Lara Bay is the wild end of the Paphos coast — a curved beach of pale sand on the western flank of the Akamas Peninsula, protected under Cyprus's marine conservation rules as a nesting site for green and loggerhead sea turtles. The beach is empty for most of the year. In summer it is lightly used by visitors, under the watchful eyes of conservation staff who maintain marked nesting zones and ask beachgoers to keep clear of them. Lara is not a beach for sun loungers and beach bars. It is a beach for swimming in clear water under empty cliffs, then leaving.
The track in is rough. The reward is real.
A Beach for Turtles
Lara Bay and the adjacent stretches of Akamas coast are the most important sea-turtle nesting beaches in Cyprus. Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) come ashore from June to August to lay eggs in the sand; hatchlings emerge from August through October. The beach is protected under EU and Cypriot conservation law; nesting zones are roped off in season; night-time access is restricted; lights and umbrellas planted in the sand are not allowed.
If you're lucky, you may see a turtle in the shallows. If you're very lucky in the right month, you might glimpse a nesting female at the wave line.
How to Visit Lara Bay Responsibly
Visiting Lara is straightforward if you respect the protections:
- Stay clear of roped-off nesting zones.
- No beach umbrellas planted in the sand during nesting season.
- No lights at night — turtles, especially hatchlings, are disoriented by artificial light.
- Take your rubbish out with you — there are no bins.
- No fires.
- Drive slowly on the track in — the soft sand and dune environment is fragile.
The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research maintains the current visitor guidance.
Getting There
Lara Bay is reached by a long, rough track from the village of Agios Georgios, north-east of Coral Bay. The track is unmade — a four-wheel-drive or a sturdy SUV is essential — and takes around 30 minutes from the tarmac road, with several stretches of loose surface, rocks, and steep dips. There are no facilities at the beach, no cafés, no toilets, no shade. Bring water, food, sun cover, and a beach umbrella you can carry (not plant).
Two practical alternatives if a 4×4 day is not for you: a boat trip from Latchi harbour along the Akamas coast typically passes Lara Bay; a tour operator's day excursion can include Lara as a stop.
From Annabelle
The drive from Annabelle is around an hour, including the unmade track. Reception will arrange a four-wheel-drive transfer or recommend an operator running boat trips up the Akamas coast — for most guests, the boat is the more comfortable option. Either way, plan a full day rather than a half.
Pair the visit with the Avakas Gorge or other parts of the wider Akamas Peninsula.
Find your way to Lara Bay on
Google Maps.