There is plenty of sand at the two SODAP beaches. It always annoys me when some people say that Paphos doesn't have sandy beaches. There are lots of sandy beaches in Paphos. There are also some pebbly beaches. There are in fact, a mix. To see the full range, check out our Beach Directory.

Ok, the beaches won't necessarily be the huge size of the ones you get at Ayia Napa, but they are worth exploring, and you will soon find your own particular favourite. SODAP Beach has a nice beach bar next to it, which you can see here. It also has decent changing facilities, and a car park which though is metered, is still very cheap compared to what you will be used to paying in your own country.

Directly behind the SODAP Beach you will find the Amavi Hotel. This is a five star establishment for couples only.

Both beaches have their own Lifeguard Station, which is a requirement for being awarded the Blue Flag Status.

Now, let's address the name SODAP and Vrysoudia. I apologise if you have heard this before, and feel free to skip to the next picture if you have done.

In the UK there is a company called NISA. You can find their products in lots of small, independant supermarkets and corner shops. When I first came across the name, I was a bit wary, as I hadn't heard of it before and their prices were cheap. Own-brand is one thing, but if you haven't heard of the brand it can set alarm bells ringing. Anyway, I soon found out that NISA just stood for National Independent Shopkeeper's Association. Basically, all the independents had got together to form their own company with increased penetration and buying power.

Why on Earth am I telling you this? Well, in Cyprus, the grape growers all got together and formed SODAP. This stands for Synergatikos Organismos Diathesis Ambelourgikon Proionton, which translates to Cooperative Organization for the Disposal of Viticultural Products. Basically it is a wine-makers' coop.

Now SODAP used to have a brewery on this site, before it became the beaches you see here. Presumably, they gave or sold the land to the Municipality, and it became what it is today.

The name Vrysoudia translates as "tap". This isn't the same as the tap on a sink, but a Brewery Tap, which means Bar. So presumably there were two bars here at one point.

Anyway, that's how the names came about. Why people call it SODAP rather than Vrysoudia is probably just down to convenience.

This shot shows most of the main SODAP Beach along with the Antasia Beach Bar. That funny brown snake you can see in the centre is a staircase leading to a small viewing platform.