Lost Places Tour – Forgotten Copper Mines

For centuries, Cyprus was the largest producer and exporter of copper in the ancient world. Pure copper and its alloys were the foundation for the development of great civilizations on the island. Undoubtedly, Cyprus contributed to the technological progress of the entire Mediterranean world with its copper.

Over time, many mining areas were naturally exhausted and forgotten. Join us on an exploration of these forgotten and lost places, marvel at how nature has created new oases of life, and discover the vibrant colors in the rock formations.

Tour price for one or two person, 399 Euro, additional up to four 49 Euro/pers.

What Awaits You:

Our Lost Places Tour – Copper Mines – takes us to at least two former mines. The impressive color spectra in the rocks are always fascinating. With the frequent sunshine in Cyprus, you’ll witness this true natural beauty, which might remind you of science fiction films where daring space explorers visit new planets.

It’s also remarkable how nature over time has covered the scars that humans have inflicted on the earth. On this Sancytours Lost Places Tour, we traverse the no-man’s-land between Northern and Southern Cyprus without crossing the border. It’s always a thought-provoking experience to see an abandoned village that has become a ghost town, with nature already covering much of it.

• Mathiatis Copper Mine: Dating back to ancient times, Mathiatis offers an excellent view of gossans (iron caps) and old tunnels, depending on the lake’s water level. In the deepest part of the lake, there are many old tunnels. From the upper part of the mine, you get a good impression of how work was carried out in the past. Besides the bright gossans (iron caps), you can also find small stones that look like crystals (gypsum). The mine is believed to date back to the archaic period as a furnace discovered there was dated to this time. Between 1934 and 1944, this ore-rich formation was exploited, and copper and small quantities of gold and silver were extracted.
• Skouriotissa Copper Mine: Dating back to 1914, Skouriotissa is likely the oldest operational mine in the world. Following the end of the civil war and the Turkish army invasion, the ceasefire line split the ownership of the country’s largest mining company, Cyprus Mines. The mine had to be closed and was sold to Hellenic Copper Mines Ltd. Operations continued on a small scale since the copper and pyrite deposits were almost entirely depleted, and further extraction of the few remaining deposits was too expensive. The decline in copper prices led to the complete cessation of mining in 1979. However, companies were unwilling to accept a total loss, and in 1981 Hellenic Ltd. began extracting copper from the leach residues but had to stop in 1993 due to costs. Since 1996, copper mining has resumed in Skouriotissa, as the market price of copper has significantly increased, making it worthwhile.

Have a look for more pictures to our gallery

Please note

• During your tour you are invited for free non alcoholic drinks
• We will pick you up at your hotel about 9:00. All in all, the tour lasts between 5 and 6 hours, it depends on you, because this event is only for you and your family, partner or friends that you book in.

Our special service for you:

We will be happy to pick you up from your hotel free of charge if you are staying in the Agia Napa – Protaras – Paralimni region, or in Larnaca Destrict
(e.g. Oroklini – Pyla – Livadia – Larnaca City). Pick up is also possible for more distant routes, but we will then charge a small surcharge.

We are happy to accept your booking by email. Or book now using our online booking form. We will take care of the rest and look forward to seeing you.

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