A Larnaca boat trip leaves the city marina for a glass-bottom view of the Zenobia wreck, a swim stop, a sunset with wine or a day of fishing. Find more trip ideas on Greece Tours.
Below we compare the cruises, the dives, the private yachts, the booking rules and the season.
What is a Larnaca boat trip?
A Larnaca boat trip is a sea outing that starts at Larnaca Marina on the southeast coast of Cyprus. Operators run semi-submarine and glass-bottom cruises, sunset sails and fishing days with lunch. Others hire private yachts or run dives over the Zenobia wreck.
Larnaca ranks third among Cypriot cities by size. It has a seaport and a marina, and the cruise boats leave from that marina. A Larnaca boat trip therefore starts in the city, not at a remote beach.
Two local operators run their own booking sites. Yellow Semi-Submarine Larnaca runs a semi-submersible vessel with a glass bottom. Larnaca Napa Cruises says it has more than 30 years of coastal cruising and a fleet of five boats.
Each Larnaca boat trip sells a different mix. You get a swim stop, a wreck view, a drink on deck or a sunset. The sections below sort the trips by length and purpose, so you pick the one that fits your day.
Which Larnaca boat trip types can you book?
Larnaca boat trip types range from an 80-minute semi-submarine mini cruise to a 5-hour boat safari. In between sit a 2-hour shipwreck and turtle cruise and a 4-hour fishing and barbecue cruise. Sunset sails, Zenobia dives and private yachts complete the list.
A short Larnaca boat trip suits families with little time. GetYourGuide lists the Yellow Submarine mini cruise at 80 minutes. It lists the glass-bottom bay cruise at 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the departure you choose.
Longer days add food and distance. The fishing cruise with a barbecue lunch runs 4 hours. The Odyssey boat safari to Protaras runs 5 hours and carries a guide.
Divers and groups have their own listings. The Zenobia dive with equipment starts at 2 hours. Private yachts and private wreck trips take one group at a time.
The Yellow Submarine swim cruise with turtle spotting lasts 2 hours. Pick the type first, then compare departure times on the booking widgets below.
Where does a Larnaca boat trip depart from?
A Larnaca boat trip departs from the marina in Larnaca. Yellow Semi-Submarine Larnaca says it sits in Larnaca Kition Marina. Larnaca Napa Cruises names Larnaca Marina and Protaras Golden Coast as its two starting points.
Larnaca Napa Cruises also moves guests by road. It says customers ride private buses from their pickup points and back. It adds that traffic can delay the pickup schedule.
GetYourGuide marks pickup as available on the fishing cruise, the Odyssey boat safari and the double Zenobia dive. Read the pickup label on a listing before you book a Larnaca boat trip with a hotel transfer.
Wikipedia places Larnaca International Airport in the neighbouring village of Dromolaxia, not in Larnaca itself. Plan a taxi or transfer from the airport to the marina on arrival day.
What does a semi-submarine Larnaca boat trip show?
A semi-submarine Larnaca boat trip shows the seabed through a large glass bottom and panoramic windows below deck. The Yellow Semi-Submarine, built in Cyprus, carries up to 35 passengers. It glides over the Zenobia wreck and the marine life around it.
Passengers sit in deck seats above the windows. The operator says the deck adds a second panoramic view of the wreck. It also lists air conditioning below deck for hot days.
The Zenobia cruise follows a set route. The boat sails to the wreck, then passes the landing strip of Larnaca airport. It continues along the historic seafront and the Medieval Fort. Then it crosses a turtle-spotting area and returns to the marina.
The semi-submarine suits guests who do not want to get wet. Anyone can watch the sea bottom through the glass and still join the swim stop if they wish.
Can you swim and snorkel on a Larnaca boat trip?
Yes. Swim stops come built into the cruises. The Yellow Semi-Submarine mini cruise stops for 20 minutes at the Zenobia site. The Zenobia cruise gives 30 minutes to swim and snorkel with equipment from the crew.
The operator also provides snorkels, sea toys and floats, and a fresh-water shower waits on board after the swim. A Larnaca boat trip with a swim stop needs only swimwear.
GetYourGuide sells a glass-bottom bay cruise with two options. The 2-hour morning departure snorkels at the Zenobia shipwreck. The 1.5-hour afternoon departure swims at Mackenzie Beach. Both depend on the weather and the captain.
What is the Zenobia wreck on a Larnaca boat trip?
The Zenobia was a ferry built in Sweden that sank in Larnaca Bay on her maiden voyage. She rests on her port side at about 42 metres. The Times lists her among the ten leading wreck dives on Earth.
The ferry was 172.2 metres long. She sailed from Malmö in Sweden for Tartous in Syria with 104 tractor-trailers on board. She reached Larnaca on 2 June with a tilt that grew worse.
Engineers traced the fault to a software error. The computerised pump system filled the side ballast tanks with too much water. Crews towed her out of the harbour on 4 June to keep her from blocking the port.
She capsized at about 2:30 am on 7 June. The Yellow Semi-Submarine site puts the top of the wreck at 16 metres and the seabed at 42 metres. A Larnaca boat trip to the Zenobia sails about 1.5 kilometres offshore.
Which Larnaca boat trip suits certified divers on the Zenobia?
GetYourGuide lists three Zenobia dive trips. One is a 2-hour guided dive with equipment included. Another is a 4-hour private dive with full gear. The third is a 7.5-hour double dive for certified divers only.
Wikipedia grades the wreck by depth. A simple dive along the starboard side to 16 metres suits newly qualified divers. The upper car deck and accommodation block need more skill. The lower car deck and engine room suit only very experienced divers.
The double dive lists large grouper, barracuda and a resident turtle. It also offers pickup. The 2-hour listing says guests explore the ferry’s corridors and cargo holds with full gear supplied.
Larnaca Napa Cruises runs a Zenobia Diving Centre that stays open throughout the year and welcomes beginners and experienced divers. Protaras divers who want a longer course can read our Protaras scuba diving guide.
Which sunset Larnaca boat trip sails from the marina?
Three sunset cruises from Larnaca last 1.5 hours on GetYourGuide and include a drink. One serves a glass of wine. One serves unlimited wine and beer with music. One offers a complimentary glass on the semi-submarine. A fourth sunset sail lasts 45 minutes.
The wine cruise stops at Mackenzie Beach for a swim and snorkel. The listing promises panoramic views of the Larnaca coastline.
The unlimited-drinks cruise adds music, beer, wine and soft drinks. It also stops for a dip at Mackenzie Beach. The listing places the sunset over the western horizon of Larnaca.
The Yellow Semi-Submarine sunset cruise offers wine, beer or fruit juice and a 20-minute swim break. Children under 3 go free, and the boat has plenty of seating, Wi-Fi and a bar.
The short sunset sail runs aboard the Traditional Explorer N vessel and is wheelchair accessible. Pick this Larnaca boat trip if you want the sunset without a long outing.
What does a fishing or lunch Larnaca boat trip include?
The fishing cruise in Larnaca Bay includes a Cypriot barbecue, swimming and fishing. The listing calls it suitable for everyone, and pickup is available.
Larnaca Napa Cruises says its food is locally sourced where possible and freshly prepared on board. Its open bar covers water, soft drinks, zivania and wine. Other beverages are not included.
CheckYeti lists a glass-bottom fishing trip from Larnaca to the Zenobia wreck with lunch, run by Larnaca Napa Sea Cruises. It also lists a boat trip to the Zenobia wreck and the Blue Lagoon with lunch, tagged Bestseller.
The Yellow Submarine swim cruise on GetYourGuide serves an open bar with unlimited ice-cold beer, white wine and soft drinks. Check what each lunch Larnaca boat trip serves before you book, because the drinks and food differ.
Does a Larnaca boat trip reach Ayia Napa, Cape Greco or Protaras?
Yes. The Odyssey boat safari sails the coast from Larnaca to Protaras with a guide. Its listing names the Zenobia, Cape Pyla and Cape Greco as highlights and includes a traditional Cypriot lunch.
Cape Greco is a headland at the southern end of Famagusta Bay, inside Ayia Napa Municipality. It lies between Ayia Napa and Protaras. It is also the easternmost point of the areas the Republic of Cyprus controls.
Wikipedia says the coast of Cape Greco National Forest Park holds sea caves in limestone cliffs, called the fairy caves. Sailo notes that the caves fill up in summer. It adds that the area has no conveniences, so a boat visit helps.
A day trip also exists. GetYourGuide lists a 7-hour excursion from Larnaca. Its stops are Ayia Napa, Cape Greco, the Blue Lagoon and Nissi Beach. It also lists the Bridge of Love and the sea caves.
Boats also sail from the east coast itself. Read our Ayia Napa boat trip page, then compare the Protaras boat trip options.
Can you charter a private Larnaca boat trip?
Yes. Larnaca has a private yacht, a wooden sailing boat and a charter fleet. GetYourGuide lists a 1.5-hour sunset cruise on the Deep Blue Yacht for a private group, tailored to that group.
Larnaca Napa Cruises charters boats for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and hen or bachelor parties. It shapes the time, duration and destination around the group. Its fleet has the Aerosa, Okeanis, Doremi, Calypso and Queen Zenobia.
The operator requires a deposit to confirm any private charter. The deposit stays non-refundable if the customer cancels. If the operator cancels for weather, the group moves to a new date or gets the deposit back.
Yellow Semi-Submarine Larnaca offers a private charter aboard the MV Nika, a wooden sailing boat, plus private fishing cruises. GetYourGuide also lists a private Zenobia snorkelling trip with a mini cruise for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Sailo rents boats at Larnaca Marina. It says the marina is the place to stock up on supplies for a longer trip. Viator lists two private sailing cruises below.
When does a Larnaca boat trip run?
Yellow Semi-Submarine Larnaca runs daily tours. SeaTemperature.org puts the sea at Larnaca near 28.1 degrees Celsius in August and 16.9 degrees in February. August brings the warmest swim stops, and February the coldest.
Wikipedia classes the Larnaca climate as hot semi-arid, with low annual rainfall and hot summers. A summer Larnaca boat trip meets dry, sunny days, and the water suits a long swim.
Weather decides each departure. Larnaca Napa Cruises says every cruise depends on the weather and the captain’s decision. It also says the route changes when conditions or safety call for it.
GetYourGuide shows the same rule on its glass-bottom cruise. The captain picks the Zenobia snorkel or the Mackenzie Beach swim on the day.
How do you book a Larnaca boat trip?
Book on the operator’s site or on a booking widget on this page. Every Larnaca boat trip listed here on GetYourGuide shows free cancellation. The minimum booking notice runs from 5 minutes to 10 hours, depending on the trip.
The sunset cruises with wine ask for 5 to 20 minutes of notice. The short Explorer N sunset sail asks for 30 minutes. The fishing cruise, the Odyssey boat safari, private yachts and Zenobia dives ask for 10 hours. The Ayia Napa day trip asks for 8.
Larnaca Napa Cruises refunds in full when a customer cancels with 24 hours notice. No-shows are not refunded. A cruise that misses its minimum number of guests gets a new date or a full refund.
The same operator warns that a phone reservation left unpaid is not guaranteed. Another customer who pays in full gets the place first. Pay at booking to keep your seat on a Larnaca boat trip.
Is a Larnaca boat trip suitable for children and wheelchair users?
Yes. The Yellow Semi-Submarine welcomes ages 0 to 120. The operator built the boat in Cyprus with access for wheelchairs and pushchairs. It lists separate toilets for men and women on board.
A Hungarian family on CheckYeti wrote that their children loved watching the fish and bubbles through the underwater windows. They also called the length of the trip just right.
A reviewer of Larnaca Napa Cruises says goggles are available on board against a refundable deposit. The same reviewer praises the staff member who pointed out turtles during the swim stops.
Read the access label on each listing before you book a Larnaca boat trip with a wheelchair or a pram.
What else can you see around Larnaca before a Larnaca boat trip?
Finikoudes is the palm-lined seafront promenade along Athenon Avenue. Larnaca Castle, Mackenzie Beach and the Salt Lake add land sights around the city. A Larnaca boat trip fits into a full day.
Larnaca Castle became a medieval stronghold in the late 14th century. It now holds a museum with Byzantine wall paintings and medieval pottery. Its courtyard is an open-air theatre for 200 people.
Mackenzie Beach hosts a windsurfing centre and an extreme sports centre. Windsurfers arrive from around the world, especially in autumn. Visit Cyprus lists the beach on its Larnaka cycling route past the castle.
The Salt Lake fills with water in winter, and flamingos stay from November until the end of March. It dries up in summer. Planning a longer island stay? Compare the west coast in our Paphos boat trip guide, or browse all Cyprus tours.
What do travellers ask about a Larnaca boat trip?
Did anyone die when the Zenobia sank?
No. Wikipedia records no casualties in the disaster.
Can you see Famagusta from a Larnaca boat trip?
Sailo says boats can view the closed city of Famagusta from the sea. Viator also lists a Famagusta jeep tour with a Blue Lagoon cruise from Larnaca.
Why do locals call the Larnaca port area Skala?
Skala means ladder in Greek. The name belonged to the historic port, and today it names the area around it, south of Larnaca Castle.
Does a festival close the Larnaca seafront?
Yes. The Kataklysmos festival, held in early summer, closes the seafront to traffic in the evenings. It now runs about three weeks.