Park Rest Journal — July 2026 · Editor's letter
Dear readers, July is the hottest month of the year in Northern Cyprus: 33–36°C on the coast by day, up to 40°C inland, and the sea off Kyrenia (Girne) already at 27–29°C. That is no reason to stay away, but it is a reason to rearrange the day: sea and driving before eleven, castles and villages after six in the evening, and the middle of the day spent in the shade with a breeze.
The big event of a July night is the sea turtles. On Alagadi beach near Esentepe, nesting has been under way since late May; from 20 July the volunteers of the SPOT society start releasing the newly hatched young, and the beach itself is closed at night, so you cannot get in without booking. In this issue we explain how the rules work and how to sign up.
Also inside: whether July is worth it and what is open; how to hire a car and what to expect on the road; the drive to Golden Beach on the Karpaz; Kantara and Buffavento castles, where the ticket office shuts early; the tavernas of Bellapais, Lapta and Karşıyaka; golf at Korineum near Esentepe; and finally a July packing list with pharmacies, sun and money.
Park Rest itself is still under construction and will welcome its first guests in 2028; until then we keep exploring the coast on your behalf.
Warmly, the Park Rest editorial team