Machaira Forest

The Machaira forest is located 45 kilometers southwest of Nicossia, about 60 kilometers west of Larnaca, 130 kilometers northeast of Paphos and about 70 kilometers from Limassol.

On the eastern slopes of Troodos lies Machaira forest which consists of two large forest areas, Machairas and Aetomouttis. This large forest extends eastwards to the village Lythrodontas (where is the local forestry station), southwards to the settlement of Vavatsinia, westwards to Fikardou, Lazania, Gourri and northwards to village Kapedes.

Machaira forest lies between Nicosia province and Larnaca province which manage the whole forest with Famagusta province. A part of the forest has been declared as Special Protection Area, as well as Important Bird Area (IBA). The forest covers an area of 62 square kilometers of which 48.3% is part of the national forest of Cyprus.

Covered with ophiolitic igneous rocks, at least 90 million years (mainly venous and volcanic rocks), the lower part of Machairas forest is to the east, near the top of Lythrodontas, at an altitude of about 400 meters. The excursion area of Kionias, near the fire guardhouse, which is preferred by cyclists due to the beautiful bicycle routes, is at an altitude of 1423 meters where the visitor can admire the panoramic views from the radar area.

With a Mediterranean climate and flora diversity, which is mainly characterized by golden oak, pine, endemic yolks, mushrooms, anemones and other aquatic plants and trees, the forest Machairas is crossed by rivers Pediaios and Gialia, as well as their tributaries , Pentaschinos and Maroni, while the ecosystem around them has enormous ecological importance. The luckiest of the visitors can see reptiles, foxes, hares and hedgehogs regarding the mammals that find refuge there, endemic birds like jay, Cyprus wheatear, scops owl and more.

Legal hunting is permitted however the biggest danger for the forest is the frequent fires. Overall Machairas forest has three picnic sites (like “Mantra Kampiou”) with a total capacity of approximately 2,200 people, six nature trails, and it is crossed by the Wine Route No. 7. So it is natural to attract local and foreign tourists who spend their holidays in the region. Other nearby cultural attractions outside the monastery of Machairas are the monastery of Prophet Elias with the small park, but also the church of St. Onoufrios. Furthermore, in the area there is also the hideout “Stavraetou Machaira’ of Gregorios Afxentiou who was an EOKA fighter, which also lies close to the monastery of Panagia of Machairas.

Finally, at the foot of the forest Machairas lies the old mine Alestou with the small pond, where visitors can see pyrite rocks.