The best spa hotels in Cyprus

Anassa 5* (Latchi)

If you head down from the Laona plain towards the bay of Chrysochous, you’ll come to the picturesque fishing village of Latchi. The village’s bay is horseshoe-shaped, with a lighthouse on each headland and a 45-metre-long wooden jetty facing the centre of the bay. Latchi is famous for its fish tavernas, whilst sandy and pebbly beaches lie to the right and left of the bay. It is from here that boat trips are organised to the Akamas Peninsula, the ‘Amorosa Fountain’ and other natural landmarks.

Anassa 5* can surely be rightly called the most exclusive hotel in Cyprus. This upmarket hotel is part of the Thanos Hotels chain, which is renowned in Cyprus for its unrivalled luxury and superb service. Anassa 5* offers a unique blend of exclusive architecture and first-class service. The hotel is situated on one of the most beautiful sandy beaches, offering magnificent views of the Akamas Peninsula and the Baths of Aphrodite. The name ‘Anassa’, meaning ‘queen’, is taken from Greek mythology. Refined elegance is evident throughout: the hotel’s classic design, dominated by ancient Greek motifs, Venetian frescoes and Roman mosaics, reflects the island’s legendary history. Lush gardens and cool, shaded courtyards with fountains and flower-filled terraces create an atmosphere of tranquillity and serenity.

The luxurious guest villas exude the tranquil charm of an ancient Byzantine village – all rooms are exceptionally spacious and lavishly furnished. The balconies offer breathtaking views of the open sea, whilst some rooms feature private pools with whirlpool baths, set on spacious verandas which also offer magnificent sea views. Many international guests, captivated by the luxurious natural surroundings, spend their days here, including Hollywood stars, sheikhs and princes.

The hotel’s beach is sandy, with a gentle slope into the sea. Parasols, sun loungers and towels are provided free of charge to hotel guests. According to local fishermen, there is a cave not far from ‘Anassa’ which is home to the only family of seals on the coast. These somewhat clumsy creatures can only be seen at dawn, when they swim out of the cave to feast on fish. Afterwards, having swum back ‘home’, they settle on a tiny sandy beach that has formed inside the cave.

The spa centre at the 5* Anassa Hotel is truly a temple of health and beauty, designed in the ancient Roman style, where you’ll be offered a full range of facial and body treatments. The centre’s core philosophy is a unique blend of the island’s wonderful atmosphere and the ancient healing properties of the sea, which helps to restore not only the body but also the soul.

The diverse range of thalassotherapy programmes includes various treatments using natural products from The Organic Pharmacy range, formulated with marine minerals. The Thalassa Spa also offers therapeutic consultations and provides advice on healthy eating, which you can continue to follow in the future.

At the spa centre, you can enjoy a magnificent swimming pool surrounded by a snow-white colonnade, 18 treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, a hydromassage pool, gyms and fitness studios, as well as a hairdressing salon.

Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort 5*

As you travel along the ‘Paphos 100–Polis’ road, don’t miss the signs for Sulphur Springs and Ayii Anargyri, which will lead you to the so-called Valley of the Fairies. It is here that you’ll find a small church dedicated to the Holy Unmercenaries, which served as a monastery from 1649. During the 19th century, the monastery and the little church fell into disrepair, but when healing minerals were discovered in the area, the general improvement in living standards enabled the monastery to expand and refurbish its grounds to accommodate monks.

In 1983, a local resident, Zinon Chrysanthu, began building a spa hotel here. The founder worked tirelessly, treating the land with great love and respect and fully appreciating the magical properties of the Nerades Valley. Sadly, Zinon is no longer with us, but thanks to the efforts of his children, the hotel has been completed and continues to operate and thrive.

The 5* Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort opened following renovation in the spring of 2009 and currently accommodates 150 guests. It attracts true connoisseurs of natural beauty and the unique properties of the healing natural springs, the water from which is piped to almost all the hotel’s rooms.

Bathing in mineral water, which forms the basis of hydrotherapy, provides a wonderful sense of vitality. The healing minerals have a remarkable effect on blood circulation, the digestive system and skin condition; they improve muscle tone and joint mobility, and enhance the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

All therapeutic treatments at the hotel are carried out under the careful supervision of experienced medical specialists and physiotherapists. In a sense, they are the very ‘good fairies’ who bestow health and vitality upon people.

Right in front of the hotel entrance stands a small church dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian the Unmercenaries, which is open at almost any time. Inside are icons of these saints – the first in a long line of selfless healers who are commemorated during church services.

So, if you’re wondering ‘Which spa hotel should I choose in Cyprus?’, do take a look at our recommendations. There are many wonderful spa centres in Cyprus: the 5* Londa Hotel, the 5* Aphrodite Hills, the 5* Almyra, Four Seasons 5* and others; however, if you wish to enjoy treatments in a picturesque setting, surrounded by stunning natural beauty, you could hardly make a better choice than Anassa 5* and Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort 5*.