Nature Trails Overlooking the Endless Blue

Picturesque Chapels, Wild Nature, Rare Flora and Fauna…Nature trails that offer a unique experience, a walk through the history of Famagusta Region with the endless blue as your backdrop.

Full of contrasts and secret landscapes, Famagusta Region is a destination that will surprise you every time you visit. To get to know the area better, take time to walk the wonderful nature trails in the Cape Greco National Forest Park. If you are a nature lover, you will be enchanted by the rare flora and fauna of the area. If you love hiking, then you have a great challenge ahead of you. If you simply love discovering the hidden secrets of each area you visit, then on these trails you will discover everything, with breathtaking views at every step. We have listed seven unique nature trails for you to explore the history, legends, and beauty of the Famagusta Region.

Konnoi Trail – Cyclops Cave

• Length: 2.4 km
• Time: 45 minutes
• Form: Circular

Start walking from the beach of Konnos, located between Protaras and Cape Greco, and follow the entire nature trail within the Cape Greco National Park to the Cyclops Cave. The views along the way are breathtaking, with the bright blue sea merging with the wild vegetation. It connects with the paths Konnoi – Ayioi Anargyroi and Prophet Elias – Konnoi.

Ayioi Anargyroi Trail

• Length: 2.3 km
• Time: 45 minutes
• Form: Circular

Start from the church of Ayioi Anargyroi and enjoy the rich flora of the area and the magnificent view of the sea. You can even spend the day at the picnic area and have your picnic in nature. It is connected to the Ayioi Anargyroi – Sea Caves trail.

Prophet Elias Trail – Konnoi

• Length: 8.5 km
• Time: 3 hours
• Form: Linear

One of the most popular and long hiking trails in the area, starts from the chapel of Prophet Elias and ends at the beach of Konnos. Perhaps with the best view of the area and it passes by the chapels of Ayios Ioannis and Ayioi Saranda that are worth visiting.

Panagia Trail – Ayioi Saranda

• Length: 2.5 km
• Time: 45 minutes
• Form: Linear

Starting from the Church of Panagia, head east (towards Protaras) and enjoy the view, the beauty of nature, and stops at three chapels: Ayios Ioannis, Ayioi Saranda, and Panagia.

Kavos Trail

• Length: 2.5 km
• Time: 45 minutes
• Form: Circular

Start from the Old Quarry and walk through a pine wooded area followed by an area of low bushy vegetation. The path offers excellent views, particularly at the top of the hill. The impressive cliffs on the south side of the hill are ideal for climbing enthusiasts. The trail connects to the Sea Caves – Ayioi Anargyroi trail.

Sea Caves Trail – Ayioi Anargyroi

• Length: 4 km
• Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Form: Linear

Much of the route runs parallel to the coastline, offering wonderful views over the sea caves and the endless blue. The trail passes through a rocky area with sparse vegetation, reaches the natural bridge Kamara of Korakas, and ends at the church of Ayioi Anargyroi. The church is built on the sea cave, where it is believed that Ayioi Anargyroi lived as ascetics.

Aphrodite Trail

• Length: 2 km
• Time: 1 hour
• Form: Circular

Starting the route from the Environmental Information Centre, you will pass through the ruins of the ancient temple of the goddess Aphrodite and descend past natural caves with stone structures around them.  These were used by shepherds for animal shelter in earlier times. The views along the route are magnificent, especially towards Cape Rudalio where the Lighthouse of Cape Greco is located.

The Rare Natural Beauty of Cape Greco

During your tour of the nature trails, you will encounter rare plants, birds, animals, and butterflies, many of which are unique to the area.

Vegetation and Flora

Around 400 plant species have been identified in the area, of which 15 are endemic and 14 are considered rare. Among the endemic plants, the species recorded include: Bosea cypria, Allium willeanum, Anthemis tricolor, Onosma fruticosa, and Teucrium micropodioides. Among the rare native plants, the species Enarthrocarpus arcuatus, Tordylium syriacum, Crassula alata, Limonium aucheri, and Umbilicus horizontalis are recorded. The latter is a very rare species in Cyprus and is found only in Cape Greco and in the area of Ayios Hilarion. Generally, the vegetation is low except for a few stands of aorata(Cupressaceae) and pine which have a tree-like form.

The Fauna of Cape Greco

In the area, you can encounter various species of mammals, reptiles, and a wide variety of butterflies and other insects, many of which are endemic and rare. Of the winged world, around 87 species have been identified and recorded, most of them migratory. To date, 71 other important animal species (excluding birds) have been recorded, including reptiles, bats, and endemic insect species, while the protected dolphins Tursiops truncatus and Stenella coeruleoalba are rare visitors to the Cape Greco area.

The Migratory Birds

Cape Greco is considered a very important habitat for migratory birds as it is located at the southeastern tip of Cyprus and is therefore the first stopover for migratory birds. Around 20 Annex I birds of the Birds Directive, including the endemic Sylvia melanothorax (Cyprus Warbler) and Oenanthe cypriaca (Cyprus Wheatear), have been recorded in the area. Another 67 species of birds have also been observed in the park.