Cayo Coco is not only the fourth largest island in Cuba, but it is also a major tourist attraction for its luxurious resorts and dreamy beaches. Surely just by contemplating its beautiful photos you have already convinced yourself to visit this part of the central Cuban region. But what to do in Cayo Coco? Undoubtedly enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. This wonderful island is full of coasts with fine sand and clear waters, that’s why it attracts more and more tourists.
Don’t miss this post where we will explain in detail what to do in Cayo Coco. Follow all our recommendations to enjoy this charming Cuban island, as it is a must on your trip to Cuba and you will not be disappointed! It’s a real beauty and we have no doubt that you’ll fall in love with its dreamy beaches. Read on!
Things to do in Cayo Coco Cuba
1. Diving at Las Coloradas beach
Walking along this beautiful beach is one of the best things to do in Cayo Coco. In fact, Las Coloradas beach is located within the imposing Bagá Natural Park. Therefore, it is an authentic paradisiacal jewel surrounded by green and exotic landscapes. The reddish tones of red mangrove that this beach presents are precisely those that have given it its name. In addition, in the interior of Cayo Coco there is an unspoiled area that is very worthwhile, do not miss it!
2. Visit Ciego de Ávila
Ciego de Avila is the capital of this homonymous province in which Cayo Coco is located. It is a city with character that offers the perfect combination of modern places and exquisite colonial architecture. It is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the Caribbean, and no wonder! When in Ciego de Avila, we recommend that you take advantage of your stay to visit the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Bulevar, the Parque de la Ciudad, or the Parque Máximo Gómez.
3. Rest on the Long Beach
In addition to having a large area as its name suggests, Playa Larga stands out for the unparalleled beauty of its waters. Strolling for hours along the seashore is undoubtedly one of the things you will love when you visit Playa Larga. Whether you’re an experienced water sports lover or you’re eager to give them a try for the first time, Playa Larga will be the ideal place for you. In fact, it has the ideal environment to practice kayaking or sailing among others.
4. Tour the City of Morón
It is located in the north of Ciego de Avila province. Moron was founded in 1643 and curiously they call it the “City of the Rooster” because of a legend about that animal. They say that a local rooster kept crowing even after being plucked. We do not know if the story is true or not, but we assure you that Morón is in a magical enclave, surrounded by lush vegetation and beautiful beaches. It is worth mentioning that in spite of this it is very well connected, you have no excuse! From Ciego de Avila there are several buses to Morón. These leave from the Municipal Bus Terminal, right next to the train station. The trip takes about 45 minutes and costs 0.5 CUC (0.46€).
One of the best things to do in Morón is to visit the many monuments of the city, such as the bronze monument of the Gallo de Morón, the ruins of La Trocha, or the Museum of Archaeology and History.
5. Snorkel at Los Flamencos Beach
The Playa de los Flamencos is formed by nothing more and nothing less than three kilometers of white sands and shallow crystal clear waters. It is a relatively quiet beach where you can also take advantage to stay. It has a great variety of hotels just before the beach itself. Playa Los Flamencos is the perfect place for snorkeling because it has a great variety of marine life. Enjoy the stunning Cuban seabed and dive into the waters of Playa de los Flamencos!
6. Rest at La Jaula Beach
Like Playa los Flamencos, Playa La Jaula also has beautiful coral reefs and colorful reefs that allow travelers to snorkel in its shallow vicinity. Playa La Jaula also offers some interesting routes because it is surrounded by deep native vegetation. Therefore, strolling around its surroundings will be an activity that you will really enjoy when you wonder what to do in Cayo Coco.
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.
What to see around Cayo Coco Cuba
1. Visit Cayo Guillermo
Both Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are the two coastal destinations that receive the most tourists in Cuba. They have many resorts and luxury hotels for the stunning beaches they offer. Cayo Guillermo is one of Cuba’s islets that make up the Jardines del Rey archipelago, located on the northwestern coast of the island. It belongs to the municipality of Moron, in the province of Ciego de Avila.
In case you take the opportunity to visit Cayo Guillermo, we recommend that you go to Pilar beach, El Paso beach, or El Medio beach. All three present a truly idyllic setting, starting with their white sands and turquoise, crystal-clear waters.
Where and what to eat in Cayo Coco
One of the best things to do in Cayo Coco is to try the delicious dishes of Cuban gastronomy. Cuban gastronomy can be sampled through ventanitas (individuals who serve dishes from their windows), in national restaurants (government-run) or paladares (privately run restaurants). Whichever place you decide, you have to try the delicious and hearty Ropa Vieja, composed of shredded beef, mixed with a tomato sauce, onion, olives, garlic, salt and pepper, and served with rice. You can’t miss the Fried Cow, the Moros y Cristianos, or the Cuban Sandwich. In Cayo Coco in particular we recommend:
- Ranchón Playa Flamingo: It is located on Flamenco beach and offers the most authentic Cuban and Caribbean dishes. Its seafood is also delicious.
- Ranchón Las Dunas: This wonderful restaurant is located in a spectacular place, surrounded by pure sea breeze. In addition, both the service and the plating is excellent.
- Parador La Silla: This is a bar where in addition to a spectacular service, they make a piña colada that is delicious. Do not stay without trying it!
Where to sleep in Cayo Coco
There are multiple accommodation options in Cayo Coco, we recommend:
- TRYP Cayo Coco: Located in the gardens of King Moron, the TRYP Cayo Coco is a magnificent 4-star hotel with absolutely everything included. It has 508 rooms, and all its guests enjoy a select gastronomic service and an exciting day and night recreation program. This hotel was built on a natural lagoon, so it enjoys spectacular views. The average price for a double room per night is 99 euros.
- Memories Caribe Beach Resort: This hotel is the ideal accommodation for a perfect getaway in a paradisiacal setting with family or couple. The Memories Caribe Beach Resort offers unbeatable facilities next to beaches that are also spectacular. In addition, it offers a wide variety of activities to keep you entertained at all times. The average price for a double room per night is 208,80US$.
- Hotel Oasis Playa Coco: This is a hotel that is simply ideal when it comes to relax and enjoy. In addition, the Hotel Oasis Playa Coco has private access to the beach. The rooms are super comfortable, and in its restaurant there is a great variety of food. It is worth mentioning that in this hotel they also prepare different shows every night. The average price for a double room per night is 186 euros.
How to organize what to see on your trip to Cayo Coco Cuba?
- Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you visited on your trip to the app to inspire other users.
- If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Cayo Coco Cuba
Cayo Coco has its own airport, Jardines del Rey International Airport. You can fly from Havana via direct flights operated by the airline Cubana de Aviacion. Note that there are not flights every day of the week, but they usually fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Cuban gastronomy can be tasted in ventanitas, national restaurants and paladares. You have to try the delicious and hearty Ropa Vieja, the Vaca Frita, the Moros y Cristianos, or the Sandwich Cubano. In Cayo Coco in particular we recommend you try it at the Ranchón Playa Flamingo, the Ranchón Las Dunas, and the Parador La Silla.
You can stay in Cayo Coco at TRYP Cayo Coco, Memories Caribe Beach Resort, or
Hotel Oasis Playa Coco.
You can use the tourist bus, Jardines del Rey Bus Tour, which belongs to the company Transtur. This bus stops at all hotels and resorts in Cayo Coco. It costs 5 CUC (4,62€) per day and you can make as many trips as you want during that day.
Cayo Coco has a tropical savanna climate. Therefore, it is hot every month of the year, both in the dry and wet seasons. The average annual temperature in Cayo Coco is 27°.
The best time to visit Cayo Coco in Cuba is from January to September. During this period there is practically always a warm temperature and very little rainfall.
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