regularly rated among Europe’s best beaches), Konnos Bay (a tiny crescent sheltered by wooded hillsides) and the quieter coves further north. Your crew sets up a full water-sports station: paddleboards, kayaks, snorkelling gear and seabobs. The chef prepares a long, leisurely lunch on the aft deck, and the afternoon is yours for swimming, reading and soaking up the eastern Mediterranean warmth. This is the day that reminds you why you chartered a yacht. Overnight at anchor or return to Ayia Napa.

Return Along the Southern Coast to Limassol

Depart early and cruise west along the southern coast – roughly 55 nautical miles from Ayia Napa to Limassol, a comfortable day’s run with stops. Pause at Zygi, a small fishing village halfway between Larnaca and Limassol, for a mid-morning coffee and a fresh-fish lunch at one of the waterfront tavernas (the fried calamari here is legendary among locals). Continue west, pausing off the Kourion coast for a final swim beneath the ancient amphitheatre on the clifftop above. Your chef prepares a farewell supper on the aft deck as the yacht rounds the headland into Limassol, arriving in the golden late-afternoon light.

Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the 3-day western coast itinerary with the 4-day eastern coast route for a full 7-day circumnavigation of southern Cyprus – from the Akamas Peninsula and Aphrodite’s Rock to the sea caves of Cape Greco and the golden sands of Protaras – without repeating a single anchorage.