Flamingos in Cyprus: When, Where & How to See Them!

Flamingo migration is real, a topic we have covered extensively on this site. Last week, we checked out flamingo migration to and within India. This week, it’s all about Cyprus, which is enjoying its annual invasion of the fabulous fowl right now.

The small island nation in the eastern Mediterranean roughly 50 miles south of Turkey and 60 miles due west of Syria’s shoreline experiences an influx of flamingos every winter. The first flamingos of the season arrived in Cyprus in the middle of this month in the salt lake of Larnaca, a beach town on the country’s southeastern coast, kickstarting the next few months of flamingo fascination for locals and visitors alike.

Flamingos in Cyprus

Thousands of birds flock to Cyprus from November to February when the island’s weather is preferable to their usual home’s climate. Flamingos - greater flamingos, specifically - are not alone in this.

The time of year that means cold for much of the planet means rain for Cyprus. This fills the country’s lakes and lagoons and balloons the supply of tasty shrimp, plankton, and more for plenty of bountiful flamingo feasts. This phenomenon attracts five figures of flamingos to the island, with estimations of their temporary population reaching upwards of 20,000.

Larnaca

The quant beach town was the first destination for the country’s pink travelers of 2024. It’s a regular occurrence for flamingos to come to Larnaca every winter, and it’s a common purpose for tourists to come to the city from November to February.

The flamingos there are generally wary of people and tend to stay away from the shores of the salt lake that runs up against the city’s center. Humans are discouraged from approaching or otherwise disturbing the fabulous fowls who come to Larnaca, but they are encouraged to watch from afar - the city’s observatory is an excellent option.

The Larnaca Salt Lake offers incredible advantages for flamingos. It’s a collection of four separate salt lakes totaling about 0.85 square miles, with wetlands and salt flats throughout its area and outskirts. As long as the rain comes, all the comforts of home are waiting.

The airport is located in the middle of these lakes, which can sometimes be an issue for landing and departing planes. It can also provide passengers with some stunning views of these beautiful birds as they arrive and leave.

There is another lake a bit north of Larnaca called Oroklini Lake that flamingos sometimes like to frequent, too. The salt lakes in the city are a better bet for flamingo sightseeing, but Oroklini brings in some flamingos, too. But in return for fewer flamingos, you are likely to deal with fewer tourists.

Akrotiri Salt Lake

The other major Cypriot body of water flamingos love is Akrotiri Salt Lake, also known as Limassol Salt Lake. It’s on the southern tip of the island and is one large body of water not far from the sea in three directions. 

Sightings of the fabulous fowl began this week at Akrotiri after the area experienced its first consequence of the rainy season. The Akrotiri Environmental Education Centre (AAEC) reported that roughly 300 flamingos have made it to the lake so far, with more coming every day. The AAEC has an observation kiosk that can help onlookers get a view of the flamingos from a safe distance.

“We are very excited to see them again,” AAEC manager Thomas Hadjikyriakou told CyprusMail on Nov. 20. “Not many people have been so fortunate enough to see these beautiful creatures from so close in the past. … My advice would be to take the opportunity to see them now, because we cannot be sure when they (will) decide to leave.”