Cyprus is an island lying in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, close to the Asian mainland. It is situated south of Turkey, west of the Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, north of Egypt and east of Greece.
Politically and culturally, however, it is closely aligned with Europe, particularly Greece and Turkey. Historically, Cyprus has been at the crossroads between Europe, Southwest Asia, and North Africa, with lengthy periods of mainly Greek and intermittent Levantine, Anatolian, and British influences.
There are truly worlds to discover in this eminently accessible island, where the service is extraordinary and the people are as very friendly.
Families will enjoy the wide variety of activities the island holds for both children and adults. Couples will find themselves happily alone on empty beaches or wandering through quiet villages.
The central plain of Mesaoria with the mountains of Kyrenia and Pentadactylos to the north and the Troodos mountain range to the south and west. There are also scattered but significant plains along the southern coast.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean island and one of the most popular tourist destinations, attracting in excess 2.4 million tourists per year. It is a former British colony and gained independence in 1960 and became a Commonwealth republic in 1961.
The name Cyprus has an uncertain origin. One suggestion is that it comes from the Greek word for the Mediterranean cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens). Cyprus is also called "the island of Aphrodite", since in Greek mythology; the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite was born on the island.
In 1974, following years of inter communal violence between ethnic Greeks and Turks Turkey invaded and occupied one third of the island. This led to the displacement of thousands of Cypriots and the establishment of a separate Turkish Cypriot political entity in the north. This dispute continues and the United Nations maintains a buffer zone between the two factions.
The cuisine of Cyprus is varied and includes Halloumi, a cheese made from a mix of goat and sheep's milk. It is commonly served sliced and grilled as an appetizer. Seafood dishes of Cyprus include calamari, octopus in red wine, red mullet and sea bass. Cucumber and tomato are used widely in Cypriot cuisine. Other common vegetable preparations include potatoes in olive oil and parsley, pickled cauliflower and beets, kolokasi, taro and asparagus. Meat dishes can be marinated in dried coriander seeds and wine, and eventually dried and smoked, such as lounza, charcoal-grilled lamb, pork and chicken, sheftalia is minced meat wrapped in mesentery are some of the traditional delicacies of the island.
Access to the island is good as Cyprus has two international airports: Larnaca International Airport and Paphos International Airport. Nicosia International Airport has been closed since 1974.
Cyprus is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro currency
English is spoken widely.
The yacht cruising area is restricted to Cyprus Waters under the control of the Republic of Cyprus. The ports Kyrenia, Famagusta, Karavostasi are out of bounds. Yachts chartered in the south of Cyprus should not proceed further than Pomos fishing harbour on the Northwest coast and Paralimni port on the east coast.
Yacht charter in Cyprus requires one member of the crew of the boat to have a sailing certificate or a licence. An RYA qualification, or an International Certificate of Competence or some such equivalent.
Larnaka Marina is a popular starting base for yacht charters in Cyprus. It is situated in the bay of Larnaka and provides good protection in all weather conditions. Access to the Marina is controlled and limited to yacht owners and crews. The Marina has 24 hour security. Facilities within the marina are good and include hot showers, food and provisions store, coffee shop and telecommunications centre. Banks for foreign exchange are within a 10 minute walk of the marina. The marina is situated in the town of Larnaca, a fifteen minutes drive from Larnaka International Airport.
Weather for the Yacht Charter Area of Cyprus
