Cayo Coco

The resorts on this island have a great ambiance. A long coral reef off the coast is home to parrotfish, snappers, angelfish, barracuda, and turtles. You should visit La Jaula, which has sharks and rays, Las Coloradas, which has caverns and tarpons, and Los Tiburones, which is known for its tiny tunnels frequented by reef sharks. Why not learn to kitesurf on the pale blue sea after exploring the underwater world?

The causeway linking Cayo Coco to the mainland is 27 kilometers long and runs across the Bay of Dogs. It took 16 months to build and required 3 million cubic meters of stone. The causeway caused concern among environmentalists because it disturbed the tidal flow, thus changing the salinity and temperature of the water. A number of gaps were created in the causeway to restore some water flow. Wild flamingos still live in the shallow waters of the bay and can often be seen from the causeway, albeit less frequently. Two short causeways link Cayo Coco to Cayo Guillermo (to the west) and Cayo Romano (to the east). The beaches – including Playa Flamenco, Playa Larga, and Playa Palma Real – have soft white sand and are scattered with lounge chairs. You can walk from the beach to beach, but most travelers are content to hang out in the area in front of their hotel.

Location: Ciego de Ávila, Cuba

Area: 27 km2