Cyprus is considered to be one of the top ten safest countries in the world.

Cyprus is considered to be one of the top ten safest countries in the world. In general I would consider walking on official trails (they tend to be cleaned) and on dirt roads as safe. There are official trails that may need extra caution (eg Avakas Gorge may be slippery - and it is restricted in winter, various stretches of the White Cliffs trail require a lot of caution). There are restricted areas (including Akrotiri and Dekeleia bases) that one should be aware of, and one should avoid entering fenced plots. One should keep in mind that there is a hunting season in Cyprus. It usually lasts from August until the end of February. Wednesdays and Sundays are hunting days. In many places hunting is allowed, nevertheless there are various restrictions (eg no hunting within 500 meters of a settlement, 200 meters of any building , 100 meters of any road). Thee are official maps that show when hunting is allowed and where. Usually in Cyprus people go hunting very early in the morning, and usually very close to the start of the hunting season.

There are about thirty species of mammals on the island, about 20 of which are bats. The biggest animal on land is the mouflon, a shy wild sheep species that numbers upto 10,000 individuals and lives in Paphos Forest. The red fox is the biggest carnivore on land. There are about thirty endangered Mediterranean monk seals currently living in Cyprus waters. There are records of more than 400 bird species on the island. Cyprus is an important stopover during migrations between Europe and Africa in spring or autumn. Other species, like flamingo, spend winters on the island. There are nine snake species out of which three are venomous and one (blunt nose viper) can be dangerous. There are about 10,000 sea turtles (Green turtles and Loggerhead) in Cyprus waters during the warm season, out of which about a third come here to breed. The sea around Cyprus is not considered to be very fertile. As a result it is rare to spot dolphins from the shore and extremely rare to spot any sharks. Jellyfish are rare in Cyprus (every few years they may appear in large numbers for a couple of weeks). The last two decades we have seen tens of marine species migrating to Cyprus waters from the Red Sea (probably the Lionfish is the most impressive to see).

In general Cyprus has a temperate climate. At the same time, the highest peak on Cyprus reaches 2,000 meters. What's a good time to walk in Cyprus depends on where one wants to explore: 1) Winter - at the top of the mountains (mount Olympus) there are four short small ski pists. Usually there is snow cover for 2-3 months. on the coast maximum day temperatures approach 20 degrees centigrade (add a few more degrees because usually it is sunny). It is an excellent time for walking, especially if one wants to experience the 'green' phase of Cyprus and see some of its many wildflowers (eg daffodils, some orchids, gladioli). 2) Spring - great time to walk everywhere (unless there are cold fronts or heat waves) - one should keep in mind that on lowlands flowers bloom relatively early, while at higher elevation they bloom later during the year 3) Summer - Cyprus has hot summers. In general we would not recommend extensive walking on lowlands. On the other hand, short walks under ten kilometers, especially if one starts early during the day can be quite pleasant. Top this with a refreshing swim and the whole experience can be lovely. At the top of Troodos the situation is easier as maximum day temperatures are nearly ten degrees lower than on the main plain. Even a bit longer walks, if one starts early, can be quite enjoyable. Lastly, there are many valleys in Cyprus, with some of them being very lush and shaded by trees like alders and plane trees. Walking in the shaded valleys can be cooler and enjoyable even during the hottest summer months. 4) Autumn - another great time to walk everywhere (again, unless there are cold fronts or heat waves). In valleys and plantations (eg vineyards) one can experience teh change of colous with leaves taking yellowish, red or brown colours. Walking on top of Troodos is also fine, as it is very rare to have snow cover in autumn. Walking around on the coast can be excellent, especially if one combines a walk with a swim in the sea. It should be noted that sea water temperature stays quite high throughout autumn.

The climate in Cyprus is temperate (with no more than forty days per year with some rain in coastal areas). Cyprus is a relatively calm place with few windy days. Lastly, one should keep in mid that the island is found in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and not in an ocean, and as a result usually the sea is relatively calm. Sea Water temperatures around Cyprus are high. They fall to just under 17 degrees Celsius in February and rise up to 29 in hot summer. Sea temperatures are a lot higher in autumn compared to spring. While summer temperatures are high and pleasant for most people, one should consider that Cyprus is a mass tourism destination focused on its beaches. This means that there are very big number of visitors in summer. However, away from the big tourist centers like Ayia Napa, Protaras, Paphos etc, there are many, especially unorganised beaches, where one can swim with very few in the vicinity.

The climate in Cyprus is temperate (with no more than forty days per year with some rain in coastal areas). Cyprus is a relatively calm place with few windy days. Lastly, one should keep in mid that the island is found in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and not in an ocean, and as a result usually the sea is relatively calm. Sea Water temperatures around Cyprus are high. They fall to just under 17 degrees Celsius in February and rise up to 29 in hot summer. Sea water temperatures are a lot higher in autumn compared to spring. Cyprus can be excellent for kayaking trips all around the year, espeiclly if one uses sit-inside instead of sit-on-top kayaks. Nevertheless, as Cyprus is a mass tourism destination focused on its beaches various stretches (eg Cape Greko) can be congested, especially if one kayaks in the middle of the day. One should keep in mind that there are some restrictions for specific coastal seas in Cyprus. Access to the Ayia Napa Sea Caves is usually prohibited from November until April, while the reverse happens to parts of Lara coast.

Yes, there is a hunting season in Cyprus. It usually lasts from August until the end of February. Wednesdays and Sundays are hunting days. In many places hunting is allowed, nevertheless there are various restrictions (eg no hunting within 500 meters of a settlement, 200 meters of any building , 100 meters of any road). Thee are official maps that show when hunting is allowed and where. Usually in Cyprus people go hunting very early in the morning, and usually very close to the start of the hunting season.

We define 'authentic ecotourism' as an environmentally friendly way of exploration (mostly of nature). The addition of the term 'Authentic' adds the parameter of cultural heritage in the scene of exploration, in other words, we explore in an environmentally friendly way the nature and cultural heritage of a place.

Authentic Ecotourism Cyprus is an excellent destination for authentic ecotourism (natural beauty and variety, long history and rich cultural heritage, temperate climate, safety, good infrastructure). There are different assessments of how environmentally friendly an experience is. Some of what we think consistute environmentally friendly experiences that can be found in Cyprus include the following: Walking Kayaking Snorkeling Scuba diving Sailing Rock climbing Hang gliding