Cayo Coco
Cayo Coco is a coral key of 143 square miles that lies to the north of Cuba’s mainland, blessed by nearly 14 miles of beautiful unspoilt sandy white beaches and washed by crystal clear waters. The island boasts a rich natural habitat with a wildlife refuge, including deer and wild pigs! It is also home to Cuba’s largest colony of flamingos, which can be seen flying overhead at sunrise and sunset during June and July. There are many hundreds of other bird species here, including herons, humming birds, ibis and egrets, as well as huge numbers of migratory birds. Its neighbouring key Cayo Guillermo is much smaller, covering an area of 12 square miles and is particularly good for deep sea fishing. Indeed it was one of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite fishing haunts and El Pilar beach, notable for its 50 foot high dunes, is named after his yacht. Both keys can be reached via a daily flight from Havana or Varadero or by travelling across a 10 mile specially constructed causeway, linking them to the mainland.
Places to Visit
A team of naturalists are present on the key, responsible for protecting the delicate environment; their Research Centre is open to visitors. Many visitors also enjoy hiring bicycles to explore the key or taking part in ‘ecotours’ exploring this and the smaller keys nearby. Fishing, snorkelling and cruising are also available.
