Agios Georgios (Saint George), Toxeftra, the gorges and Cape Lara
Heading west just a short drive down the coast is the small fishing harbour of Agios Georgios, which sits in a breakwater in front of a small island, and was formerly the important settlement of 'Drepanum' in Roman times. It is now primarily known for its small, quiet shingle beach and its three or four good souvla and fish restaurants.If you have only a short time to spare, it’s worthwhile timing your visit to coincide with sundown – from late spring to early winter the sunset here must be one of the most dramatic in Cyprus. Just up from the shingle bay are some natural rock caves through which you can clamber and, to the north, you can see the start of the totally unspoilt nature reserve of the Akamas peninsula.

A few kilometres north from Agios Georgios, Toxeftra beach is essentially the mouth of the Avakas gorge and can be reached (somewhat bumpily) in an ordinary car. As part of the turtle conservation area, Toxeftra has no amenities so peace and seclusion are virtually guaranteed. The nearby gorges of Avakas and Koufon are well worth the time and energy needed to explore them fully - both are spectacularly steep-sided and home to rare, endemic vegetation, birds and wildlife. Past Toxeftra the track to Cape Lara is often deeply rutted and this journey is only really advisable in a 4-wheel drive or as part of a jeep safari excursion.

At Cape Lara, apart from fabulous scenery and unspoilt beaches, you will find Lara Turtle Station on the northerly bay, which is one of several local nesting grounds of the endangered green and loggerhead turtles. In 1978 the Lara Turtle Conservation Project and its field station were established in an attempt to reverse the decline in the mortality rate and the coastal area from Toxeftra to a few kilometres beyond Lara declared a protected area. So far, the Project volunteers have managed to quadruple the yearly survival rate for hatchlings.