Cayo Guillermo Beaches and Water Sports

(Cayo Guillermo, Ciego de Avila, Jardines del Rey, Cuba)



Since Cayo Guillermo was developed after Cayo Coco, it is the lesser known of the two cays. However, it is a rising star and boasts beaches just as beautiful as its cousin cay. These spectacular stretches of sand are the main highlight of the islands, and the reason why nearly every visitor comes to Cayo Guillermo.

The Playa Larga and the Playa Los Flamencos are two of the main beaches on Cayo Guillermo, with the primary beach being Cayo Guillermo Beach itself. At low tide you can easily wade out for several hundred metres and frolic in the sea. This factor makes Cayo Guillermo's beaches preferable to those on Cayo Coco for many tourists. The island can also undisputedly claim the finest beach on either cay - the Playa Pilar.


The two cays are connected by a 15-km / 9-mile natural land bridge called a 'pedraplén'. The 21 km / 13 miles of beach on Cayo Coco are among the most scenic in Cuba, if not the entire Caribbean. In the interior of both cays you can find miles of marshland and lagoons full of birds and wildlife. In fact, Cayo Coco was named after the white ibis bird, called the 'coco' in Cuba.

Water sports are usually easy to come by, with snorkelling and scuba diving being especially popular here. Various dive centres are based around Cayo Guillermo, with a good choice being situated at the Marlin Marina and catering for all levels of experience.

If you feel the need for some serious spa treatment while visiting Cayo Guillermo, the Acuavida Centro is the top facility on the island. Everything from seaweed scrubs to hot mud baths is available. The five therapeutic pools are another highlight. Some are freshwater, while others take advantage of the local seawater to rejuvenate your body.

Playa Larga

Address: Cayo Guillermo, Cuba, CU
Close to the main resort beach of Cayo Guillermo, Playa Larga's soft white sands offer a quieter alternative to the island's main beach. With fewer crowds, visitors to Playa Largo can really get away from it all for a few hours. The length of the beachfront and the plentiful surrounding amenities makes this an ideal spot for a day trip, no matter where you are staying.

Playa Los Flamencos

Address: Cayo Guillermo, Cuba, CU
Another of the top beaches on Cayo Guillermo, this wonderful strip of sand offers the added enjoyment of horseback rides. A small outfitter leads horseback tours of varying length along the Playa Los Flamencos and further out along the coast, reaching places that tourists rarely get to see.

Playa Pilar

Address: Cayo Guillermo, Cuba, CU
Ernest Hemingway's love of Cuba is well known, but not many realise the American novelist was one of the frequent tourists to Cayo Guillermo. Back in the 1930s, Hemingway spent a lot of time here sailing and fishing. To honour him, the most stunning beach on Cayo Guillermo, the Playa Pilar, was named after his beloved fishing boat, which was called 'Pilar'.

This stunning beach is undoubtedly the finest on the islands. However, its beauty and appeal makes it a rather popular destination for visitors, so try and come early in the morning for a moment of solitude. Here you can walk among the highest sand dunes in the Caribbean, at 15 metres / 49 feet above sea level.

Playa Prohibida

Address: Cayo Coco, Cuba, CU
This isolated beach can be found at the very western end of Cayo Coco, just past Punta del Cuerno. As one of the quieter beaches on the islands, you can unwind at the Playa Prohibida in relative solitude. You can also walk a road to the 13-metre / 43-foot high sand dunes at Loma del Puerto for a rather scenic ocean vista.


Playa Las Conchas

Address: Cayo Coco, Cuba, CU
Located between Punta Rasa and Punta Caimanera, this tiny beach is a great place to get away from it all, precisely because it is so small. Besides being cosy, the Playa Las Conchas is also incredibly scenic and rarely crowded. Very nearby is the Talasotherapy Centre, where you can get all kinds of spa treatments to improve your health.