At 37 kilometres in area, Cayo Largo del Sur is the exact definition of paradise. Moreover it is, one of the most attractive places in all of Cuba. Being the only key in Cuba bathed by the waters of the Caribbean, it is the perfect place to find paradise beaches and countless beautiful coral reefs. It is an exceptional place to practice water sports, as well as to discover nature and wildlife.
Located at the eastern end of the Canarreos Archipelago, Cayo Largo del Sur is a beautiful multicoloured postcard where its waters, always warm, mix emerald green with turquoise blue. In addition to its undeniable beauty, this exciting island in the Caribbean Sea also has a certain historical interest. It has been a stopping place for famous pirates, and even for Christopher Columbus on his way to San Juan Island.
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What are the best beaches in Cayo Largo del Sur?
With twenty-four kilometres of beaches and stunning seabed, Cayo Largo del Sur is the perfect haven for sea lovers. While the beach is its main attraction, you can also discover the more unspoilt and wild beaches on the adjacent keys, such as Cayo Cantiles and Cayo Iguana.
1. Paradise Beach in Cayo Largo del Sur
Paradise Beach in Cayo Largo del Sur, Cuba, offers a pleasant and tranquil stroll through the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea with which it lives up to its name. You will enjoy a peaceful and intimate getaway in unspoilt territory that invites you to disconnect. Paradise Beach has long been considered one of the 25 most beautiful beaches in the world.
You can relax and sunbathe on its fine white sand or swim in its crystal clear blue waters. One of the advantages of Playa Paraíso is that it has restaurants nearby, with typical Cuban cuisine.
2. Sirena Beach in Cayo Largo del Sur
Playa Sirena is located in Cayo Largo, in Isla de la Juventud. It is the longest in the area and faces west, where the more than 2 km of fine sand is protected from the waves and the wind. Playa Sirena is the most beautiful beach in Cayo Largo and probably in all of Cuba.
The beach has a dolphin enclosure where you can play with dolphins. The locals recommend walking the entire beach from the dolphins to the other end. This route also passes by Punta Playa Sirena, where you can see starfish among the beautifully coloured sand and sea.
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3. Punta Mal Tiempo Beach in Cayo Largo del Sur
The wide sandy point called Playa Mal Tiempo, also known as Punta Mal Tiempo, is one of the wildest and most unspoiled beaches in Cayo Largo. This pristine beach of sparkling white sand, lapped by crystal clear turquoise waters. It is part of the area of Cayo Largo called the western beaches, with Playa Sirena and Playa Paraiso.
The serene ambience of this wide, unspoilt expanse gives a true “desert island” feeling. There are only a few palapas and sun loungers on this beach, no restaurants or buildings, so it is important that you have everything you might need.
4. Turtle Farm in Cayo Largo del Sur
The Turtle Farm and Experimental Sea Turtle Hatchery are located in the Los Canarreos Archipelago in Cayo Largo del Sur. In addition to observing some species at the centre, night tours are also organised to several beaches in Cayo Largo during the sea turtle nesting season. It is a spectacle that many people describe as incredible.
5. Cantiles Key
Cayo Cantiles is one of the keys adjacent to Cayo Largo del Sur, in the province of Isla de la Juventud. A curious thing about Cayo Cantiles is that it is inhabited by a population of wild monkeys and flamingos. This is why this cay is part of a research station of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment. It is one of the least known and wildest places in this part of the Caribbean, where in addition to its fauna, its beaches make it one of the most impressive places. This key has no permanent population, a destination that has not been much exploited, making it even more special.
6. Iguana Key
Cayo Iguana is located is the place of choice for visitors looking for nature or adventure tourism. As its name suggests, the island is full of iguanas which, although they inhabit the whole area, there are many more to be found here. They even come to enjoy the company of visitors instead of fleeing. Another of its great attractions are water sports such as snorkelling, thanks to its crystal-clear waters and spectacular seabed.
Our post on How to create a travel itinerary with Passporter may interest you.
7. Cayo Largo Marina
Nestled in the paradisiacal Cayo that gives it its name, its location in the south of Cuba makes navigation possible in the most extensive area of the southern platform of the country. It also offers a variety of tourist services of its own. The Marina Marlin (formerly Marina Puerto Sol) is located in the town, northwest of Cayo Largo. This is the only marina on the island and the starting point for all nautical excursions and motorised water sports. From deep-sea fishing, diving, snorkelling, to half-day and full-day cruises on catamarans, trimarans or yachts, boat transfers to the surrounding islets, and a boat transfer to Playa Sirena.
Find out the other keys you can discover in our post about the Cuba Keys
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Water sports in Cayo Largo
Diving enthusiasts will find a gigantic section of the Caribbean Sea where the waters can reach a depth of more than 40 metres. This is one of the main diving spots in Cuba and it is not surprising that some people visit it just for this feature. You can experience incredible bliss diving among the spectacular coral formations and the amazing tropical fish that inhabit its waters.
Cayo Largo boasts one of the most exciting and complete sea beds in Cuba, full of coral reefs and tropical fish. If your ideals are oriented towards naturism, this is also the place for you. It has become one of the most appreciated naturist spots in Cuba for the followers of this practice, who live in perfect harmony with the rest of the visitors.
Frequently asked questions about your trip to Cayo Largo del Sur
Among the hotels in Cayo Largo del Sur, the following stand out:
– Hotel Cayo Largo del Sol
– Pelican Hotel
– Bella Isla Resort
All of them have 4 stars and an ideal location on the island. Hotel Cayo Largo del Sol and Hotel Pelícano are located in Playa Paraíso, and Bella Isla Resort in Playa Blanca.
The only way to get to Cayo Largo is by plane or propeller plane.
In addition to flights, the island also has a maritime option arriving at Puerto La Marina Cayo Largo del Sur.
Cayo Largo is a fairly small island, so transfers are not overly complicated. Airport transfers are usually included with your hotel booking.
There are various means of transport to get you around the island quickly and easily, from bus, motorbike or quad bikes to taxis. Taxis on Cayo Largo are shared between about 10 people and cost about 2 cuc each way.
It is 177 km from Havana and 135 km from Nueva Gerona, its provincial capital.
How to organise what to see in Cayo Largo del Sur?
If you don’t know how to organise your trip, register or download the Passporter app and we’ll help you.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
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