Cape Aspro: A Spectacular Coastal Hike in Cyprus
Cyprus, the third-largest island in the Mediterranean, is famous for its stunning beaches and bays, which boast some of the highest water temperatures in the region. According to legend, the gods themselves used to visit this island to bathe and relax. With a coastline stretching over 670 kilometers, Cyprus offers countless picturesque beaches and peninsulas, making it a paradise for both beach lovers and hikers. One particularly impressive spot is Cape Aspro, located in the south of the island near the town of Pissouri, situated on the Trachonas Plateau. Both Paphos and Limassol are just 30 minutes away. A breathtaking coastal trail leads over Cape Aspro, offering spectacular views of the sea and surrounding landscape. This coastal hike was an absolute highlight of my trip to Cyprus. The route is challenging, seldom visited, and the scenery is indescribably beautiful. In this blog post, I want to share my experience hiking along Cape Aspro – an unforgettable adventure that I highly recommend. Enjoy reading my travel report!
My hike at Cape Aspro in brief
If you click on a link below, you will go directly to the corresponding section of the route. It starts at Pissouri Bay on the beach. From there, a hiking trail runs along the coast to the outer edge of the bay, which promises a beautiful view. Shortly after, the first views of the 200-meter-high cliffs await you, over which the Cape Aspro hiking trail leads. Many spectacular viewpoints of the Mediterranean Sea follow, until it starts to descend again from the highest elevation. A secluded bay awaits you at the foot of the cliffs. From there, a tedious hiking trail leads up to the Genesis Aphrodite’s Trail, which finally ends in Pissouri. From the village, a small path leads back towards Pissouri Beach.
In total, the hike on Cape Aspro Trail is 12.3 kilometers long and it took me about 4.5 hours. The climb is not very strenuous, but requires concentration, surefootedness, and a head for heights. In fact, the paths are stony, unmarked and sometimes run directly along the precipice. You should definitely have a GPS map with you. There are no refreshment stops or drinking water on the hike. And no shade! Take enough water with you and definitely a headgear. Even in November the sun was still burning so strong that I was completely dehydrated at the end. I have marked the route and all important destinations on the map.
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12,3 km (4.5 h)
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↑↓ 555 m
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Hard
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Pissouri Beach
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Stony, unpaved, poor markings
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Coastal hike over cliffs
Alternative hike
Honestly, I can’t recommend the loop hike one hundred percent. The climb from the stone beach to the Genesis Trail is tedious. Partly the path is missing, and a ditch must be jumped over. In addition, the section through the village of Pissouri is quite boring. The last part back to Pissouri beach is also monotonous but promises beautiful views of the bay. Maybe I didn’t like the last part because I didn’t have enough water and there was really no protection from the sun. As an alternative I recommend taking the way from the lonely stone beach back over Cape Aspro. From Pissouri beach to the stone beach and back again it is 10 kilometers.
If you’re looking for more information and tips on hiking in Cyprus, check out this blog article.
How to get to Cape Aspro
Travel by car
My starting point of the Cape Aspro Trail is the beach in Pissouri, where there is a free parking lot (see map). The drive from the village of Pissouri to the parking lot takes about 5 minutes. From Limassol or from Paphos the drive to Pissouri beach takes about 30 minutes. The route is via the A6 highway. If the parking lot is already occupied, there is a second larger parking lot nearby.
To Pissouri by bus
Getting there by bus is more complicated. From Paphos bus line 630 goes to Pissouri beach via Pissouri. From Limassol bus line 70 goes to Pissouri, but not to the beach. Therefore, it is necessary to change buses in Pissouri. An alternative is to start the hike directly in Pissouri because it goes through the village anyway. You can find more information on the website Cyprus by Bus. I have marked the bus stops on the map.
If you want to learn more about traveling by car or public transportation in Cyprus, check out my travel blog about Cyprus.
My hike over the steep cliffs of Cape Aspro
Adventure on Cyprus’ most beautiful coastal hike
I park my rental car and the empty parking lot on the beach of Pissouri, put on my hiking boots and head towards the coast. It is early in the morning when I start my hike. The rising sun shines warm soft light on the deserted beach. Only the sound of the waves and the singing of the birds interrupts the morning silence. I pause briefly and enjoy this scene, then keep to the right and quickly find myself on a signposted hiking trail: The Cape Aspro Trail.
At the outer end of Pissouri Bay there are several beautiful viewpoints. The narrow trail now often divides and then rejoins. A path leads down to a stony beach. Shortly after, the trail climbs steeply. Often it is not obvious what the correct hiking path is. Therefore, I often get off the path, but in the end, I reach the cape of Pissouri Bay.
The white cliffs of Pissouri
At the cape, I realize for the first time what else awaits me on this hike. Behind me the magnificent view of the picturesque Pissouri Bay, but in front of me rise the mighty rocks of the cape. I am standing on the precipice. Thirty meters below me, the waves of the Mediterranean crash onto the gigantic cliffs. In the distance are cliffs that rise more than 200 meters into the air. Is that where the hiking trail is supposed to take me?! This is going to be an adventure!
I continue uphill. The narrow path is stony and dry. To my right is a gentle gorge with many shrubs and other plants. On the left side, the white cliffs plunge deep down into the sea. A head for heights and surefootedness is a must on the Cape Aspro Trail!
The hiking trail leads a bit back inland. Only small shrubs grow on the dry ground. But suddenly some olive trees appear. Every now and then a gecko runs across the path and hides in one of the holes in the ground. The main thing is that the Cyprus native Levant Otter, the largest poisonous snake in Europe, stays in its hiding places.
Short Facts for your Trip
For hiking at Cape Aspro, I recommend you to travel between March and May or between September and November. In summer it is too hot for that. I did the hike in November and could hardly stand the heat. Another advantage is that there are few tourists in the off season. I did not meet one person on my route.
For the coastal walk you can plan about 4 to 5 hours, but the recovery from it takes at least as long. However, it is worth to stay longer in this area of Cyprus because there are some sights waiting for you. For example, the Petra tou Romiou, which is better known as the Rock of Aphrodite. In Kourion, ancient excavations like the amphitheater or the sanctuary of Apollo Hylates await you. You will also find incredible dunes in a bay on the Akrotiri peninsula east of Pissouri.
At the start of the Cape Aspro Trail directly on the beach there are some hotels, which, however, are rather specialized in package holidaymakers. It is better to look directly in the village of Pissouri, because there is a wide range of accommodation*
The easiest way to get around Cyprus is with your own car. Parking lots are available at Pissouri beach. For the journey by bus, you need a lot of time. The bus network is poorly developed, but Pissouri is relatively well connected to Paphos and Limassol. You can find more information on the website Cyprus by Bus.
For the hike at Cape Aspro sturdy hiking boots are mandatory because the narrow path requires surefootedness. Be sure to take enough food and drink with you because there is nowhere to buy anything or fill up your water along the way. There is no shade anywhere, so remember to bring headgear and sunscreen. I also recommend bathing suits for the beach. Since the paths are insufficiently signposted, get a GPS map for your cell phone beforehand. It helped me a lot. My selection of recommended hiking gear for Cyprus can be found on this page.
During the hike there are endless possibilities to use your camera. Especially landscape photography from the vastness of the coast or the mountains of Cyprus. Therefore, think of telephoto or wide-angle lens and a lightweight travel tripod.
Goats, fishing boats and Cyprus’ viewpoints
I have left Pissouri Bay behind me and pass a run-down farm with an empty goat enclosure. A few kilometers further on, a free-roaming herd of goats crosses my path. Two goats stop, look curiously, and suddenly run toward me. I quickly prepare to defend myself, but then decide to take a few quick steps in the direction of the two goats. They abruptly take another direction and stop their “attack”.
The trail runs along the high cliffs and offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean. Fishing boats deep below me seem tiny. The dynamic water laps against the steep coastline, but from up here I look down on a quiet wave pattern that radiates calm and harmony. The blue tones of the sea and the sky blend together on the horizon, which lies far away in front of me. It seems that I can see to the end of the world. A flock of birds flies by in the distance. Up here, the worries of everyday life are forgotten, life is tangibly alive, freedom is boundless. A moment for eternity.
If you are looking for hikes in Cyprus, check out this book. I personally like this hiking guide series very much. The book is small and handy, offers useful information about hiking and detailed descriptions of the hikes. It has allowed me to discover great hikes in Cyprus that I would not have found without these books.
The highest elevation at Cape Aspro
Soon I reach the highest point of Cape Aspro. At 220 meters above sea level, I have an indescribable view of the steep coast of Cyprus. My gaze falls on my feet and continues to wander towards the abyss. Dizzying, because directly in front of me the rugged cliffs plunge into the depths. A fascinating, but also oppressive feeling spreads and the renewed realization of the superiority of nature.
The coastal high trail runs directly over the narrow paths of the peaks. On each elevation I get a different perspective on the coast. I feel like I’m hiking over a mountain ridge. It goes downward. Often, I lose the orientation and leave unintentionally the hiking trail. Suddenly erected cairns help with the navigation. I build some cairns myself and reach a beach after a challenging descent.
The remote beach at Cape Aspro
The sound of the waves is only drowned out by the sound of stones rubbing against each other as I walk along the beach. It seems as if someone had cut a swath through the steep limestone cliffs and left behind this lonely bay. The landscape of the idyllic bay is disturbed only by the plastic garbage between the stones, which was washed up by the sea. Probably only a few people end up here. In fact, I did not meet a single person on my hike.
Circular hike to Pissouri
There are two options for continuing the hike. Either you turn around and hike back the same way over the cliffs (total 10 km). Or you can do a circular hike via the Genesis Aphrodite’s Trail and the village of Pissouri (total 12.3 km).
I decide for the round trip and find only with difficulty the hiking trail from the beach uphill inland. There is no signage and often I am not sure if I am right. The trail is very steep at the beginning and runs along a dry river. Moreover, the path is brittle and often exposed. In addition, I often have to change sides and jump over the ditch. Bushes block the way. 200 vertical meters uphill without shade in the blazing sun. The route is challenging and should only be taken by sporty people.
Genesis Aphrodite’s Trail
At the summit, a magnificent view of the Cape Aspro awaits me. On the opposite side, I look down on the barren peaks of the interior. I am on the Genesis Aphrodite’s Trail, which leads from Pissouri to Prolimnos Beach. The road is stony and monotonous. There are green bushes along the way, the only contrast to the dusty limestone. In the distance tower the mountains of Cyprus, on the other side lie the vastness of the Mediterranean Sea.
The trail runs across the Trachonas Plateau and is therefore flat. More and more olive trees appear along the way. I take a rest in the shade of a large tree and watch the free-roaming horses and goats that run around in this area. Finally, I even reach a small section of forest, behind which the entrance to Pissouri awaits me. Here is a small parking lot if you prefer to start the route from there.
After an impressive coastal hike along the rugged cliffs and idyllic bays around Paphos, you’ve more than earned a refreshing reward. The Aphrodite Waterpark* is just the right place for it!
Hike from Pissouri to Pissouri beach
The section through the town of Pissouri is not particularly spectacular. At the edge of a quarter with small villas I reach a stony path. This leads over 2 kilometers downhill back towards the beach. The track promises an unobstructed view of the landscape. Accordingly, you get great views of Pissouri Bay here. I can see the beach clearly from up here and am happy to finally jump into the sea at the end of my hike. Only the last part, which unfortunately runs 500 meters along an asphalt road, separates me from the jump into the cool water. Finally done!
If you are looking for a travel guide to Cyprus, check out this book. I personally like this travel guide series very much. The authors give travel tips especially for individual and low budget travelers. Moreover, not only the well-known sights are described, but also more unknown places are mentioned.
Conclusion on the Coastal Hike at Cape Aspro
I really enjoyed the route overall. The sea, the cliffs, and the landscapes are truly unique and breathtaking. Anyone who appreciates wild nature will love this hike. The trail over the cliffs of Cape Aspro is a highlight in itself.
An Unforgettable Hike Along the Cliffs
Although the hike doesn’t involve significant elevation changes, it is still quite challenging. In addition to good fitness, high concentration is essential. The paths are narrow, rocky, unsecured, and in some places, run right along the edge. Surefootedness and a head for heights are a must on the Cape Aspro trail. However, no advanced hiking experience is required, but respect for heights is necessary. You should also not underestimate the sun and heat, as there is no shade along the route. Don’t make the same mistake I did – bring enough water and protect yourself with a hat.
The round hike is 12.3 kilometers long and takes about 4 to 5 hours. However, it can be shortened by retracing the same path back to the beach (10 km). I visited Cape Aspro in November, during the off-season. It was sunny and still about 24°C. The sea was warm enough to swim in. I didn’t encounter a single person, but I can imagine that this trail isn’t very crowded in the summer either. I highly recommend including this attraction in your Cyprus itinerary. For me, Cape Aspro was an absolute highlight.
Hotels and accommodation in Pissouri Bay
The best starting point for the hike is the beach in Pissouri. There are many hotels there, but they focus on package tourists. Nevertheless, it is possible to find suitable accommodation directly on the beach. More and especially cheaper accommodation is available in the village of Pissouri* northwest of the bay. I also stayed there and had a great view of Cyprus’ sea.
I hope you enjoyed my travelogue about Cape Aspro. On my Cyprus Blog I show you other beautiful travel destinations in Cyprus and share valuable tips and experiences for your trip to Cyprus. Did you like my blog post? Was I able to help you? Then I would be happy if you recommend my travel blog, leave a comment, or follow me on Instagram. Thanks for reading and have fun on your vacation in Cyprus.
The references marked with an asterisk (*) are so-called commission links. If you click on such a referral link and buy something, I get a small commission from the provider. For you, the price does not change! I see it as a small thank you for my work and look forward to any support.
