This month we head to a tranquil, unique east-Med sailing haven.
Nestled in the sandy bays of the unspoilt Karpaz Peninsula in North Cyprus lies Karpaz Gate Marina – a unique location offering outstanding facilities at a full-service marina resort. This international standard marina has provided boat owners with a welcoming haven to sample the tranquillity and natural wonders of the island’s unspoilt northern shores and idyllic weather conditions, while enjoying the highest levels of service, berthing and amenities.
FACILITIES & BERTHING
Boat owners are attracted to the marina for a myriad of reasons, including its minimal paperwork and custom formalities outside the EU.
The safe and secure marina features 300 berths from 5.5 – 55m with depths from 3.5 – 6m, and there are a variety of attractive long and short-term berthing packages.
Another huge incentive is the on-site boat yard, with its 300-ton capacity travel lift and 18,000m² dry dock area. The range of services now offered include maintenance work, yacht painting, hull repairs and anti-fouling, plus mechanical and electrical work such as engine and reduction gear servicing, rudder system servicing and navigation equipment servicing.
Karpaz Gate Marina offers both Eurodiesel and gasoline at its on-site fuel station at a significantly lower cost compared to other countries in the region, enjoying the attractive north Cypriot fuel prices. The additional advantage of the marina’s duty-free status then provides an even greater saving to foreign registered boats’ owners.
AT THE MARINA
Karpaz Gate Marina opened a hotel, hamam and spa in 2021 offering guests and marina visitors the option to step off the pontoons and indulge in nautical luxury in one of their 52-room boutique cabin rooms or indulge in the luxurious on-site amenities.
The resort co-exists in obvious harmony with its local coastal environment, complete with nautical touches such as teak deck floors, white wood washed ceilings and sailing visuals. It has 44 standard cabins, four family corner cabins and four VIP cabins, all with marina, sea or garden views from the balcony. Offering treatment rooms, saunas and traditional hamam, the resort’s spa allows hotel guests, marina clients and other visitors to embrace the spirit and culture of North Cyprus in a relaxing and rejuvenating way.
The on-site Beach Club is an impressive facility with a café, private cabanas and 33m infinity pool, plus children’s pool area. The peaceful setting with private beach area includes a watersports centre with snorkelling and other equipment.
Hemingway’s Resto-Bar allows you to experience delightful waterside, alfresco dining on the promenade while sampling the delicious traditional Cypriot cuisine. Sundowners are best enjoyed when taking in the evening’s sunset over a glass of the resort’s own private wine label and soaking up the sounds of the regular live musical entertainment.
NORTH CYPRUS
Much of the Karpaz Peninsula remains gloriously untouched, with its golden beaches, crystal clear waters and breath-taking coastline. Karpaz Gate’s harmonious balance of style and modern facilities with an authenticity and sensitivity that remains true to the peace, natural beauty and culture of North Cyprus is very apparent.
The wider region of North Cyprus offers a rich and intriguing destination for visitors, with ancient castles and abbeys, tranquil villages, vibrant culture and enticing cuisine. The natural landscape includes mountainous peaks as well as an abundance of flora and fauna and notable wildlife, including the region’s rare turtles and wild donkeys on the peninsula.
Famagusta, Nicosia and Kyrenia have an abundance of shops and restaurants, while an array of popular sites include Saint Hilarion Castle, Bellapais Abbey and the famous Apostolos Andreas Monastery.
GREEN MARINA
From the outset, Karpaz Gate has kept sustainability and a respect for the beauty of its natural surroundings at the heart of its operations.
Eco-conscious sailors are reassured by the marina’s compassion for the local environment; a no fishing rule is applied in the marina to preserve the crystal clear waters and protect the biodiversity, free disposal of black water is available, recycling and sustainable energy management is carefully considered across the entire marina resort.
The resort even has its own nursery, producing the freshest of home-grown ingredients that are delivered straight to the plate in the dedicated on-site resto-bar, Hemingway’s. These green efforts have been recognised in international awards such as the prestigious Monaco Sustainable & Smart Marina awards which Karpaz Gate added to their list of accolades last year. The marina also gained its Platinum status, the highest distinction in The Yacht Harbour Association’s 5 Gold Anchor program, making them one of just a dozen 5 Gold Anchor Platinum marinas worldwide.
PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION
Nimble Ape II
The aspects which set Karpaz Gate Marina apart from most other marinas are immediately apparent. On approach, after two nights at sea, we were greeted outside the entrance by two smiling marina team members in a RIB, giving us clear instructions about where to place fenders. The assistance is reassuring to say the least, especially in comparison with the far too common scenario where we have been left loitering outside an unfamiliar marina, nervously awaiting help. We were duly led to our berth by the customs area where at least three more staff ashore were on hand to receive our lines, making for a stress-free manoeuvre to come alongside. All customs and passport checks were then completed on-site as the marina is a Port of Entry – a great benefit, in stark contrast to the time and hassle spent with the Port Police, Customs and Immigration, Post Office for TEPAH payment and Police Headquarters visits required in Greece. We were smoothly moved onto our final berth, with two staff receiving stern lines and another magically appearing on the bow to arrange the lazy lines. Quickly hooked up to electricity and water, with Wi-Fi code and marina access card, we were ready for a good night’s sleep. To say the service was far above any we have received during 20 years of sailing in the UK, Europe, US and Caribbean is no exaggeration. For boat owners who want a remote escape alongside the quality of facilities and service you would expect at the best superyacht marinas, but not at their exclusive prices, then Karpaz Gate Marina could be the perfect choice, as it was for us.
Marina office: +90 533 833 7878
E: info@karpazbay.com
GPS Position: N35º 33.5’ E34º 13.6’
VHF Channel: 10 or 16
Call Sign: Karpaz Gate Marina
