An Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise sails from the harbour along the south-east coast of Cyprus to a turquoise swim stop. Compare how the trips run, then browse tours in Greece for more ideas.
This page covers what the cruise is, how long it takes, the landmarks and sea caves, Cape Greco, the Blue Lagoon, Konnos Bay, the turtles, life on board and the weather.
What is an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise, and how does it work?
Boats leave Ayia Napa harbour and sail along the south-eastern shore of Cyprus, past white cliffs. They anchor twice for a swim, once at the Blue Lagoon and once at Konnos Bay. Together, the sail and the two swims make up an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise.
Operator pages describe the same shape for the day. You board at the harbour, the boat follows the coast to the east, and the crew anchors in clear water. Then you swim or snorkel before the boat sails back. A travel writer calls the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise a popular tour from the marina.
The order of the swim stops is not the same on every route. One page sends the boat to Konnos Bay first and ends at the Blue Lagoon. Another route list puts the Blue Lagoon before Konnos Bay. Both name the same two stops.
Plenty of boats run this tour from the marina. A travel writer says every boat gets its own patch of water for swimming. That day the writer shared the coast with just two other boats, and the stop felt spacious.
Life on board stays relaxed. One operator page lists soft music, plus a gentle breeze from the sea, on the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise. A travel writer also heard a commentary from one of the people on board. It covered the area and its geography.
Operators run more than one kind of day out. One page lists three kinds. There is a pirate cruise with entertainers and lunch, a relaxing cruise with lunch, and a small-group sunset cruise. So read the description before you book your Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise.
How long is an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise, and where does it start?
An Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise lasts from about three to six hours, depending on the type of cruise. It starts at Ayia Napa harbour. Operator pages put the departure at half past nine or at ten in the morning.
Operator pages give different lengths. One lists boats leaving at 9:30 and coming back at 14:00. A travel writer boarded at 9:00 and came back around 14:00. That Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise took about five hours. Another page gives a half-day cruise three to four hours.
A full-day catamaran cruise is longer. That same page puts it at about five to six hours. It says the day includes a cooked lunch. The half-day cruise passes the sea caves and gives a long swim stop in the lagoon.
Sailing takes a small part of the day, even on a long Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise. One page puts the lagoon east of the marina, about 8 to 10 nautical miles out. That is roughly 20 to 35 minutes each way. Because the distances are short, the day goes mainly to swimming and snorkelling rather than to travelling.
The start point is Ayia Napa harbour on the operator pages for this cruise. One page also names the newer Ayia Napa Marina and says other boats board guests at Protaras and Pernera. Check which of these start points your Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise uses.
Boarding comes before departure. One page opens boarding at 8:45 and closes it at 9:15, for a 9:30 departure. Another page asks guests to be on the boat at 9:20 for a 10:00 departure. So count the time from boarding when you plan the morning.
Which landmarks does an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise pass along the coast?
The Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise sails by the Love Bridge arch, sea caves and a white clifftop chapel. Operators list these landmarks on the coast that the boat follows from Ayia Napa harbour.
The Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise starts at the harbour. One operator page puts the sea caves first. Another lists the Love Bridge straight after the harbour. Operators call the Love Bridge a natural stone arch, also named Lovers’ Bridge. One page says a kiss there is believed to keep love alive for ever.
The same page lists a quiet sandy beach at Kermia that the boat passes. It adds Queen Bay, where cliffs meet clear water, and a lighthouse that it calls a viewpoint over the sea. One more page lists a Stone Sea Arch next to Lovers’ Bridge. Another ends its landmark list with the Protaras coastline, which has beaches and bays.
Three pages for the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise name the Ayioi Anargyroi church. It is a white chapel on a cliff above the sea. One page calls the spot a church cliff diving site, and another calls it a cliff jumping cave. One more page describes the cliffs along this coast as white.
Operators differ on the order of the landmarks. One blogger’s boat sailed by the sea caves to a bay first and passed the church later. Another operator lists the church after the lagoon. A crew member on the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise can explain the local geography, as one traveller found.
What are the sea caves along the coast on an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
The sea caves are caves and tunnels that nature has carved into the limestone cliffs of the Cape Greco coast. Boats on the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise sail past them. Operators list the Palace Caves, the Pirates’ Caves and others by name.
Wikipedia says the sea caves are sometimes called the Palaces. Wikivoyage places them in a small bay beneath a cliff and says walkers can look down on them from above. Boat trips are offered too, and operator pages place the caves on the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise route.
Operator pages give the caves their own names. One page says the sea formed the caves, and the Palace Caves are known for their unique rock shapes. Two pages list the Pirates’ Caves, and one says that cave was once rumoured to shelter pirates.
The Witch’s Cave appears on two pages, and one calls it a mysterious cave with an ocean mouth. That page also lists a tiny secret cave and a Saint Marina Cave that holds Orthodox icons. Each operator lists its own caves for the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise, so names differ by boat.
A third page names the Sharks Cave in the Cape Greco cliffs. Wikivoyage says you can get into the sea and explore the caves by swimming to their entrances. It adds that people jump into deep water from the eastern part of the cliff.
Reviewers of one Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise write about swimming in a cave. One calls cave swimming an unexpected surprise, and another places a large cave near the Bridge of Lovers. Reviews show one traveller’s day, not a promise, so ask your operator if a cave swim matters to you.
What does an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise show at Cape Greco?
The boat in an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise shows Cape Greco from the sea. You see pale limestone cliffs above clear water, at the point where Cyprus ends in the south-east. The route passes the headland that divides Ayia Napa from Protaras.
The Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise stays close to the edge of Cape Greco National Park. A travel blog describes a sail past the Ayia Napa shore and past the border of the park. An operator page says the cruise sails the south-eastern coast of Cyprus, then through the waters of Cape Greco. It adds a gentle sea breeze.
The route puts Cape Greco in the middle. One operator list names it after the sea caves and before the Blue Lagoon. Another page calls it the highest point of the area, then lists Queen Bay next, where cliffs meet clear water.
The water under the cliffs is clear along the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise route. A tourism page for the Cape Greco park gives water visibility of up to 40 metres. Divers like the area too, it says. An operator page invites guests to swim or snorkel in the clear water of Cape Greco’s Blue Lagoon.
The same page says a boat trip along the coast is the way to appreciate the cliffs and sea caves. That is the view the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise gives you. One traveller praises a crew member who explained the local geography.
What is the Blue Lagoon, and how does the swim stop work on an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
The Blue Lagoon is a sheltered turquoise bay at the island’s south-eastern point. It lies on Cape Greco, in the gap between Ayia Napa and Protaras. The boat of your Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise drops anchor there. You swim or snorkel from the deck, or go down the ladder.
Cyprus has two lagoons with this name, says one operator page. The second lies on the Akamas coast in the far west, reached by boat from Latchi. The two are a three-hour drive apart. Every Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise heads for the Cape Greco one.
Sailing east from the marina, the page says, you cover about 8 to 10 nautical miles to reach it. Neither lagoon is a beach. Swimmers go in over the side or down the ladder, once the boat has anchored. A second Cyprus page agrees that boats anchor there in the tourist season while visitors jump in.
The water explains the name of the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise. Near the rim it is only 1 to 2 metres deep. The floor is light limestone and sand, and that gives the turquoise. Toward the middle the floor falls to 5 to 8 metres. You can spot fish well under the boat with no mask.
Time at anchor differs by boat. One page puts it at 40 to 60 minutes on a shared cruise, with longer stops on full-day boats. A traveller account makes Konnos Bay the first swim and the Blue Lagoon the second and final stop. Another page lists the lagoon first.
The way in is a choice for guests of the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise. One operator lists jumping from the upper deck at the Blue Lagoon. Another page calls the entry a jump for the brave and steps for everyone else. The crew also keeps watch on the water, and the shallow rim is calm for wading.
What is Konnos Bay, and where does it fit on an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
Set in the north of Cape Greco National Forest Park, Konnos Bay is a sheltered golden-sand cove. Where your Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise calls there, the bay adds calm water for a swim or a snorkel.
A cruise operator calls Konnos Bay a sheltered golden-sand cove. A hotel page says its calm water suits beginners and children. The same page says pine trees fringe the coast. It adds that the water is clean enough to show the seabed, with starfish in the sand.
One cruise page promotes swimming or snorkelling in both the Blue Lagoon and Konnos Bay. It calls the water at both crystal clear. For the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise, this makes the bay a second place to get wet.
Not every cruise stops there. On one operator page, three cruises list the route Ayia Napa, the Blue Lagoon, Konnos Bay. A fourth, a small-group cruise, goes to the Blue Lagoon, Cavo Greco and Protaras. Another listing has a morning cruise with Blue Lagoon swim stops and a sunset cruise that adds Konnos Bay.
The order of stops on the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise differs between pages. A travel blog makes Konnos Bay the first stop, with an hour to swim and snorkel. The Blue Lagoon comes second and last.
A cruise page puts the Blue Lagoon first and Konnos Bay last. A stop list of eighteen places puts Konnos Beach at number sixteen. It sits after the clifftop church and before the turtle area.
The bay also draws wildlife watchers. A listing calls it home to frequent turtle sightings and a prime turtle habitat. So the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise that calls there offers calm water and a chance of wildlife.
Can you see sea turtles on an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
Yes, the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise can pass sea turtles, but the pages describe a chance, not a promise. Listings say marine turtles show up around Konnos Bay when animals are present. Reports vary from day to day.
Two sea turtle species live around Cyprus, the loggerhead and the green turtle. A news report says both have lived there for thousands of years. The Fisheries Department calls reports of turtles in shallow coastal waters normal.
One route chart for the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise marks a turtle area and names both species. Adult green turtles live in shallow lagoons and eat seagrass. Loggerheads live in the open ocean and in shallow coastal waters. They feed mainly on animals on the sea floor.
Cruise pages point to places to look. One stop list puts a turtle area right after Konnos Beach. Another route chart names Turtle Bay, a small sheltered cove on the way to Protaras. A review says the boat went first to Konnos Bay, where there were water turtles.
Snorkellers on the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise can meet turtles in the water too. One travel page says that near Cape Greco a turtle sometimes swims by snorkellers. It adds that on a lucky morning a turtle glides past the boat.
Sightings stay a matter of luck. A blog about a day on the water from Ayia Napa marina lists a chance of turtles and dolphins. The writer saw neither that day, yet still calls it a brilliant day out.
A turtle can also dive out of sight for a while. Wikipedia gives the average loggerhead dive as fifteen to thirty minutes. A turtle seen from the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise counts as a bonus, not a guarantee.
What is on board an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise, from the top deck to lunch?
An Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise boat has indoor, outdoor and top-deck seating. It also has a sunbathing area, a bar and an optional lunch. Snorkel masks and life jackets are on board, and soft music plays as the boat sails.
Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise boats keep the sun deck on top. Cruise pages count 20 mattresses there for sunbathing. Seating indoors and outdoors lets you choose between the open air and an indoor seat. Guests can leap off the upper deck into the water at the Blue Lagoon stop.
Lunch depends on the cruise. Certain cruises include it, and others sell it as an add-on at boarding. Where it is served, the plate is roast chicken with couscous, potatoes and salad. One traveller ate it at the second swim stop, the Blue Lagoon.
At the bar, an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise boat lists cocktails, beers, soft drinks and snacks. Certain packages add drink vouchers. The full-day catamaran cruises come with cooked lunch plus open bar. Bring a little cash for bar extras and a tip for the crew.
Free snorkel masks and life jackets are on board an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise, and the boats have toilets. Another cruise page says a snorkel set is sold on board, so you can also bring your own. A crew member gives a commentary on the coast, and a captain shares what he knows at each stop.
Each Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise boat sets its own mood. One cruise plays soft, relaxing music, another has a DJ, and a themed pirate cruise has animators. Boats differ in size too. A review of one small-group cruise counts 22 people on board, while another ship on the harbour has four decks.
How does the weather change an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
Weather and sea conditions alter the route or the stops on rare days, and safety comes first. One operator says its Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise keeps the usual route on 98 percent of trips.
For the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise, the Konnos Bay stop depends on the weather. One operator marks it as weather permitting on three of its cruises. A traveller’s review of another cruise says winds stopped the boat from getting around the headland one year. The day was still good.
Operator terms say the route depends on the weather. Storms or heavy winds can cancel a sailing. Under the terms, a cancelled Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise earns your money back or a place on another day. Another booking page says the plan can change or be cancelled in bad sea weather.
One operator tells guests to ask the crew before boarding whether the weather allows a good trip. The crew can advise a guest not to board, and the ticket then works for another trip. Check the booking details for the weather policy before you go.
Sea state matters aboard the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise too. A booking page warns that seas can be choppy in bad weather, which matters to anyone prone to motion sickness. A review of one catamaran cruise calls the ride smooth and stable.
Time of day matters in high summer. One page says the Cape Greco lagoon is busiest from 10:00 until 15:00. It advises the first morning boat or a late-afternoon sail for calmer water. The sea along this coast is warm in high season, at 26 to 28 degrees Celsius.
What else do travellers ask about an Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
Which months suit the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise, and how strong is the sun?
The Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise sails between April and October, going by one operator’s schedule. The sea stays swimmable longer, because a Cyprus swimming article says the season lasts from late spring until December. It lists island-wide water at about 20°C in late spring. July and August reach 26 to 28°C, and September and October 24 to 27°C.
Sun protection starts with clothes. One operator’s FAQ suggests a casual long-sleeve top on board. It calls rash guards excellent cover that beats sunscreen, as nothing needs reapplying. The same operator calls sunglasses very useful against the glare in the lagoon.
What goes into your bag for the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
Pack swimwear, a hat, sun cream, water and a towel. One traveller’s report lists these essentials and says water is on sale on board. Cards are accepted there, but cash is preferred, so carry both. One operator lists the dress code as casual.
Choose sunscreen with care, because one operator asks for a fully biodegradable one. For photos, a waterproof phone case or an action camera works well at the swim stops, one report says. That operator supplies the mask and snorkel. It asks for your shoe size at booking so it can ready fins, and you can bring your own gear.
Is the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise suitable for children, or adults only?
Children can sail on family boats that run the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise route. One operator’s FAQ says children love the swimming, the jumps off the top deck and the snorkelling. Another page calls its cruise family-friendly, with life jackets provided for children.
Age bands differ between operators, so check yours before booking. One operator counts ages two to eleven as children, while another splits its tickets at ten and eleven.
Adults-only departures exist too. One listing for an adults-only catamaran day sets a minimum age of 18 years. It also lists multiple stops for swimming and snorkelling, with free use of the snorkel gear.
Can non-swimmers or people prone to seasickness board the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
At one operator, non-swimmers join the swim stops in a life jacket. Its FAQ says it has life jackets for adults and children. It puts one on anyone who cannot swim or swims weakly. The crew watches you constantly in the water. Another operator lists free life jackets and snorkelling masks on board.
The first operator says people generally do not get seasick on board. If you are prone to it, take seasickness tablets at least 30 minutes before sailing. One booking page does not recommend the trip for severe seasickness or mobility problems. Glass-bottom boats show the seabed to anyone who prefers to stay dry.
How do you behave around sea turtles during the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise?
Keep your distance from turtles during the Ayia Napa blue lagoon cruise. Never touch or feed them. The Cyprus fisheries department asks people to watch sea turtles from afar and keep their hands off.
It says food changes their natural behaviour. It counts offering food to lure turtles close for photos or swims as harassment. The penalty is a jail term of up to three years, or a fine.
The department adds that the turtle, not the swimmer, sets the distance. If a turtle makes sudden movements, stop and move away. A traveller on one operator’s page praises a captain who feeds no turtles.