Cuba's Cayo Coco: A Paradise Fit for a King

[Iberostar Hotels & Resorts]

Governor Diego Velázquez was so overawed by lush beauty of this fabulous part of Cuba that he decided to call it the Jardines del Rey (King’s Gardens) in honour of the Spanish monarch Ferdinand the Catholic. And this Spanish explorer could not have thought of a more suitable name for the chain of islands containing Cayo Coco, as they truly do reign supreme amongst the many stunning paradisiacal spots to be found on the spectacular island of Cuba, the largest of the Antilles.

The island of Cayo Coco, named not directly after the coconut (coco in Spanish) but after the white ibis, which is known locally as the "coco bird" and the symbol of the islet due to its bright colours, is linked to the mainland by a picturesque causeway that crosses the sea from Turiguanó, situated north of Ciego de Ávila and offers a host of amazing leisure options that you will not forget in a hurry.

To give you a taste of what to expect, beaches such as Coloradas, Jaula and Playa de los Flamencos will quite literally take your breath away. Twenty-two kilometres of endless white sands lined by mangroves and coconut palms bathed by the most crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea thanks to the nearby 400-kilometre coral reef, the second largest in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

This area also boasts lush leafy vegetation and a wide range of wildlife. The islet is home to around 200 animal species, including birds and reptiles such as iguanas, as well as more than 360 types of plants, several of which are endemic. This area is visited by large colonies of pink flamingos and other migratory birds and benefits from a forward-thinking environmental protection policy that guarantees the quality of the habitat of these natural treasures.

And last but not least, it is the perfect choice for a luxury vacation, with incredible opportunities for diving in crystal-clear waters, natural parks, eco-tourism programmes, natural swimming pools and lagoons that are ideal for trout fishing and superb hotels.

 

Next time you travel to Cuba , stay at the IBEROSTAR Cayo Coco located in a quiet area of ​​Jardines del Rey, surrounded by a lush natural landscape, right on the beach.

From PassportTo.Iberostar.com