Trips in and around Protaras

Officially the Ayia Napa Park of Mediterranean Plants, Cactus and Succulents, the Ayia Napa Cactus Park is worth a day trip from Protaras. It is next to the Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park and Open Sculpture Museum – so you can see both in one trip.

Not far from Protaras, the Cyclops Cave is the legendary den of the mythical man-eating one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus who trapped Odysseus and some of his men on their way back home from the Trojan War. Odysseus eventually blinded the cyclops with a wooden stake and escaped unharmed, but he did lose some of his men.

Dherynia is a charming village in the Famagusta district of Cyprus. It is well worth a day trip, considering that it boasts many attractions, including an outdoor folk-art museum at the heart of the settlement – at Demetri Liberti 2. The Deryneia Folkloric Museum, in a house opposite the Open Air Traditional Folk Art Museum, documents aspects of lifestyle in an old traditional residence.

One of the most fascinating things to see when you vacation in Protaras, and a short drive from Leonardo Crystal Cove Hotel & Spa by the Sea, the Sculpture Park in Ayia Napa is a premiere in the Famagusta Free Province. It hosts works by artists participating in the Ayia Napa Municipality International Sculpture Symposium meetups between 2014-2017 – both Cypriot and international talent.

Medusa Cruises offers a variety of boat trips and tours. They do, however, have a daily boat tour in the summer leaving at 10:45 a.m. from the Pernera Fishing Shelter in the Protaras Harbour. Besides the scheduled daily trips, they also offer sunset cruises, fishing trips, and private charters for events like hen or stag parties, weddings, birthdays, and other happy occasions.

The Ocean Aquarium is an exotic destination where adults and children alike can observe a variety of animals in a fascinating natural setting. There’s also a wonderfully landscaped tropical garden, which is a favourite venue for weddings, kids’ birthday parties, etc.

Right in the centre of Ayia Napa, a short drive from Protaras, the Thalassa Municipal Museum opened its doors in 2005. It is a maritime museum that documents the role, importance, and impact of the sea on the island of Cyprus.

WaterWorld Themed Waterpark Ayia Napa is a family-friendly destination themed to remind of Ancient Greece. It has all kinds of slides, creatively designed and named to commemorate the legends of Olympus. Attractions like Aphrodite’s Baths, Apollo’s Plunge, Minotaur’s Labyrinth, Drop to Atlantis, Poseidon’s Wave Pool, The Fall of Icarus, and the Trojan Adventure, fascinate as much as they entertain guests young and old.

DGR Diving is a certified PADI centre that offers scuba diving classes for all skill levels. Children aged 8 or older can partake in a fun-filled underwater course called the Bubble Maker, where they dive in safe conditions to observe the marine life around Cyprus. Adults will enjoy more advanced courses like the four-day Open Water Course, which with participants receiving an Open Water Diver (OWD) certificate.

Not far from Protaras, in Ayia Napa, Parko Paliatso Luna Park is a fantastic amusement park, with all kinds of extreme rides, including “Sling Shot” – at 90 meters, the highest ejection seat ride in Europe. Booster takes you on a spin 45 meters above the ground, and the Looping Star is a thrilling roller coaster ride.