Published · 6 min read · Facts checked 9 October 2026 against the sources below
The Blue Lagoon is the bay that turns up on every postcard of the Akamas: pale sand under a few metres of very clear water, so the boats moored over it look as if they are floating in the air. It lies on the north coast of the Akamas, west of the fishing harbour at Latchi, and it is one of the best places for a swim and a snorkel in the Paphos area.
You come by boat, from Latchi or on a longer trip from Paphos, or along a rough coastal track that we do not recommend in an ordinary hire car.
For a full day on that coast, with Polis, Latchi harbour and the Baths of Aphrodite, see our Polis and Latchi day trip. For trips that leave from Paphos harbour, see Paphos boat trips.
Where the Blue Lagoon is
The Blue Lagoon is in the Latchi area, and the boat operators in Latchi treat it as the main stop on their cruises along the Akamas coast. It is on the stretch of coast between the Baths of Aphrodite and Fontana Amorosa, with other small bays such as Manolis Bay nearby.
What makes it special is underwater. The bay has a maximum depth of 10 metres and visibility of more than 20 metres, over a sandy bottom with patches of Posidonia seagrass, rocks and sponges.
Boat trips from Latchi
Latchi harbour is the obvious place to start. You have three choices.
A small cruise. Cruise boats leave Latchi every day while the trips are running. Two of the operators, and their trips in 2026:
| Operator | Trip | Length | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Diamond | Morning, afternoon or sunset cruise | 3 hours | Waterslide, wine and fruit |
| Cyprus Mini Cruises | Morning or early-afternoon cruise | About 2.5 hours | Fruit, local wine and squash |
| Cyprus Mini Cruises | Barbecue cruise | About 4 hours | Lunch cooked on board |
The morning boats leave between 10:15 and 10:30. Cyprus Mini Cruises, which has run from Latchi since 1982, stops at the Blue Lagoon, the Baths of Aphrodite, Saint George's island, Manolis Bay, Blaji Bay and Fontana Amorosa, depending on the trip and the sea. Prices and departure times change through the season, so check the operator's site before you go.
A self-drive boat. If you want the lagoon on your own timetable, hire a small motorboat. At the Latchi Watersports Centre, boats up to 10 metres can be taken out on a car driving licence by anyone aged 21 or over, and life jackets, snorkelling gear, a cool box and a coastal map come with the boat. Blue Diamond also hires out self-drive boats. Go slowly near the bays and stay well clear of swimmers when you anchor.
A private charter. For a group or a celebration, both Blue Diamond and Cyprus Mini Cruises offer private hire.
Getting to the Blue Lagoon from Paphos
If you would rather not drive to Latchi, you can book the whole day from Paphos. Paphos Sea Cruises runs a full-day Blue Lagoon trip of about six hours that includes a coach transfer to Latchi, and lists pick-up points around the Paphos area. The Latchi operators also arrange transfers from Paphos: Blue Diamond sells a shuttle as an add-on, and Cyprus Mini Cruises can book a taxi or coach.
From Coral Bay, north of Paphos, driving yourself to Latchi is the simpler option. The road climbs inland through Kathikas and Drouseia, and there is free parking near Latchi harbour. There is also a daily bus, route 648, from Coral Bay to Polis; our day trip guide has the times.
The 4x4 track to the Blue Lagoon
There is a land route. An unsealed track runs west from the Baths of Aphrodite along the coast towards Fontana Amorosa, past the lagoon. A Cyprus Mail writer who rode it in a 4x4 in 2021 described a narrow coastal path cut by gullies.
Our advice: see the lagoon from the sea.
Swimming and snorkelling
The Blue Lagoon is ideal for beginners. The water is shallow enough to see the bottom from the boat, and there is plenty to look at: small fish in the bay itself, and larger species outside it where the rocks drop away.
The cruises stop in the lagoon for a swim, and the self-drive boats from the Latchi Watersports Centre come with snorkelling gear. If you have your own mask that fits well, bring it.
A few practical points:
- Pack a towel, swimwear and sun protection. A hat and a long-sleeved top help on the open deck.
- Get in from the boat ladder. The lagoon is deep enough that you will be out of your depth in places.
- Children should wear a life jacket or buoyancy aid in the water if they are not confident swimmers.
- Seasickness: the water inside the bay is calm, but the trip there can be choppy. Our Paphos boat trips guide has advice from the NHS.
Crowds and the rules on the water
The lagoon's fame is also its problem. In summer, several cruise boats, private yachts and self-drive boats can be anchored there at once. In 2020 the agriculture ministry described the situation in the Blue Lagoon, Manolis Bay and Fontana Amorosa as chaotic, and proposed banning boats and fishing there from April to October for the sake of swimmers. As far as we know, no such ban was in force in 2025 or 2026, but the debate has not gone away.
What does apply in 2026 is a code of conduct for boat users, published by marine conservation groups at the start of the summer: keep at least 100 metres from turtles, dolphins and seals, slow to 5–6 knots within 300 metres of them, and avoid entering or blocking sea caves. If you are taking out a self-drive boat, follow it.
To find it quieter:
- Go early. Take the first cruise of the day, or a self-drive boat with an early start.
- Go late. Blue Diamond's sunset cruise runs from 17:00 to 20:00 in the season.
- Go outside the peak months. Late spring and October are quieter than July and August. Our Paphos weather guide has the month-by-month picture.
Planning your trip
Book a day or two ahead in July and August, and keep a spare day in your holiday in case the trip is cancelled for wind; Paphos Sea Cruises moves you to another day or refunds you in full. Pair the boat with lunch at Latchi harbour, and leave the Baths of Aphrodite and the nature trails for another day.
Which option suits you
- Families with young children: a short morning cruise from Latchi. It is back by lunchtime, and the waterslide on the Blue Diamond boats is a draw for children.
- Couples: a sunset cruise, or a self-drive boat for a few hours with a picnic in the cool box.
- Groups and celebrations: a private charter, so you set the stops and the length of the day.
- Confident swimmers and snorkellers: a self-drive boat, which lets you move on to the quieter bays along the coast once the lagoon fills up.
- No car, staying near Paphos: the full-day trip with a coach transfer to Latchi.
The lagoon is one stop on a longer stretch of coast. Depending on the operator, the same trip can take in quieter bays, Saint George's island and the Baths of Aphrodite. For more on the national park itself, see our page on the Akamas.
Where to stay
Villa Prasino is a private villa in Peyia, between the sea caves and the Akamas, for up to 6 guests. The Akamas National Park is about 5 km from the villa, so you are on the right side of Paphos for Latchi and the Blue Lagoon, and Coral Bay beach is about 5 km for the days you do not want a boat. Back at the villa there is a 6 × 12 m private pool, a hot tub, a traditional stone barbecue and a driveway for three cars. Read about our villa by the Akamas, check availability and rates, or send us a booking request when you have dates.
