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Endangered loggerhead and green turtles lay their eggs on this undeveloped crescent of sand and shingle. The Society for Protection of Turtles (SPOT) operates a small information centre and takes visitors on turtle-watching walks from May to October, during the nesting season, as well as doing its best to protect eggs and hatchlings.

In recent years Karaoglanoglou has blossomed into the North’s main resort beach. Plenty of hotels, restaurants, bars and watersports.

“Golden Beach” lives up to its nickname – a south-facing, uncrowded sweep of golden sand backed by rolling dunes.

This stretch of coast offers an arc of almost deserted, fine sand, backed by grassy dunes and pine trees and with craggy limestone headlands. One of the North’s best options, close to Kyrenia.

A couple of basic snack bars and one (as yet uncompleted) hotel complement Paloura’s clear blue water.

A large, empty beach on the northern shore of the Karpas Peninsula, overlooked by pine woods. It is another nesting place for endangered green turtles.

Visitors to Salamis (see Salamis) can combine sightseeing with sunbathing at the long beach next to the ancient site. A reef protects shallow, clear water – good for snorkelling.

There is super snorkelling around tiny Kilas Island, not far offshore from this long stretch of sand and pebbles midway along the Karpas Peninsula’s south coast.

This beautiful beach is the North’s most popular stretch of sand and on summer weekends you certainly won’t be alone – Turkish Cypriots from Nicosia flock here to escape the scorching heat of the city. Facilities include more hotels, watersports and restaurants than most of the region’s beaches.