IDEALLY LOCATED
Christofinia Hotel is situated in Ayia Napa, the island’s leading cosmopolitan resort, 3km from the town centre, only 150m from the famous picturesque beach of Nissi Beach and 300m from Macronisos Beach.
ABOUT CYPRUS
Cyprus is an island of spectacular beauty, a living mosaic of cultures, cuisine, and undiscovered riches. Cyprus is a romantic place with something for everyone. As the island is surrounded by the beautiful Mediterranean Sea there are more than enough beaches for you to experience. Ayia Napa has the most beautiful sandy beaches in Cyprus and most of them are blue flag awarded.
The weather in Cyprus
Did you know that Cyprus’s climate is one of the hottest among European countries? Throughout the year, the whole island is literally drenched in the sun. Summers here are all about long, sunny days, with up to 10 hours of sunshine per day and temperatures rising above 30°C. It’s highly unlikely you’ll see rain during this season. December and January, on the other hand, are the months when it rains the most. Even though you may experience a few colder days in the spring, there’s always plenty of sunshine to enjoy. Temperatures usually hover in the low to mid-20s, making it the perfect season to explore the island.
Whether you’re heading to the north or the south of the island, you’ll find sandy beaches galore and average temperatures of 30°C or more in the peak of the summer. However, head inland, the part of the island that’s home to vineyards and mountain ranges, and the Cyprus weather changes; the higher altitude makes this part of the island around 4°C cooler, dropping even lower at the highest points.
Clothing and Activities
General information and suggestions on what to wear and do, according to the season, are provided below.
April-May
Days are pleasantly warm during this period, but can get a slightly chilly at nights. This is an excellent season for those who prefer to enjoy nature, as the countryside is green and flowers are in bloom.
The clothing advised is:
– Medium-weight and summer apparel.
– Light woollies or long-sleeved cotton for the evenings.
June-July-August
The warmest months of summer are Ideal for swimming and all beach/water activities.
The clothing advised is:
Very lightweight summer clothing.
September-October
This season is characterized by warm days and cool October evenings. Swimming, sunbathing and watersports are still at their best during this period.
The clothing advised is:
– Lightweight apparel for the day.
– Medium-weight apparel for the evenings in October.
November
This month has pleasantly warm days and cool evenings. Lunch in the open–air can still be enjoyed, and even sunbathing and swimming can too, along with most outdoor sports. The weather is ideal for autumn travel.
The clothing advised is:
– Medium-weight apparel.
– Light Woollies.
December-January
These are the winter months for Cypriots, but can be considered as autumn by foreign visitors. It may rain occasionally, yet the promise of glorious sunshine is still there. Outdoor activities and excursions can still be enjoyed.
The clothing advised is:
Winter clothing, but heavy coats are not required.
February
The weather is changeable, with the possibility of warm days and occasional rain. Whilst temperatures are the harbingers of spring, it can be quite cold in the evenings. Almond trees are in bloom and conditions are ideal for snow skiing on the Troodos mountain range.
The clothing advised is:
Winter apparel.
March
The weather is moderate, with plenty of sunshine and nature at its best. Most outdoor activities can be enjoyed, and March is an excellent period for long country walks.
The clothing advised is:
Winter apparel with medium–weight wear.
Sea Temperatures
The temperature in the open sea hovers above 22° C from June to November, climbing to 27° C in August. Even during the three coolest months of January to March, average sea temperature is an acceptable 16° or 17° C.
Near the coast, the temperature of water three or four metres deep is similar to that of the open sea, ranging from 15° to 17°C in February and from 23° to 28° C in August. There are no significant daily fluctuations in sea water temperatures, except in very shallow waters less than one metre deep.
Humidity levels
The levels of humidity in Cyprus are usually average (approximately 30% to 60%). However, there are winter and summer days when the humidity levels increase, reaching at approximately 80% to 90%, Fog is rare and appears mostly in early morning time. Visibility is most of the times good to excellent. However, in some cases in spring period there is low visibility which appears due to dust coming from African and Arabian areas.
Never Settle
Not only is Cyprus home to sunny Mediterranean beaches enclosed by rugged cliffs, but also cool cedar forests, scented orange groves and gentle meadows blanketed in wildflowers, charming villages, ruins of ancient civilizations and distinctive local cultures. Take time to discover the breathtaking Troodos Mountains and the raw beauty of Akamas peninsula, or explore some of the island’s rich history, from pre-historic tombs to Crusader castles.
NISSI BEACH
2 minutes walking
With its crystal clear waters and gently shelving white sand, Nissi Beach is gorgeous to look at and a great place to chill out and top up your tan.
It has a selection of places to eat and drink, various watersports including jet-ski’s, banana boats and pedaloes. It also boasts a diving centre, a volleyball court and of course, toilets, showers and changing rooms.
No Visit to Ayia Napa is complete without some time spent at Nissi Beach. It’s not only Ayia Napa’s biggest daytime hot spot but one of the most popular beaches on the whole island of Cyprus. Everyday from May until October beach parties are held at the Nissi Bay Beach Bar featuring some of Ayia Napa’s best known DJ’s as well as guest artists and celebrities. Expect special guest appearances, dance contests, foam parties and all kinds of fun and shenanigans.
In early November the sun loungers are packed away and the watersports put away until April. Winter temperatures can reach up to 25 degrees so visiting Nissi Beach in winter is peaceful and calm.
Cape Greko
19 minutes by car
Cape Greko is a picturesque protected national park and is famous for its sea caves, which lie off the Ayia Napa-Protaras coast road. Follow the road to Protaras and take the first road to Cape Greko. The scenery is spectacular – stunning drops down to crystal blue sea.
From the cliffs that lie on Cape Greko you have a panoramic view of the paamazing Mediterranean sea all around. The beautiful waters surrounding the area have made it a huge attraction for scuba divers. People are also known to dive from the cliffs at Cape Greko, but be warned that some of the currents in the serene looking waters are stronger than you can imagine.
Cape Greko has magnificent sea cliffs and some amazing plant life. There are more than 36 Orchid species that grow in the park there. Here you can also find crocuses and irises which add beautiful colour and fragrance to the park.
Cape Greko sits on more than 390 hectares of land and offers visitors the chance to enjoy numerous activities as well as scuba diving. Some of the activities you might be interested in are swimming, fishing, rowing, riding and cycling.You will also find the remains of an old Venetian lighthouse which is popular amongst bird-watchers.
It is also said that in Cape Greko during ancient times, there was a temple to Aphrodite.
SEA CAVES
19 minutes by car
There are numerous sea caves stretching from the Eastern edge of Ayia Napa up towards Cape Greco National Park. Smugglers caves and the palace caves (right) are deep passages in the cliffs only accessible from the sea.
Some go as deep as 80 metres into the rock and at low tide during calm seas it is possible to walk or swim into many of them.
The sea surrounding the caves is crystal clear although rocky. Many people visit this stretch of coast around Cape Greco to snorkel or dive and local people often fish here during the early hours of the morning. The caves are also visited by most boat trips which sail the East coast on a daily basis.
LOVE BRIDGE
10 minutes by car
In Cape Greco there is one of the most amazing natural bridges in Cyprus, the bridge of the lovers. It is a masterpiece of the best creator, nature. This particular spot is very popular with photographers and honeymooners due to the romanticism inspired by the location, especially at sunset.
SCULPTURE PARK
9 minutes by car
The 20.000square metres sculpture park and its adjoining cactus park offer a beautiful setting for a stroll with stunning, panoramic views, and benches along the way.
The sculpture park consists of a large collection of pieces by over 50 artists from around the world who have participated in the annual Sculpture Symposium held by Agia Napa Municipality. The expansion of the collection is an ongoing project that is continually being added to, and in 2015, artists from around the world created their sculptures on-site over a period of three weeks, turning the park into an open-air workshop.
The Park of Mediterranean Plants, Cacti and Succulents is an extension of the sculpture park and is also an ongoing project to showcase the various cacti and dried plant varieties of the island.
AYIA NAPA MONASTERY
8 minutes by car
The Ayia Napa monastery was built around 1500 AD and is a prominent landmark in the town. It has a tranquil courtyard and marble fountain.
The monastery stands in what was once a fishing village, surrounded by thick forest. In fact the term “Napa”, which means forest, is an ancient Greek word. So Ayia Napa monastery is steeped in history. Legend has it that the original icon for the building was discovered accidentally by a hunter in a cave – the icon was named as the Virgin Mary of Ayia Napa, and the monastery was built around the cave.
An ancient sycamore, believed to be over 600 years old sits outside the south gate, of the Ayia Napa monastery.
The monastery was restored in 1950 and 1978 and is now a conference centre serving churches in Cyprus and the middle east. Inside there is a cave which tells of the history of the monastery as a place of worship for early settlers to the island.
The monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and was long regarded as a convent for women. Later converted into the monastery and now a conference centre, it serves the church’s activities in Cyprus and the Middle East. The monastery is open in summer from 9.30 hours to 21.00 hours and during winter is open from 9.30 hours to 15.00 hours.
THALASSA MUSEUM
10 minutes by car
Named after the Greek word for ‘sea’ – the Thalassa Museum was created to promote awareness of the marine heritage of Cyprus from prehistoric times to the present, and is a modern, interactive museum, housed in a multipurpose cultural centre.
Pride of place among the exhibits is a lifesize replica of the famous 4th century Greek trading ship ‘Keryneia II’ that sank off the coast of Keryneia around the year 300 BC. Due to the museum’s design, the ship can be viewed from different levels, including a birdseye view – as can the other exhibits, that include pottery and other antiquities.
Housed in the basement is a marine life section with various exhibits, from fish and sea mammals to crustaceans, corals, shells and fossils – some dating back 130 million years ago.
The museum also functions as an arts exhibition centre, as well as a multipurpose hall for a variety of events and conferences.
PROFITIS ELIAS CHURCH
16 minutes by car
Profitis Elias church is situated on the hill in Protaras. It is said to take 156 steps to climb up to the hilltop church. The church offers stunning views of Protaras and its surroundings. There are trees of rememberance that sit close by – a local custom is to tie something to one of the branches in rememberance of a loved one. The church itself is an insight into theOrthodox church in Cyprus.
The interior of the church is quite breathtaking and unique. The walls and ceilings of Profitis Elias church are decorated with vivid biblical images. If you visit in the late evening you may experience a breathtaking sunset over Protaras. To get to this location, take the main road to Protaras. At night the church is lit up so that it is even more breathtaking in its beauty. It is worth visiting Profitis Elias church for a chance to experience the spiritual as well as historical side of Protaras.
LIOPETRI FISHING REFUGE
12 minutes by car
Liopetri is one of the red soil villages ( Kokkino Horia ) of Cyprus. The term describes the rich red soil that Liopetri is surrounded by – the red soil is synonymous of eastern Cyprus. This red soil helps grow the tastiest potatoes in the country.
The region has a mild climate, its rich red soil and a good supply of underground water has helped Liopetri become more than a fishing village. There has been an increase in agriculture and farming. Products cultivated in Liopetri and the surrounding red soil villages are potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, kolokassi (a root vegetable) and watermelons.
In Liopetri you will find that the fishermen mend their nets by day while setting sail in the evening. The remains of a Venetian watch tower and a 16th century church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and a 15th century church of Agios Andronikos with an octagonal dome and murals can be found in this picturesque village. Liopetri is also where the french poet Arthur Rimbaud worked during the 1880s. It is a potato growing village but still carries on the traditional craft of basket making.
Liopetri is an ideal place to visit for a day out from Ayia Napa. It has a variety of shops, banks and traditional tavernas. It also has a beautiful natural fishing shelter at Potamos Liopetriou – it’s where the local fishermen bring in their catch, with some saying the best fish on the island!
DHERYNIA FOLK ART MUSEUM
19 minutes by car
Dherynia is situated a little way out of Ayia Napa. It is said to be over 700 years old and is approximately 15 km from Ayia Napa, close to the town of Paralimni. Dherynia folk art museum is an attraction not to be missed during your stay at Christofinia Hotel. Dherynia is a traditional Cypriot village with modern amenities.
The Dherynia folk art museum is also a major attraction in the area and is a very popular venue for weddings. The museum is actually housed in a traditional house in Dherynia and this museum shows how functional Cypriot houses are. It has an interesting collection of authentic domestic utensils, farm implements and other items in a charming old house of traditional architecture, surrounded by a spacious yard. Artefacts have been donated by the people of Dherynia and the surrounding area. The museum curator is always more than happy to give guided tours of the museum. In fact the curator donated the museum to the community of Dherynia.
The museum is open Monday to Saturday 9.00 hours to 13.00 hours then 16.00 hours to 18.00 hours. The museum has a basic entrance fee. The village of Dherynia has more than the museum to visit. It has churches and chapels of historical interest. An old church dedicated to the Virgin Mary stands in the centre of the village. Originally it was a small church with a Byzantine dome. Work on the church has gone on from the late 15th century to 1727. A chapel in the centre of Dherynia has a beautiful Byzantine dome and is dedicated to Ayios Georgios. The town hall has a library, and the hall within the town hall is used for conferences and cultural shows.
