About Cayo Largo

About Cayo Largo, Cuba

Cayo Largo is a small islet located in the extreme southeastern part of the Canarreos archipelago (which belongs to Cuba). The island is 114 km West of Isla de la Juventud (Island of Youth) and approximately 80 km South of the main island of Cuba.

This small limestone island is 25 km long and no more than 3 km wide. Fine white sand beaches stretch through out the south coastline for more than 20 km, the north coast is mostly mangroves and saltpans.

Cayo Largo has no permanent residents, except for the birds and iguanas of course! :-) Cubans stay on Cayo Largo only to work in the hotels. They work for 20 days, then go back to their families at Isla de la Juventud or the main Island of Cuba for the rest of the month. They live in small appartments at the only village on Cayo Largo, Isla del Sol. Cayo Largo now boasts a new modern international airport where Canadian, European, and South American aircraft can now land directly. The Hotels are all located inside a 2 kilometers length on the south coastline (see map above). The rest of the island is uninhabited. There is only one main paved road which connects the village/marina, the airport and the hotels zone. There's also secondary roads which are mostly small sand trails. The hotels are approximately 10-15 minutes (by car) from the village and no more than 10 minutes from the airport and discotheque. For more information about Cayo Largo's points of interest, please visit : To Do - To See and The Beaches.

General Information

Language: Spanish, but english is generally well understood and spoken by the hotels staff and by most of the animators. Some also understand and speak German , Italian or French.

Time zone: Cuba is in the Eastern Standard Time zone (-5 GMT). It changes for the Eastern Daylight Saving Time from May to October.

The climate: Please visit the section: The weather

Electricity 110 volts/60 cycles

Money: The official currency is the Cuban Peso but the US dollar is the one used all the time by the tourists in Cayo Largo. Travellers checks (Visa and MasterCard) and Canadian dollars may be changed to US dollars at the hotel reception (service charge 6%). American Express and Citibank travellers checks are not accepted.

Credit card: Credit cards issued by a US banks are not accepted. Accepted credit cards are Visa and MasterCard. American Express and Dinners Club are not accepted.

Required documents: A valid Passport and a temporary tourist card. This card will be given to you by your travel agent or on the plane going to Cuba. It's mandatory for everyone to fill out this card and present it to the cuban custom officer when arriving & leaving Cayo largo.

National hollidays: January 1st - New year's day and Liberation Day
January 28 - Jose Marti day.
February 24 - Celebration of the Beginning of the Revolution of 1895
March 13 - Anniversary of the attack of the presidential palace.
April 19 - Victory at Pigs Bay.
May 1st - International Workers' Day
July 25, 26 et 27 - Celebration of the Day of National Rebelliousness
October 8 - Anniversary of the death of Che Guevara
October10 - Celebration of the Beginning of the Wars for Independence

Water: Although the water is drinkable, the taste is not very good!. It is suggested to buy bottled water sold in the shops (Caracol) through out the complex. You can then go to the bars to have it refilled, they used distilled water for the cocktails and ice cubes.

Cuisine: Chicken, pork, fish and seafood (lobster $20USD)

Shopping: Rum and cigars.

Departure tax: $20 USD (Jan. 2001), payable at the airport.