Buggy Safaris in Cyprus: Operators, Routes and Rules (2026)

The best places for a buggy safari in Cyprus are the Akamas peninsula north of Paphos, where guided tours run from Coral Bay to Lara Bay, and the Ayia Napa–Cape Greco coast, where shops hire buggies by the day. You need a full car licence, you must usually be 18 or older, and helmets are compulsory.

A buggy (also sold as a UTV or side-by-side) is a small open off-road vehicle with a steering wheel, pedals and seats side by side, so it feels much closer to driving a car than a quad does. That makes it popular with couples and families who want to reach the dirt tracks, coves and viewpoints that hire cars are not allowed on. Below we cover the operators we could confirm in 2026, the classic routes and the rules you need to know before you book.

Where can you do a buggy safari in Cyprus?

There are two hubs. Paphos district has most of the guided safaris, because the Akamas peninsula and the coast around Coral Bay and Peyia offer long stretches of unpaved track with sea views. Ayia Napa and Protaras have big rental shops where you take a buggy for a few hours or a whole day and explore on your own, mostly on roads around Cape Greco and the coast towards Protaras.

Which buggy tours run in Paphos and the Akamas?

Chris Andreou Quad and Buggy Safari Tours, Coral Bay

Chris Andreou runs self-drive guided safaris from Coral Bay: you drive your own buggy behind a guide. Its Akamas and Lara Bay safari lasts about three hours and passes the sea caves, a shipwreck and Agios Georgios on the way to Lara Bay, known for its nesting turtles. Its booking page lists the vehicle, third-party insurance, helmets, fuel, an English-speaking guide and transfers from the main Paphos hotels as included. Drivers must be at least 18 with a valid licence; for the four- to six-person buggy the minimum age is 21 and a maximum of two people can drive.

TT Motorcycle Rentals & Tours, Paphos

TT Motorcycle Rentals & Tours has been based in Paphos since 1980 and also runs buggy and quad tours. In October 2026 its website listed a 1.5-hour seaside and off-road buggy tour (€95), a 2-hour buggy tour to Aphrodite's Rock (€105), a 3-hour village and mountain quad or buggy tour (€150) and a half-day buggy or quad tour to Lara Bay in the Akamas with lunch (€235). Check whether the price is per vehicle or per person when you book. It is on Instagram at @motorcyclerentals.paphos.

Where can you hire a buggy in Ayia Napa and Protaras?

Easy Riders Rentals, in the middle of Ayia Napa, hires quads, buggies, scooters and motorbikes and offers off-road safaris on request. Its FAQs ask for a category B licence for quads and buggies, a minimum age of 18 and 23 for large-engine vehicles, and a passport. It is on Instagram at @easyridersrentals.

The Cape Greco headland is ten minutes away. It is a National Forest Park and Natura 2000 site, so off-road driving is not allowed: use the buggy to get between the car parks at the visitor centre, Konnos Bay, Agioi Anargyroi church and the sea caves, then walk. Our Cape Greco guide covers the trails and swimming spots.

What are the classic buggy routes?

The Akamas coast from Coral Bay to Lara Bay

This is the route most Paphos safaris follow. From Coral Bay the track runs north past the sea caves near Peyia and the wreck of the Edro III, to the small harbour and chapel at Agios Georgios. Beyond that the road becomes rough as it continues to Lara Bay. Allow three hours with a guide, and half a day if you stop to swim.

Cape Greco and the coast to Protaras

A shorter, mostly paved loop from Ayia Napa takes in the Cape Greco viewpoints, the cliff-top church of Agioi Anargyroi and Konnos Bay before carrying on to Protaras. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon: there is almost no shade.

What are the rules for driving a buggy in Cyprus?

There is no separate "buggy licence". In practice the rules come from the general traffic law and the rental company's terms:

1. Licence: the operators above ask for a full category B (car) licence; learner licences are not accepted. According to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, EU citizens may drive on their own licence, and non-EU visitors may use their national licence for up to 30 days or a valid international driving licence. If you live here, see our guide to exchanging your driving licence.
2. Age: 18 is the usual minimum, but 21 for large four- to six-seat buggies and 23 for large engines are common.
3. Helmets: compulsory for driver and passenger; operators provide them free. The police can fine you for not wearing one.
4. Passengers: most operators only take passengers over 12, the same age the traffic rules set for motorcycle passengers.
5. Roads: rental terms keep buggies and quads off the motorways, so plan routes on the old roads, and remember you drive on the left.
6. Alcohol: do not drink and drive. The general limit is 22 µg of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, and stricter limits apply to some drivers.

What should you check before you book?

• Insurance and excess: third-party cover is usually included, but the excess on a buggy can run to several thousand euros. Read what you pay if the buggy is damaged or rolls over, and whether you can reduce it.
• Where you may drive: most agreements forbid beaches and off-track driving. Under the Forest Law, leaving forest roads in a state forest is an offence, and the Akamas and Cape Greco are both protected areas.
• The north: rental insurance from the Republic does not normally cover driving in the north; ask before you plan a crossing.
• Heat and fire risk: from May to October, go in the morning, carry water and never stop on dry grass with a hot engine.
• Safety: tracks along the cliffs are narrow. In August 2024 Cyprus Mail reported a quad that ended up in the sea after an accident in Paphos, a reminder to keep your speed down near the edge.

Is a buggy safari suitable for families?

Yes, if the children are old enough. Most operators take passengers over 12, and a four-seat buggy lets a family travel together with one adult driving. For younger children, a boat trip along the same coast is easier: see our boat trips and snorkelling guide.

Related guides

• Akamas Peninsula and Avakas Gorge: a visitor's guide
• Cape Greco National Forest Park
• Motorcycle routes in Cyprus and renting a motorbike
• 10 best things to do in Ayia Napa and Protaras beyond the beach