Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort

Worth getting out of bed for

Coax yourself vertical from your king-size bed, beach cabana or massage table and allow your bleary eyes to take focus. You’ll soon discover there are plenty more activities – of both the gentle and energetic varieties – available in and around Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort.

Within the resort’s 111 acres, you can get involved in beach volleyball and table tennis tournaments, play padel and tennis, or shoot a few hoops on the full-size basketball court. Stroll the beachfront path or venture further afield on bike rides and guided horseback treks through the grounds.

Harvest olive crops with local farmers before discovering how velvety Cypriot oils are made and – crucially – ingesting far more of the stuff than you intended in an oil-tasting session. And, sure, you’ve tried rubbery ‘well done’ halloumi at an amateur cookout or two in your time, but have you ever had it grilled to crispy golden-brown perfection on the outside and marshmallow-squishy on the inside? This salty, umami Cypriot halloumi is the real deal, and you can get it fresh from the griddle at tasting sessions with local cheesemaking gurus. Third in Cyprus’s holy trinity of edible wonders is the island’s famously aromatic floral honey. Don a beekeeper’s suit on a honey-harvesting trip with local apiarists, before sampling the sweet stuff and, naturally, taking as much of all of the above home as you can cram into your suitcase.

There’s yet more fun to be had in the Akamas National Park, a vast wild peninsula full of rugged peaks, forested valleys and sandy bays. Take a guided tour to the protected loggerhead and green turtle hatcheries on remote Lara Bay, snorkel the gin-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon, or hike the Avakas Gorge Trail for otherworldly rock formations, tranquil trickling streams and drop-dead gorge-ous views.

Crowding around the harbour, where yachts bob gently in calm cerulean waters, the city of Paphos is chock-full of ancient Greek and Roman treasures. Don’t miss the Paphos Archaeological Park with its well-preserved amphitheatres, villas and columns. The mosaic depicting Theseus battling a minotaur is a highlight here. Climb up to the battlements of Paphos Castle for far-reaching harbour and sea views and look out for monuments both ancient and modern to Greek goddess Aphrodite, born from the sea on these very shores, so the story goes.

Local restaurants

Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort is all about scenic isolation and Mediterranean views that never get old, and the plentiful dining options here all bear repeat visits. But, as long as you don’t mind being the designated driver or forking out for a fairly lengthy cab ride, there are other options available. 

Around seven miles south, Kissonerga is the nearest large(ish) village to the resort, and along its pretty palm-lined streets is where you’ll find Tweedie’s and Kambana. Tweedie’s is run by a pair of British expats, but don’t let that put you off. Inside its old stone walls await a homely atmosphere and market-to-table philosophy best illustrated by baker Hilary’s flavoured breads and gut-busting desserts like limoncello-iced tiramisu and traditional sticky toffee pudding. Nearby Kambana serves homemade Cypriot classics in a picturesque setting overlooking the church. 

It’s well worth persevering with the rough track that leads to Viklari, aka the Last Castle. Here, natural stone and driftwood sculptures add character to the traditional open-air dining room with its canopy of vines and what could well be the finest views on the peninsula. Simple but effective plates of pork and chicken souvlaki complement those eye-popping vistas of the Lara Bay turtle reserve and beyond. Booking essential.