Visiting the Edro III Shipwreck in Paphos, Cyprus.
When the hostel owner mentioned a shipwreck close to the bay, it piqued my interest immediately.
Mysterious tourist attractions also make for great additions to my travel itinerary. So I planned my journey to the famous Edro III shipwreck!
Over a decade ago, one dark October night, a vessel crashed into Paphos, creating an interesting tale to tell for the quiet coastal city.
This blog will detail how you can visit the Edro shipwreck, along with the mysterious history and valiant captain story behind the wreckage.
The iconic vessel can be reached by foot, bus, or car making it an easily accessible spot.
You may just capture a sunset picture with a truly unique centrepiece.
The famous vessel is stuck at an angle.
How you can visit the Edro III Shipwreck.
Edro III is located just North West of Paphos, along the coast near Peyia Village.
As it is in between Coral Bay and the Sea Caves, many visitors walk from the beautiful bay past the shipwreck on route to the sea caves, however, there are other options from Paphos.
On a budget?
The bus network is very efficient throughout Paphos and the routes are located close by to all the main highlights of the Cypriot city.
Buses number 615 and 616 will get you as close as Coral Bay, but you will have to walk from this point, which is around another 45 minutes each way.
From the Harbour station, it is around 20 minutes to Coral Bay and costs €2 each way. If you are exploring multiple sites around Paphos, then you can get an all day bus ticket for €6.50.
The bus route showing that Coral Bay is closest stop to Edro III.
In a hurry?
Taking the bus and walking method is time consuming and it might not fit in your tight schedule, so the other options are car rental or taxi.
You can expect the drive to take 20-30 minutes from Paphos Old Town to the shipwreck. This method gets you closer and there is parking availability near the Shipwreck spot.
A taxi will cost you around €10 each way, but make sure you plan the return journey in advance if visiting out of the summer season, as there aren’t many passing cabs at this time of year.
Map showing where Edro III Shipwreck is located.
You can visit Edro Shipwreck III 24 hours a day but if you want that perfect Instagram shot, then sunset or mid afternoon are the best times to visit.
A birdseye perspective of Edro III.
What happened to the Edro III Shipwreck.
On a random winter morning in Paphos on 8th October 2011, a cargo ship ran aground just off the coast near the famous sea caves after a sea storm.
Edro III was flagged by Sierra Leone, and weighed over 2300 tonnes over its 80 metre length.
The vessel was en route from Limassol in Cyprus and heading for Rhodes in Greece, when the accident happened. The chemicals and toxins were removed from the stranded ship within a couple of years of the crash occurring to protect the reefs and marine life nearby.
Over a decade later, Edro III still sits at an angle on the rocks, and has become a feature of the sightseeing in Paphos.
Edro III captured my imagination as soon as I saw it, as it is rare to see a shipwreck so close to the shore!
A rocky walkway on my walk to the shipwreck.
A valiant captain’s tale.
During my solo trip to Paphos I spoke to many locals about the Edro III Shipwreck and heard some different tales.
A common mention was the local story that the captain remained on the crashed vessel when the other crew were rescued, including seven Albanians and two Egyptians.
It is said that he may have remained on the ship for up to two years while the investigation of the shipwreck incident continued.
I thought this seemed far fetched, but you never know… we may just have a very stubborn captain involved!
The ship looking dirty and rusted.
The start of the walk.
The coastal walk from Coral Bay to Edro III shipwreck.
If you do opt for the coastal walk from Coral Bay to Edro III, then some beautiful scenery awaits you!
As you head towards the shipwreck area you have amazing views of the whole bay and beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
I found this area to be very peaceful in winter time, which combined well with the warm temperatures I enjoyed for the perfect afternoon stroll.
It is approximately 3.5km - 4km to walk depending on exactly which route you decide to take. I found it easy to be sidetracked by the beauty of the Cyprus coastline.
This is your adventure though, so as long as you plan enough time in your Paphos itinerary, it doesn’t matter how you reach the infamous vessel.
Map showing the walking route along the coast.
Coral Bay.
A nice roadside cafe on the way to Edro III shipwreck.
I took the walking option from Coral Bay without carrying any water or refreshments, so I was happy when this little quirky cafe popped up in the distance.
Ola Red Cafe is located around 1 km from Edro III so makes for a good final stop, before you arrive at the scene of the shipwreck, especially in summer time. when the temperatures are hotter.
The cafe serves hot food, fresh coffee and cold refreshments.
The owner is really nice and was very informative about where the shipwreck is situated and what happened during the Edro accident.
A quirky cafe on way to the shipwreck.
The cafe sells nice food and refreshments.
Arriving at the Edro III shipwreck scene.
As I wandered around the back of the stunning white house it led me onto some rocky terrain and a narrow footpath right on the coastline.
At this point I got my first glimpse of the ghostly vessel in the distance…
As I got closer, and the ship got bigger, it sent my imagination racing…
Thinking about how it could have happened!
As I visited in the winter, it added a touch of eeriness to the scene with choppy waves and murky skies surrounding the rusting boat.
It was quite an adventure in solitude on that peaceful January afternoon, and the reward was worth it.
A great addition to my Paphos plans!
First view of the shipwreck.
A clearer view.
Other things to do near the Edro III shipwreck.
It is fair to say that the Edro III Shipwreck is interesting to see, however, it is quite a distance to travel to see on its own.
Adding some of these activities to your afternoon will add some depth to your day out.
Swim around the wreckage.
One for the more adventurous visitors to the site.
All year round people swim around the vessel and dive in and around it, despite some safety concerns over the years.
I visited in January and there were swimmers enjoying the ‘fresh’ Mediterranean near the ship.
Restaurants near Edro III shipwreck.
There are many restaurants near Edro, so here are some options all within a mile of the wreckage for you to dine in:
Sea caves in Cyprus.
Visit the Sea Caves.
The sea caves are one of the highlights of any Paphos itinerary, so it is recommended that you extend your time at the Edro site to go and admire their natural beauty.
Coral Bay beach.
Coral Bay beach is a great spot for all sorts of travellers, with it being very child friendly due to its calm currents and peaceful vibes. Water sports are popular on this beach, and there are dining facilities, so it makes for a good place to end your day after your day exploring the shipwreck.
It is a beautiful sight at certain times of the day.
One last look before I left the scene.
Looking for a Paphos itinerary?
If you are visiting Paphos soon and need some ideas for your trip, then this Paphos itinerary has got you covered.
It includes the different UNESCO sites in Paphos such as Tombs of the Kings, Paphos Castle, and Nea Archaeological Park, which take you a historical journey back thousands of years to show a glimpse of how the ancient civilisations lived.
The beautiful beaches, best sunset spots, and Old Town are also mentioned in this awesome Paphos blog!
North Cyprus interest you?
If you are interested in North Cyprus, you can read about the Ledra Street Border Crossing in Nicosia, which is the last divided capital in the world, and Varosha, the abandoned ghost city in Famagusta.
Both blogs will teach you some of the important history of the island!
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