Considering North Cyprus is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea with over 300 days of sunshine a year. It comes as no surprise that there is a wealth of sea life activities to embrace on your holiday.
Seek out one of the many beaches around the island, all offering a unique style and ambience. Delve upon the golden sands of the Karpaz, kilometres of untouched shores all to yourself. Alternatively, take your hamper and relax on one of the coastlines of the Alagadi coves, or check in to a trendy beach club and polish your tan whilst sipping on a brandy sour.
Engage in a series of water sports available in most hotel resorts and beach clubs. From inflatable doughnuts and hot dogs for the kids, jet skis and canoeing for couples, to parasailing and wakeboarding.
For families who need flexibility, make it a day at one of the seaside beach resorts with water slide facilities. Sprinkled all over the island, water parks, mammoth pools, and animated in-water yoga sessions. All resorts will be open to non-member visitors, for a reasonable entrance fee, group discounts and free admission for toddlers.
SCUBU DIVING
Diving is a very popular activity for many in North Cyprus, and there are some really good clubs that can provide training courses, trial dives and trips to great diving locations. If you are interested in donning a wetsuit during your holiday, the diverse marine and reef life of NCY.
There are several sites located all along the NCY coast and you will not be disappointed – ship and plane wrecks, caves, reefs and an abundance of fish that will watch you with intense interest. You will find crystal-clear and unpolluted shores where the marine life is still undisturbed. You may find yourself swimming alongside the island’s famous turtles, staring at stingrays or chasing an octopus across the corals and rocks.
Kyrenia is the main centre for diving and most of the schools are based there, with over twenty dive sites within easy reach of the harbour alone. Diving centres are easy to find and also operate within hotel resorts or beach clubs.
You can also join dive safaris to the Karpaz region, where dive sites include underwater caverns and a cargo ship lying below twenty metres.
BOAT TOURS
A very relaxing way of observing the Mediterranean and the wonderful coastline of North Cyprus. Boat trips and sailing are great ways to spend a day.
There are many companies extending crafted gullet boats and sailing trips spread across the island, in Kyrenia, Famagusta. And the small fishing town of Bogaz in Iskele.
Usually setting off in the morning, you will sail along the coastline, through various shades of blue, stopping off at various sites, always with an opportunity to cool down in the clear waters of the Mediterranean. A typical lunch on-board lunch will be served, and you should expect to return in the early evening.
For those looking for a more romantic experience, short evening trips that sail you towards the wonderful sunset accompanied by a glass of wine are also a very unique experience to treasure.
Yachting courses can also be found in local harbour towns and is a tranquil way of skirting the coastline, the seas generally being extremely calm in the summer months.
Fishing is another relaxing way to spend part of your holidays. And many of the boats located Kyrenia or Bogaz offer fishing trips as well. The waters in North Cyprus are home to over eighty species of fish. So you might just hook your catch of the day.
DON’T FORGET YOUR FLIP-FLOPS!
North Cyprus has a speckled coastline leaving beach lovers absolutely spoilt for choice.
Pebble beaches and long stretches of sand all lead to the most beautiful waters of the world – the Mediterranean.
Beaches in North Cyprus are usually not signposted, except for the more popular beach clubs. Most provide car parking, on-site restaurants and cafes, sunbeds and parasols, generally with a small entry fee. When there is a charge, it is well worth it, as these popular beaches provide thrilling water sports activities and coast guards for your safety.
Popular beaches:
Golden Beach
Travel to the northern tip of the island and you will be greeted by the world-famous Golden Beach. Kilometres of golden sands and azure sea, this beach is referred to as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty in mythology. Never too crowded, the secluded Golden Beach is ideal for those seeking privacy and tranquillity.
You will need to source your own refreshments though if you are planning to spend the day here. As there are no facilities on this isolated site, any toilet requirements should be meticulously taken care of in the wild!
Glapsides Beach
North of Famagusta on the east coast of the island, Glapsides Beach is in a convenient location. This long sandy beach with shallow waters is under the supervision of the Famagusta municipality, flocked by tourists and locals during the summer.
Water sports enthusiasts and scuba divers can explore the mystery of the underwater world. Whilst other land sports devotees can join the regularly run beach volleyball tournaments.
Long Beach
Situated on Salamis Bay, 15 kilometres north of Famagusta and near the ruins of Salamis. This magnificent sandy beach is ideal to spend time relaxing with a range of available facilities.
Kervansaray Beach
In the heart of Kyrenia in the Kervansaray area, this beach has a range of facilities. Sunbeds and umbrellas, dressing rooms and showers, restaurants and even an additional artificial grass sunbathing area for those who don’t like to get sand on their feet. The beach also has a car park for the disabled with easy access to the beachside.
As the cove of Kervansaray is a stop for most boat tours from Kyrenia Harbour, there is a designated swimming area to ensure the safety of swimmers.
Alagadi Beach
15 kilometres east of Kyrenia, another great public beach is Alagadi, where you can see turtles nesting during the summer season. Turtle watching is famous as one of the prominent attractions of this beach where photo enthusiasts wait for their moment. Alagadi is an ideal spot for families as well as couples, lined with sandy dunes and shallow waters.
There are no facilities so do not forget to bring your own umbrellas, water, and other refreshments. An ideal location to have an afternoon picnic.
Nudist Beaches
There are no official nudist beaches on the island and the concept is not permitted in NCY. However, topless sunbathing on the beach is not strange though may attract some attention.
You can also check out our post about summer voyages
Source: www.visitncy.com
