Blue Lagoon, Tourist bay in Akamas Peninsula, Cyprus.

Blue Lagoon is a sheltered bay on the Akamas Peninsula, about 4 km north of Latchi harbour, where the coastal cliffs open into a cove of pale sand and rock. The seabed shelves gently to a few metres, so the water over the white bottom reads turquoise, then deepens to blue where the rock drops away. Boats anchor off the beach; the surrounding slopes are bare maquis and limestone.

The Akamas Peninsula, where this bay sits, was settled during Roman times and holds archaeological remnants from that era. For centuries, the nearby village of Latchi has used these waters as a fishing ground.

The bay lies on the Akamas Peninsula, a state-owned nature reserve where development is restricted, so the shoreline and its waters remain in their natural state. Boat trips from Latchi bring visitors to swim here, and the name Blue Lagoon is used on local boat-tour signs and maps.

Boat trips leave from Latchi harbour, about 10 km south, and most tours anchor in the bay for a swim before returning. The shore is reached by a rough coastal track, so most visitors arrive by sea. Go in the morning, when the sun is high enough to light the sandy bottom and the sea is usually flatter.

The water shifts in color between deep blue and turquoise depending on the sun's angle and time of day. These color changes result from the white sandy bottom and the mineral content of the water.