Cayo Largo del Sur

Cayo Largo del Sur in the Canarreos Archipelago

Due to its elongated shape it was called Cayo Largo del Sur, although everyone knows it as Cayo Largo. It is located in the Canarreos Archipelago, in the Caribbean Sea, near the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud.

Cayo Largo del Sur has 38 square kilometers and flat relief with very few heights, tropical climate, average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius and little rainfall are general characteristics of this heavenly place.

A portion of the beach in Cayo Largo is known as the free beach, where nudism is styled and bathing without clothes is normal. In the key itself there is an international airport that receives direct flights from various countries in Europe and America.

Tourist attractions of Cayo Largo del Sur.

Like almost all the tourist sites in Cuba associated with the sea, one of the main attractions is the beaches. In Cayo Largo they are calm, with sand and crystal clear waters.

Another important attraction is diving, an activity that takes place in an area of ​​approximately 30 miles in what some call the marine natural park. There, several species of the reef coexist, as well as green moray eels, sharks and turtles.

Air travel to the Isle of Youth, tours of the Presidio Modelo National Monument, yacht or catamaran ride with all inclusive, visit to Cayo Iguana, and excursions to Havana (capital of Cuba) are appreciated.

Accommodation in Cayo del Sur?

In Cayo Largo del Sur there are several hotels for visitors, with prices and options according to your possibility.

All Cayo Largo hotels belong to the Cuban chain Gran Caribe and still do not share their services, for example, you are only entitled to enjoy the “all-inclusive” plan at the hotel in which you are staying.

As an exception, it is clarified that due to the waves, all water sports are carried out in a single center located on Playa Sirena, one of the best in Cayo Largo with calm waters all year round, more appropriate for practicing water sports.

All hotels have bus service to there.

The hotels in Cayo Largo del Sur

– Hotel Sol Club Cayo Largo
– Hotel Sol Pelícano
– Hotel Barceló Cayo Largo Beach Resort
– Hotel South Island
– Villa Lindamar
– Villa Solaedad
– Villa Coral

What can I do in Cayo Largo del Sur?

Many look for the beaches in an almost virgin state, but there are others who bet on more. For them, water sports, diving and sport fishing, excursions and hiking among others are recommended. They are excellent options at your disposal in Cayo Largo del Sur.

Water sports at Playa Sirena.

They are all concentrated in Playa Sirena. There you can practice

– Windsurfing
– Snorkeling
– Water bikes (pedal)
– kayak
– Catamaran.

Diving and Sport Fishing

The Marina Cayo Largo offers diving and sport fishing excursions that can be booked at your hotel or in the marina itself.

Sport fishing

You can practice deep sea fishing and fly fishing.

Deep sea fishing

You can catch saws, bonitos, snappers, chernas, barracudas, among others. The fishing excursion includes fishing yachts or tatagua, specialized crew, accoutrements, natural and artificial baits, round-trip transfer and lunch for those who choose the 8-hour version.

Prices range from $ 325.00 to $ 485.00 for 4 and 8 hour yacht departures; and from $ 60.00 to $ 100.00 for departures in Tatagua of 4 and 8 hours.

Fly fishing

The macabí, the shad and the palometa can be caught. Includes boat, specialized sailor, accoutrements, natural and artificial baits, round trip transfer.

The prices with a simple boat (fisherman plus a companion) are $ 160.00 and $ 320.00 for 4 and 8 hours, respectively; while for a double boat the prices are $ 120.00 and $ 240.00 for each fisherman for 4 and 8 hours, respectively.

Diving in Cayo Largo del Sur

In Cayo Largo there are excellent diving areas with variable depths and significant biodiversity that turns the bottoms into coral and mollusk gardens.

The visibility is more than 30 meters, you can see sharks, rays, turtles, moray eels and barracudas, among many other fish.

The Cayo Largo Marina has specialized and categorized divers that offer introductory courses, Open Water, Referred Open Water, Advance, Stress and Rescue and Master Diving Dive.

The diving excursions include the boat with transfer to the dive sites, the equipment and the guide diver, with a price of around $ 50.00 per dive.

Excursions in Cayo Largo.

There are more than a dozen excursions that are offered to clients. Prices vary but are all in the range of $ 50.00 to $ 73.00. You can book at your hotel, at the reception or in a tourist bureau

Diving and Sport Fishing

The Marina Cayo Largo offers diving and sport fishing excursions that can be booked at your hotel or in the marina itself.

Sport fishing

You can practice deep sea fishing and fly fishing.

Deep sea fishing

You can catch saws, bonitos, snappers, chernas, barracudas, among others. The fishing excursion includes fishing yachts or tatagua, specialized crew, accoutrements, natural and artificial baits, round-trip transfer and lunch for those who choose the 8-hour version.

Prices range from $ 325.00 to $ 485.00 for 4 and 8 hour yacht departures; and from $ 60.00 to $ 100.00 for departures in Tatagua of 4 and 8 hours.

Fly fishing

The macabí, the shad and the palometa can be caught. Includes boat, specialized sailor, accoutrements, natural and artificial baits, round trip transfer.

The prices with a simple boat (fisherman plus a companion) are $ 160.00 and $ 320.00 for 4 and 8 hours, respectively; while for a double boat the prices are $ 120.00 and $ 240.00 for each fisherman for 4 and 8 hours, respectively.

Diving in Cayo Largo del Sur

In Cayo Largo there are excellent diving areas with variable depths and significant biodiversity that turns the bottoms into coral and mollusk gardens.

The visibility is more than 30 meters, you can see sharks, rays, turtles, moray eels and barracudas, among many other fish.

The Cayo Largo Marina has specialized and categorized divers that offer introductory courses, Open Water, Referred Open Water, Advance, Stress and Rescue and Master Diving Dive.

The diving excursions include the boat with transfer to the dive sites, the equipment and the guide diver, with a price of around $ 50.00 per dive.

Excursions in Cayo Largo.

There are more than a dozen excursions that are offered to clients. Prices vary but are all in the range of $ 50.00 to $ 73.00. You can book at your hotel, at the reception or at a tourist bureau.

A day tour on a catamaran, snorkeling in the coral reef, visit to Cayo Rico or Cayo Iguana, open bar visit to the coral reef, night club in an anchored boat and dinner at a restaurant specializing in seafood is just some of the options that They offer these excursions. You can have a great time in direct contact with nature.

Hiking.

In Cayo Largo the species of flora and fauna are diverse and in many sites you can naturally observe species characteristic of the area such as the acutus crocodile, iguanas, turtles, pelicans, zunzunes (hummingbird), sparrowhawk and chinchiguaco.

Several trails that can be followed like:

Hotel Zone – Playa Sirena: 6.4 km with around 2 hours of walking.
Hotel Zone – Playa Paraíso: 5.30 Km and 1 hour and a half walk.
Hotel Zone – Punta Mal Beach Time: 4.2 km and one on the way.

Exploration of the eastern part of the key also offers good options for walks, but here the distances are greater and the walk may require good physical conditions and bring something to eat and enough water for several hours in the sun, as well as sunscreen and a hat or cap.

Swimming with dolphins in Cayo Largo del Sur.

There is an area prepared for swimming with dolphins. It is to the North of Playa Sirena, next to the pier where tourists arrive who choose to transfer by bus or boat to get to this beach.

You can book at the reception of your hotel or at a tourism bureau, the activity is carried out daily and is priced at $ 90 per adult and $ 65 per child.

Turtle Farm

In the Turtle Hatchery the eggs collected in the nests on the beaches are incubated, once the hatchlings are hatched they are released into their natural environment, increasing the survival rate with these conservation actions.

3 types of sea turtles reproduce: Loggerhead Turtle, Green Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle.

The facility can be visited and the specialists in charge give explanations and answer questions from visitors about the Sea Turtle Protection Program.

Where can I go to eat in Cayo Largo?

Meals are included in the hotels “all-inclusive” plan, but there are other options that, of course, will have extra payment, Restaurant (Ranchón) at Playa Sirena.

It is one of the best places to eat lobster or seafood rice, the offer also includes fish, other seafood, cocktails, beer, soft drinks and natural juices.

Open from 9 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon.

El Mesón

From 12 noon to 12 midnight El Mesón is located near the Marina Cayo Largo. Excellent wines and tapas are served there, it is furnished like the old Spanish inns.

El Marino

Very close to the Villa Marinera it offers food based on fish and seafood, national and international cocktails. Offer breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Tavern.

Open 24 hours a day, La Taberna is located at the entrance to the international pier and the offer is based on light meals and a variety of drinks.

Iguana Recreation Center

It is next to the Hotel Isla del Sur and there you can enjoy Cuban and international music while consuming the services offered at the snack bar, bowling alley, pool table or karaoke.

While passing through Cuba, if you visit Cayo Largo del Sur, you can admire all the natural beauty of the environment, rest and relax, an excellent option for vacationing.