Akrotiri Sand Dunes: Discover the Wild Side of Cyprus

You will find the Akrotiri peninsula, a few kilometers southwest of Limassol. The location belongs to one of the two British overseas territories, Akrotiri and Dhekelia. Besides having a military presence, the place offers a variety of natural beauties and wildlife. And the Akrotiri Sand Dunes are among them. If you are one of those people who love deserts, the dunes can fulfill that longing. They offer a taste of desert landscapes while you are still within the European Union. Of course, the vast deserts of the Middle East are not too far away either.

Geography

If we go back in history, the dune system on the Akrotiri Peninsula is one of the most extensive in Cyprus. It is primarily the result of the sediments delivered by the Kouris River. Over time, processes shaped the deposits and created complex structures such as stabilized, mobile foredunes and beaches. Salt marshes and wetlands occupy the rest.

The earliest phase of dune formation is at the northern edge of the peninsula, with embryonic shifting dunes. Another notable feature of the peninsula is the tombolos, or parallel sand ridges, which gradually grow outward, allowing dune formation due to wave action and wind entrapment.

If you walk around the dunes, you will notice they have a little greyish hue, and if you pair it with minimal human imprint, you will get a mysterious or more otherworldly landscape. A little slice of coastal wilderness. Besides their scenic energy, Akrotiri Sand Dunes play a crucial ecological role and act as a natural buffer. They keep the erosion at bay while stabilizing the coastal zones.

Wildlife

One of the first things you will notice when you reach the dunes is the table informing people about the sea turtles and their nests. The most common species are the Loggerhead and Green turtles, which lay nests on the dunes and nearby beaches of the Akritori Peninsula. Since 1994, scientists have recorded around 22 loggerhead nests and four green turtle nests per season.

The people who manage the nesting process are usually local volunteers and those who work at the UK Sovereign Base Areas.

From other animals, you may have the chance to bump into Schreiber’s Fringe-fingered Lizard, Acanthodactylus schreiberi. Lizards are endangered; you can find them only in Cyprus and some nearby countries.

How to Reach the Dunes

The easiest way to reach the dunes is by car. Just head towards the Akrotiri village and find the church Timiou Staurou right next to the Akrotiri Primary School. Follow the road to the west until you find yourself on the Agiou Georgiou street. It will take you to the church of Saint George, but if you turn left, you will get on a dirt road.

You should find the dunes at its end, but be aware that it bifurcates into many more minor roads, some of which lead to the beach. The main highway is mainly situated on a steep hill, or steeper in some parts, and it can be problematic for some cars to go down. If you want to reach the shore, turn left on one of those minor roads.  

If you rely on public transport, take bus number 24 at the EMEL Bus Station Leontiou in Limassol. There are two bus stops in the village of Akrotiri. One is near the Salt Lake, and the second is the final station. If you want to see the whole village, get off at the final stop, but head towards the Timiou Staurou church.

From there, you can follow the same route as with the car. It shouldn’t take you too long to reach the dunes by walking, but if you go there during a hot summer day and stop at the Saint George Church, the journey can take up to one hour or more. Reaching the dunes on foot is doable even during hot days, as I did.

The only downside is that you need to carry a lot of water with you, especially if you decide to check out more of the whole shore and Cape Zevgari. You can also take a shortcut from the church and just mingle around the plants and vegetation for a while. You may not get lost, but you may have problems finding a free path to continue, as I did.

Saint George Church

Agios Georgios is a small chapel located one kilometer from the Akrotiri village and a couple of kilometers from the Achaios shipwreck. It stands on a plot that is easily accessible by road. It is open during the day (some people online claim it is open continually), and tourists can come and take a look inside it. Opposite it are some resting tables with benches. It is a little chapel with a chill atmosphere worth visiting, although some people may not be very astonished.

The chapel, or this single-room basilica, was made from Limassol stone. The sturdy material is often used in local historical buildings. Double-layer masonry, an ogive arch, and a small bell tower are present. The interior has a plaster-marble floor, stone altar, simple wooden chancel, and faded murals of St. George. Its origin dates back to the 16th to 17th century.

Achaios Shipwreck

The ship is often referred to as the Three Stars Shipwreck, and it gives a ghostly allure in its way of resting and rising from the sea. If we look at history, there was a vessel named Mav Achaios in 1932. It operated under the Akarnania Maritime Company.

The vessel ended its journey in 1976 from Yugoslavia to Jeddah. It was filled with wood, and at a certain point, it was met with a powerful storm. The weather conditions forced it to stay there. All the crew members survived, but the wreck continues to rest in shallow waters approximately 7 meters deep. Because the water is not very deep, part of it is visible above the surface, giving the surrounding area quite a dramatic outlook.

Watersports

The most popular watersports you can do at the Akrotiri Sand Dunes or the beach are windsurfing and kitesurfing at the Kadjimuttale Beach, or snorkeling and diving around the Achaios Shipwreck.

Kadjimuttala Beach or Turtle/Sand Beach Dunes is accessible right after the dunes. The place has consistent winds, making it ideal for surfers. The waves can be high enough to suit experienced surfers, especially when combined with strong currents. There is also a sign warning people to be careful and not swim in the waters.

The side opposite the Fishing Center tends to be calmer, with a lagoon with less than a meter of deep water. You must walk a few meters away from the shore if you want deeper water. Still, even in these shallow areas, you can feel some gentle currents.

The Achaios shipwreck offers ideal conditions for divers and snorkelers. It lies in the Akrotiri Fish Reserve, which is full of marine life. You can encounter bream, sea bass, groupers, moray eels, and octopus. There is also a submerged helicopter and a fire engine in the waters. If you would like to enhance your experience with a local sports operator, you can check Seawolf Watersports, which often offers tours around Limassol Bay, including the Akrotiri caves.

Conclusion

Overall, the Akrotiri Sand Dunes are an excellent place for a short remote trip that offers a few hours of raw nature that you might have only for yourself. On the day of my visit, there were some visitors, but some were making shorter stopovers. I also saw a man hiking and following the routes within the areas with more vegetation. There were also two German-speaking tourists on my way back to the Saint George chapel. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any turtles at Kadjimuttala Beach.

The only downside for some people might be the flying military planes—fighters and other aircraft—that occasionally roar overhead. While they can be loud, many visitors (including me) find that the spectacle adds a unique energy to the area rather than detracting from the experience.

If you’d like to explore even more of what this unique region has to offer, don’t miss my guide Akrotiri, Cyprus: 10 Best Attractions and Activities for a complete list of unforgettable experiences.