The Unspoilt Wilderness in Paphos, Cyprus
I have lived in Paphos for a few years now and after the euphoria of living in the sun, going to the beach, seeing the sea every day and watching fabulous coastal sunsets every night, had settled to an acceptable level, I then discovered that Paphos has so much more to offer. Don’t get me wrong, all of the above still excite me beyond belief and the Med lifestyle is all it is cracked up to be, but behind the mask of simply being a tourist attraction, offering all that the discerning holiday maker could be looking for, there is another face to Paphos. Not many visitors will see or experience this face because they are taking a break from their daily lives and looking for fabulous beaches, water sports, great restaurants and total relaxation. But, I have found out what is going on in the background. Cyprus is an extremely interesting place for nature lovers. Paphos is home to a very rare and very shy wild sheep called the Moufflon that has magnificent curving horns. These heraldic animals, although roaming wild, can be seen at the forestry station in Paphos forest (Stavros tis Psokas). Another delight is that the island has visiting Loggerhead and Green turtles that come ashore to nest every year on the sandy beaches around Paphos. These marine turtles are strictly protected and if you do decide to venture further afield than the local sunbathing beaches and seek out the areas of unspoilt wilderness, you may come across frames on the beach which warn you of a turtle nest and kindly ask you not to disturb. I have also found that many University students studying marine biology spend their holiday time here helping out with the research into these fabulous marine creatures. What a holiday! Cyprus is also heaven for bird watchers. The island has become a stop over for many migratory birds on their travels from Europe to Africa during the autumn and back again in spring. More than 300 different bird species have been seen and recorded and the island has two endemic species which are often seen in the coastal regions, which are the Cyprus Pied Wheatear and the Cyprus Warbler. One of the islands larger varieties of bird is now very much under threat and conservationists battle hard to save it from extinction. The Griffin Vulture was once a common sight on the island but now their numbers have dwindled to less than 50. So to those of you that have visited before and enjoyed your summer holidays in Cyprus, why not try an autumn or sprint visit. Most of the tourists have returned home and the beaches once again become the domain of our wildlife. You will of course have to make an effort as not all these areas are easily accessed and the areas around Paphos, namely the Akamas Peninsula, can only be accessed by four wheel drive. This will be a unique experience that you will take home and treasure. Imagine walking a beach with no sun beds, no shops, no noise apart from the surf and often nobody else but you! Enjoy the fresh air, the scenery and the forests and keep an eye out for the elusive Moufflon. Then, before leaving our wonderful wilderness find yourselves a comfortable place on the rocks or lay that blanket on the beach and experience some of the best sunsets in the Mediterranean. Paphos behind the mask is a memorable place!Lynda Burke owns and operates the website <a href="http://www.rent-a-villa-in-paphos.com">www.rent-a-villa-in-paphos.com</a> and now lives and works in Paphos, Cyprus.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in Akumal, Mexico
When traveling to Akumal Mexico one nearly passes this small quiet village by without realizing that it is actually one of the Caribbean coast’s best locations for diving and snorkeling on the Yucatan Peninsula. Akumal is located a mere 65 miles to the south of the Cancun resort area and 50 miles from the Mexican airport. It may be small but it is the ideal vacation get away for families or divers who wish to escape the daily rush of Mexico’s often crowded beaches. Located in Akumal are two very tranquil bays as well as the Yalku Lagoon which is perfect for family swimming or snorkeling. The area boasts of 30 beautiful reef sites that are ideal for diving while the beautiful white sandy beaches invite one to enjoy the relaxing Mexican sun. There is an abundance of accommodations in Akumal, five different restaurants which offer local and European Fare, several grocery stores, a few boutiques or gift shops plus an excellent Dive Shop. Most of these attractions are within a 15 minute walk of one and other. The best part of this small village is that should you be interested in snorkeling, diving, fishing or merely relaxing in the warm Mexican sun you will find you can walk to the various locations although buses and taxis are readily available should you desire them. The temperatures in Akumal range around 80 degree during September to April and during the rest of the year you can expect 90 degree temperatures. The area receives a gentle sea breeze from the nearby Caribbean and during the winter season you may require a sweater in the evenings. The local dive shop will setup your equipment and have it ready for your dive when you arrive at the dock. They have all the necessary diving equipment you will need at reasonable rental rates. You will be provided with an 80 cu. Ft aluminum tank which is filled to approximately 3000 psi. You will board one of the 28 foot open panga boats docked nearby. The dives are generally limited to eight people plus the dive master and the ships captain. Should you happen to be part of a larger group you can easily make special arrangements for all members to dive. Most of the arranged dives are drift dives which take place over very stunning and colorful coral reefs. The typically currents are weak in this area and water temperature hover around 82 degree. The underwater visibility in the area can reach 50 feet up to 150 feet depending upon the weather. A light wet suit is recommended during the winter season. If you are seeking a pristine location with clear water and an abundance of undersea life to view during your next dive adventure then Akumal Mexico is the place you have been dreaming about. Visit our Travel and Vacation Directory at http://vacationsurfer.net/. Rent our villa in Akumal http://akumalvacation.com/.M Gravlee is a retired newspaper publisher who spends M Gravlee is a retired newspaper publisher who spends several months a year traveling. He has visited every continent except Antarctica and over 30 countries.several months a year traveling. He has visited every continent except Antarctica and over 30 countries.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com
Unforgettable Experience of Backwater Kerala Tours
Kerala is a beautiful state of India offering wide ranges of tourism options blessed with superb nature beauty. Beautiful sun kissed beaches dotted with palm coconut trees, scenic backwaters, verdant hill stations, wealth of flora and fauna, plantations, etc are prime attractions of Kerala — God’s Own Country. One of the prime attractions of Kerala is its breathtaking backwaters providing opportunity to see several facets of the state. For an unforgettable backwater Kerala tour experience in God’s Own Country, you must spend 2 or 3 days at luxurious houseboat cruise over the tranquil waters of the beautiful backwaters. While you will be on your houseboat tours you will have a wonderful opportunity to observe a perfect blend of tradition with modern day luxury. Surly it will be a delightful and unforgettable experience in the state. A Kerala houseboat tour takes you to the unique world of serenity, water and wonderment. Sail over the serene water of scenic backwaters and enjoy the mystic and nature abundant sights. Nature has blessed backwaters of the state beautifully as if it had poured all its beauty on the backwaters of the state. Travelers from all around the world make a visit to Kerala and explore its breathtakingly beautiful backwaters and of course never forget to praise them. The only and the most popular ways to explore breathtaking backwaters of the state is houseboat. Without houseboat on cannot observe the real charm and beauty of the backwaters. A houseboat cruise takes you on a memorable trip on board houseboats, traditionally called “Kettuvalloms”. It offers a serene and delightful ambiance for memorable holiday in India. Kerala backwater tours are also famous among honeymoon couples from all over the world. Honeymoon couples prefer to spend their honeymoon holidays on board Kerala house boats that provide them memorable honeymoon holidays experience as well as amazing sightseeing. Houseboat provides honeymoon couples truly a romantic and serene ambiance for honeymoon holidays. There are lots of activities from houseboat can be done. Watching sunset view from the deck of the houseboat is simply a delightful experience. A houseboat cruise also takes you to the periphery of wildlife sanctuaries like Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Periyar wild life sanctuary. You can see the activities of wild animals from the deck of houseboats. Surly your honeymoon holidays onboard the Kerala houseboats will be a delightful and unforgettable experience. There are several backwater destinations in Kerala — God’s Own Country — must visit attractions of Kerala, India tours. Kumarakom, Kollam, Kuttanad, Kozhikode, Fort Kochi, Vembanad Lake, Kasargod, Kottayam, Trivandrum, Thiruvallam, Alleppey, etc are some of major backwater destinations of Kerala, South India. You should not forget to explore these breathtaking backwater destinations of the state if you want to grab the real charm and beauty of the state. These backwater destinations are crowded with several traditional and modern luxury packed houseboats. Alleppey houseboats are very popular among tourists and honeymoon couples. Alleppey is one the most popular backwater destinations of the state. It is an ideal place for starting houseboat in kerala tours. Well, come to Kerala and treasure unforgettable experience of backwater Kerala on board houseboat.Michael Braganza is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for <a href="http://www.keralahouseboat.org/kerala-houseboats.html">kerala house boats</a> and <a href="http://www.keralahouseboat.org/kerala-houseboats-cruise.html">kerala houseboat cruise</a> Now he is rendering his services to http://www.keralahouseboat.org/
Source: www.ArticlePros.com
