Planning to arrive in the Mediterranean Sea from the Seychelles we initially were looking at marinas in Israel as we wanted a warmer climate over the winter. However, none of the marinas in Israel responded. We then decided to look at Cyprus, contacting Limassol Marina first – but they were full. We looked at aerial pictures of Ayia Napa Marina, which appeared to have spaces, so we contacted them. We are so happy we ended up here!

Ayia Napa Marina opened in June, 2022. The marina is not finished as of March 2023, but there are two restaurants, an ice cream shop, a coffee shop, a small supermarket, an art gallery, a self-service laundry, a lift for haul out, and a well-stocked chandlery.

If the chandlery doesn’t have something in stock, they will order it and notify you when it arrives. If the supermarket doesn’t have what you need, you can order online and the food will be delivered to your boat. Each berth has potable water and electricity. The marina also has a fuel dock. The tower containing apartments will open this June. The marina plans to build a second tower, which will likely be a hotel.

The marina is a port of entry to Cyprus and the process is very efficient.  Formalities take place at the marina. It was very smooth, the people were friendly and efficient. We couldn’t have asked for a better port of entry.

Clean and pristine

As a new marina, everything is pristine. The water is beautiful and clear. The people are friendly and helpful. We can report that in January through March 2, 2023, one of the restaurants is only open on Saturdays and Sundays due to lower “traffic” in the winter months. The ice cream shop is scheduled to reopen this month. A sushi restaurant appears to be on the brink of opening as well. The supermarket is open every day. The marina creates a Christmas Village in December when the marina is beautifully lit and they have entertainment and an open market several days a week.

The grounds are beautiful, with trees, flowers, and bushes everywhere. There is a “reflecting pond” and water fountain that lights up at night. There are walking/running/biking paths leading out directly from the marina in different directions for those interested in fitness.

The marina is very safe. One could feel confident leaving their boat here to return home for the holidays, for example. Within short sailing distances from the marina, one will find beautiful beaches. If you are interested in traveling by land, the rental car company brings the car right to the marina. Cyprus is small, so you can easily visit the entire island by car with little expense.

As for getting work done on the boat, we had engine trouble and two Yanmar mechanics came to the boat and repaired it. We don’t know all of the services the marina provides (perhaps others will comment), but they appear to have resources available to make many kinds of repairs.

In short, we love Ayia Napa Marina and highly recommend it! There are many spots available since it is new. We predict it will fill quickly as the word gets out.

Easy to get around

The marina has 360 berths. They are primarily slips with bow or stern mooring. There are also berths for very large yachts. Everything is within a short walking distance.  I love to walk, so I would talk to the town, but there is also a bus that I suspect most people would choose to use.

Prices

First, we are here in the off season, so we are paying a lower rate. Second, we are a cat, so we pay 1.5 the price a monohull pays. We are paying 892 euros/month, including VAT. The cost includes water and electricity. We don’t  know how that compares to other marinas.

Family Friendly?

There are numerous beaches on Cyprus. There are two beaches on the marina property, one small and one larger. There is no playground equipment at the marina, except during Christmas time. We don’t know if that is always just a seasonal thing.  There is a water park within walking distance of the marina that kids would love!  It is closed, however, during the winter.

Cindy and Michael Hanson

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About the Authors:

Cindy and Michael are US citizens. They purchased their 2016 Leopard 40 in the Seychelles on Sept. 1, 2022 and have been living on the boat ever since, with the plan to do so for several years. This is their retirement plan which they have been planning for 10 years.

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.

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