Cayo Coco, Cuba
Discover the paradisiacal Cayo Coco, a tropical island in a dream landscape in the archipelago Jardines del Rey, Cuba
Cayo Coco, Cuba
© Stephen Weppler
Cayo Coco (Coco Key) is located in the Jardines del Rey (King's Gardens) archipelago and is the fourth largest island in Cuba. It is connected to the main island of Cuba by an artificial road called the pedraplén, a road built over the sea. It is an exceptional work of engineering that in spite of crossing the sea is recognized by its respect for the environment since it respects the marine currents. In addition, the key is connected to Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Romano.
Cayo Coco
© fabfotophotography
As tourism grew in Cuba, this cayo specialized in more luxurious and exclusive tourism such as the all-inclusive hotel resorts that are currently the only accommodation on the island.
You will not leave Cayo Coco without experiencing a true tropical paradise. Its beaches are among the best and most impressive in the world. With fine white sand combined with the warm, crystalline waters of the Caribbean, no one is left indifferent to them. The beaches of Cayo Coco make anyone in this idyllic place want to stay forever.
Index:
- What can I do in Cayo Coco?
- What are the best beaches?
- How can I get to Cayo Coco?
- What are the accommodations in Cayo Coco?
- Are there travel packages to Cayo Coco?
What Can I Do in Cayo Coco?
Flora of Cayo Coco
© fabfotophotography
During your stay in Cayo Coco, you will be able to enjoy pleasures such as the magnificent view of its fascinating native flora and fauna, take part in different types of activities such as the Glass Bottom Boat tour or the visit to the Rocarena Climbing Center.
The Parque Natural El Bagá is a gigantic ecological project on the cayo. The Cuban government intends to merge two different, apparently contradictory areas, such as a lucrative real estate movement and the recovery and conservation of the area's environment.
If one of your passions is a sport, more specifically water sport, while visiting Cayo Coco you can enjoy deep-sea fishing, snorkelling or diving in search of its marvellous seabed.
Seabed of Cayo Coco
© Lee Woods
The seabed of Cayo Coco is undoubtedly the highlight of this Caribbean jewel. You will be able to see with extreme clarity the endemic fish of the zone that overflow with colour, thanks to the purity of the water. Cayo Coco is considered one of the best points of diving of all Cuba and of the world.
You can hire diving material and a guide at the Centro de Buceo Cayo Coco (Diving Center) where they will provide you with everything you need to enjoy the beautiful sea beds. You have the option to choose different points of immersion, like La Jaula, in great depth with species like gorgonias; Las Coloradas, where you will be able to find caves and cracks; or in Casasa to enjoy the coralline barrier.
This will not be the only sport you can do during your visit to the island. You will also be able to visit the Rocarena Climbing Center, where you will have a different level climbing circuit. From the most basic, where you will be able to get started in the world of climbing, to more advanced levels where you will be able to test your climbing skills.
The warm turquoise waters that surround the coasts of this part of the Caribbean will encourage you not to stray from them thanks to such appealing activities as boat rides. On windy days, you can practice other sports such as windsurfing or kitesurfing.
On the other hand, if you simply like to enjoy the peaceful landscape, you can join the Glass Bottom Boat, a tour in which you will visit the most sheltered places on the island, enjoying all its beauty. This boat is made up of a large glass window at the bottom. Through the glass, you will be able to observe all the local aquatic fauna in its greatest splendor. If you venture even closer, you will have the chance to grab some goggles and a snorkel and dive right in.
What are the best beaches in Cayo Coco?
Delfinario Cayo Guillermo
© Delfinario Cayo Guillermo
The beaches are the main attraction of this beautiful key due to its turquoise waters and fine white sand of coral origin. In addition, due to the virgin character of these places, it is common to find a great variety of fauna. Dolphins are abundant in this area and you might be lucky enough to have them playing and jumping close to you. If you don't manage to spot one, you will also have the chance to take a specific excursion to play with the dolphins.
Among the most beautiful beaches of Cayo Coco are Playa de las Coloradas, which received the recognition of environmental beach for its great ecological management, and Playa Flamencos, with a lot of hotels nearby and ideal for water sports. In Flamencos beach it is common to find large groups of beautiful pink flamingos gathering in the shallow sea.
In addition, another striking beach, this time because of its large size, is Playa Larga, which stays true to its name with 2.5 km of white sand.
All of them stand out for their virgin character and have been very well preserved despite the growth of tourism.
Playa Pilar
© Gianluigi Bresaola
If you are in Cayo Coco it is necessary that a visit to Cayo Guillermo must be among your plans since it is just as impressive the many heavenly beaches that you can enjoy here. The extensive Playa El Paso and Playa Pilar, a real jewel of the Caribbean, deserve special mention.
How Do I Get to Cayo Coco?
There are several ways to get to this beautiful key. Taking a boat or a plane can be the fastest depending on where you are in Cuba. However, the main and most common way is to use the pedraplén or a road built over the Caribbean. You can get there from Morón in about an hour, while from Havana it will be a 7-hour drive.
In order to shorten the trip or if you are in Havana and want to visit Cayo Coco, one option is to spend the night in Trinidad. This is a very common option in Cuba, so you have the option of staying in a private home to connect fully with the Cuban culture. There are also options of hotels with more services if you prefer more comfortable accommodation.
The decision to stay in Trinidad as a first stop to the cayos is a very good one since you could take the opportunity to visit some of the attractions of the area. If you have time, we recommend the Parque Natural de Topes de Collantes, a beautiful park where you can connect with nature and explore spectacular waterfalls. If you stay more than one night in Trinidad you should not miss the city of Cienfuegos, known as the pearl of southern Cuba, and its French colonial architecture.
What are the Accommodations in Cayo Coco?
Hotel Playa Coco
© Hotel Playa Coco
Spending a couple of days in this key is an excellent option due to its wonderful beaches and various activities. That's why you should know that the hotels in Cayo Coco are all all-inclusive. Located to the north of the key you have a choice of more than 10 hotel resorts including several from the Iberostar and Melia chains.
Hotel Sol Cayo Coco
© Hotel Sol Cayo Coco
Some hotels stand out like the Hotel Sol Cayo Coco, located between Playa de Las Coloradas and Playa Larga. Another hotel that will impress you is HotelPlaya Coco, a five star and elegant with thousands of services. Also the impressive Meliá Jardines del Rey Hotel, with its luxurious facilities and, another hotel from the Meliá chain, the Tryp Cayo Coco.
Are there Travel Packets to Cayo Coco?
Cayo Coco is a paradisiacal spot to relax and disconnect, where the best plan is to enjoy the beach and its natural beauty. However, it is normal that a tourist travelling to Cuba has other places of preferred interest because of its cultural and natural character.
Therefore, an excellent idea is to book a travel package that gives you the opportunity to get to know Cuba from a cultural and natural perspective and to ultimately arrive at Cayo Coco or other keys to relax. The packages that include Havana, Trinidad, Viñales, etc. are commonly used. Always including a couple of nights in the idyllic paradise of Cayo Coco.
For more information about organized trips, you can ask this expert Cuban agency to organize a tailor-made trip with the best packages and budgets.
More Information:
Location:
Cayo Coco, municipality of Morón, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba.
Interactive map:
Jardines del Rey
What to see:
Other nearby destinations:
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