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CyprusWhat to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting
Larnaca Salt Lake also known as pink lake, because under certain lighting conditions, it actually has a pink tinge. It is considered the most beautiful lake in Cyprus, and one of the most popular natural attractions of the island. And it is also the habitat of beautiful pink flamingos, although they are here only in winter, in summer they can not be seen. It is also called "Werewolf lake" or "Ghost Lake", because in winter it is filled with water, and in summer it almost completely dries up, leaving behind only a layer of salt. But be careful when walking on the surface in the summer: under the layer of salt there is dirt, and you can easily fall knee-deep into the stinking slime.
But you need to understand that although this place is popular, in fact, if you come here just to admire its views from the shore from one of the observation decks, you will most likely leave disappointed. Another thing is if you decide to walk along one of the hiking trails. This can be either the route "The way of Aphrodite" (Afrodite's Path), encircling the entire lake along its perimeter with a length of more than 11 kilometers, or a shorter part of this route with a length of a little more than 1 kilometer" The Path of Aphrodite" (Afrodite's Trail). If you choose the first option, you will have to go the entire route on a dirt road, which will take 4-6 hours, or by bike a little less than an hour. But along the way you can visit (order when moving clockwise):
- Memorial Park Eldyk (ELDYK Memorial Park) - A Military Park of memory with several samples of weapons.
- Mosque Hala Sultan Tekke (Hala Sultan Tekke) - a historical monument and an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims.
- Kamares Aqueduct "the remains of an eighteenth-century aqueduct.
- Park Pattiheyo (Pattichion) - just a park for walking, not very well maintained.
For a hike along the tourist route around the lake, take drinking water and something to eat, and in the summer be sure to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Please note that some "reputable" travel guide sites and bloggers confuse the tourist route "Aphrodite's way" with the walking path along the coast from Aphrodite's baths on the other side of the island in Paphos.
🕐 Working hours
around the clock, it is better to visit during the day in winter from (October to March).
💵Entrance fee / ticket price
free.
🚶 How to get there
the lake is on the outskirts of Larnaca towards the airport (Lake on the map. To just look at it, the easiest way is to take a bus or car to the parking lot or bus stop of Touzchane 1 (viewing point on the map). There are at least buses going there №425, 429, 417, 418, 419, 445, 446, 456, 407. From there, the Aphrodite trail begins in the direction of Patticheio Park (Pattichion). You can walk from the center of Lanaka to the lake and on foot, but in this case it is better to go to the park Pattiheio (Pattichion), you have to walk a couple of kilometers (Pattiheyo on the map).
A complete circular route along the path of Aphrodite can also be started from the Stop Touzchane 1, or from another convenient starting point from the Camares Aqueduct, which can be reached by buses №№ 420, 421, 448, 452, 455, 408, 410, 412, 413, 414 to the stop Limassol avenue 5. Well, another option, in our opinion the most optimal distance – is to take bus number 425 to the terminal at the airport or the previous stop Artemidos avenue 7, from there on foot to the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque, then to the Kamares Aqueduct, and finish the journey in Pattiheio Park.
Also see options for excursions in Larnaca that can be booked online: