Buggy ban in Akamas – yes or no?
Buggy ban in Akamas – yes or no?
Between adventure, nature conservation and road safety
The discussion about a possible ban on buggies and quads in the Akamas National Park flares up again after several serious accidents. While environmentalists and the Green Party have been calling for certain routes to be closed for years, local communities are instead demanding better safety measures and an expansion of infrastructure.
The question remains: Is a ban the right way to go – or do the roads simply have to become safer?
Fatal accident near Paphos shakes the region
On February 27, 2026, tragedy occurred in the district of Paphos when a buggy driver lost control of his vehicle in a double curve on the road between Kathikas and Pegeia and fell down a cliff about 40 meters deep.
The fire brigade and rescue workers were able to rescue the man and take him to hospital, but there he succumbed to his serious injuries. The exact cause of the accident is still being investigated by the police.
The incident is part of a series of serious accidents that have once again fuelled the debate about the safety of buggies and quads in the region in recent years.
Numerous serious accidents in Akamas
Just a few months earlier, the emergency services in Akamas had to be called out again. Two young men aged 21 and 23 fell about 2.5 meters down an embankment with their buggy in the Smigies area. While the younger driver could be discharged after first aid, his companion remained in hospital as a precaution.
It was already the second buggy accident within a month in the region.
Particularly tragic was an incident on August 8, in which a 59-year-old man fell about 150 meters into the sea together with his 20-year-old daughter in the Akamas region. The father was killed, his daughter was seriously injured.
A 33-year-old Austrian tourist was also seriously injured near Kakoskali after he fell about 50 meters with a rented buggy. The rescue workers even had to use a police helicopter to rescue the man from the difficult-to-access terrain.
In another case, two 25-year-old tourists lost control of their all-terrain buggy and fell into a 29-meter-deep gorge. Fortunately, both survived the accident without life-threatening injuries.
The Greens call for a driving ban
The Green Party of Cyprus sees the repeated accidents as proof that certain routes in the Akamas are unsuitable for public vehicle traffic.
In particular, the route from the Baths of Aphrodite to Fontana Amorosa has been the focus of criticism for years. In the past, this section was secured by barriers and was only accessible to foresters, animal keepers and hikers.
Today, numerous tourists use the unpaved paths with rental buggies and quads.
According to the Greens, the dangers have been known for a long time. At the same time, the party criticizes that earlier expansion work was carried out without sufficient environmental assessments and caused significant interference with the sensitive nature of the Akama.
From the point of view of environmentalists, economic interests often take precedence over nature conservation and safety.
Municipalities demand more protection instead of bans
The local authorities, on the other hand, take a different position.
Several municipal representatives are in favor of expanding the existing roads with crash barriers, better fortifications and additional safety measures instead of closing them completely.
According to local politicians, corresponding demands have already been made to the responsible authorities several times. However, many protective measures have not yet been implemented.
Especially at known danger points such as Kakoskali, complete safety systems are still missing, although numerous serious accidents have already occurred there.
Freedom or security?
The debate now divides not only politicians and environmental associations, but also locals and tourists.
Proponents of a ban argue that inexperienced drivers with high-performance rental vehicles on dangerous gravel roads pose a significant risk – both to themselves and to nature.
Opponents of a ban, on the other hand, see it as a disproportionate interference with personal freedom and the tourist attractiveness of the region. In her opinion, targeted security measures, speed limits and better education of visitors would be the more sensible solution.
Conclusion
The accident statistics of the past years clearly show that the buggy tracks in Akamas are among the most dangerous off-road routes in Cyprus.
However, the crucial question remains open:
Should access for buggies and quads be completely banned in order to protect human lives and nature?
Or would it make more sense to finally secure the existing roads sufficiently and better prepare drivers for the risks?
The discussion will probably accompany the region for a long time to come – because between tourism, nature conservation and road safety, there is still no solution that satisfies all parties involved.
Author: Guest article by Margit Schiller
Sources: Philenews, CyprusMail, Police Report Cyprus
Author: Guest article by Margit Schiller
Sources: Philenews, CyprusMail, Police Report Cyprus
