Baths of Aphrodite
Baths of Aphrodite is one of the most important natural attractions of Cyprus and it is located in Akamas, about 25 kilometers northwest of Paphos in the homonymous province.
Located in the wider region of Neo Chorio Paphos in a lush landscape, where according to legend, the goddess of love was dedicated to her grooming and enjoyed the bath, either alone or in the company of her lovers, away from the eyes of humans and the gods of Olympus. A cave created among the hollow rocks of Akamas creates a natural reservoir with a depth of about half a meter, which is the Baths of Aphrodite. There, the water gush out from the cracks of the limestone rocks of the location, and a small stream leads into the sea. Swimming in the water is prohibited, but the visitor can have a refreshing swim at the homonymous beach of the area.
The aromas of the herbs seem to have been the secret that helped the goddess of love to remain young and beautiful. Today, around the shallow pool of the Baths of Aphrodite, there is an ecosystem of great scientific value. The wild vegetation is so lavish that it keeps the area cool all year round and creates shade while trees like the wild fig, olive, carob, colorful Cypriot wildflowers and endemic cyclamen during the spring and the "hair of Venus "- believed that was used by Aphrodite to bathe her hair, complete the flora of the region. This spot is home to a rare endangered water snake that exists only in Cyprus. Since 2006 along a small paved path leading to the famous baths of Aphrodite, there was created a 10 acres botanical garden with an observatory of birds, and explanatory signs and benches throughout the course of the route, to offer visitors a more comprehensive experience.
According to mythology Aphrodite was bathing in the waters of the cave until one day she met beautiful Adonis, who stopped to drink water, and she fell in love with him. Since then this location, which became known as Baths of Aphrodite, was the meeting point for the two lovers. The place in its beauty inspired some poets of the antiquity. Claudius Claudianus a Latin poet of the 4 th century AD mentions the two streams of the place, ‘Here spring two fountains, the one of sweet water, the other of bitter, honey is mingled with the first, poison with the second’.
Access to the Baths of Aphrodite is easy by taking the road from Pegeia to Poli Chrysochous. Alternatively organized daily excursions with off road vehicles take place, approaching the location from the dirt roads of Akamas. Between the Arnaoutis Cape and the port in Latsi there are many natural footpaths like the footpath Aphrodite and the footpath Adonis.