Cyprus in the autumn months is one of the best places to enjoy some late sunshine and embrace wellness.
This island of cat lovers and warm-hearted people welcomed us like family. It’s no wonder UK visitors return year after year. Cyprus has a rugged charm and Pissouri Bay on the southwest coast, between Paphos and Limassol, is a beautiful, tranquil gem.
Overlooking the bay, the 5-star Columbia Beach Resort which is a member of small luxury hotels of the world, offers a host of both obvious and hidden wellness facilities.
Named after the Greek goddess of youth, the hotel’s award-winning Hébe Spa provides a welcome escape from the stresses of everyday life. It features a range of facilities, including a steam room and sauna, hydrotherapy pool, plunge pool, indoor swimming pool with daily 30-minute aqua aerobics classes. There is also an Elemis Spa Bar where you can try and shop for their indulgent products.
The spa décor has a colonial feel, with its slatted dark woods intertwined with blue mosaics. The indoor pool area is connected to the outdoor larger pool and features the Temple Lounge, an idyllic relaxation area with comfy day beds where you could easily spend the entire day relaxing.
The two therapists I met, Shoba and Olivia were from the Philippines and very skilled in their therapies. My experience with therapists from Asia is that they tend to give a very firm massage, so if you prefer something medium or light, it’s best to mention it at the start. Personally, I find firmer massages more beneficial. I opted for the Hébe Signature Ritual, a 70-minute treatment. Using the island’s finest natural ingredients, it began with a foot and lower leg scrub and cleanse, which was deeply relaxing. The importance of these soothing rituals at the start of a treatment shouldn’t be underestimated.
The treatment then continued with a full body massage to the crown of my head, using beautiful local oils that had an uplifting and comforting aroma. It was blissfully relieving and rejuvenating.
On another day, I tried the 75-minute Elemis Pro-Glow Genius Facial. Although I use the Elemis cleansing balm daily, I had forgotten how deliciously fragranced and indulgent their other products are. This facial incorporated deep cleansing, hydration, smoothing, and lifting techniques using just the therapist’s hands. She definitely had magic hands, leaving me with brighter, glowing, more youthful, and smoother skin—noticeably refreshed.
Wellness at Columbia Beach Resort extends far beyond the spa. It subtly permeates throughout the entire resort and its friendly staff.
Each day, guests can enjoy a complimentary activities programme that includes Pilates, yoga (a lovely class with adapted poses for all levels), fitness classes, and aqua aerobics. There’s also a fully equipped Technogym with cardio equipment and free weights plus tennis and squash courts. For runners, there’s a path along the bay, though it can be a bit uneven in places.
The main pool is stunning and long enough for swimming laps, but I highly recommend boosting your happy hormones with an early morning swim in the sea. I saw a few people swimming longer distances, towing their orange buoys behind them.
Breakfast offers a wide variety of dishes, including a yogurt and chia chiller cabinet, plenty of fruits, nuts, and cheeses, as well as a range of cooked options. I’d recommend trying the Cypriot scrambled egg with courgettes and the delicious mushrooms. The coffee is excellent too.
Our room was spacious and equipped with plenty of water, herbal teas, and a coffee machine. The bed was wonderfully firm, and I slept incredibly well. There’s both air conditioning, a ceiling fan, and blackout curtains. Our little terrace, which overlooked the sea, was the perfect place to enjoy an early morning tea or an evening glass of local wine.
One of my favourite touches at the hotel is their turndown service. Each night, they bring you a little postcard with a wellness message and a small square of chocolate—a lovely detail that encourages you to unwind and reflect.
If you enjoy exploring, I recommend hiring a car for a few days. We did an idyllic hike in Platres to the Kaledonia Waterfall and explored some of the picturesque Troodos mountain villages. Omodos, with its wine trails, is pretty. There’s also the Holy Cross Monastery, where it is said a piece of the rope that tied Christ to the cross is kept.
The archaeological site of Kourion is also well worth a visit, where you can wander amongst the ruins and marvel at how advanced the Romans were with their public baths—caldariums, tepidariums, and even cold bath frigidariums. I especially loved the Roman Nymphaeum, a place devoted to the nymphs, protectors of springs and waters. There are so many stories in this place.
It took me some years to finally visit Cyprus, but it has certainly stolen a little piece of my heart. Columbia Beach Resort is the perfect place to experience this magic.