The Republic of Cuba is an archipelago,
that is to say, a group of islands that forms
part of the National territory along with its
adjacent waters. Cuba is the principal island
and around it there are four main groups of islands.
- Los Colorados along the north –east
coast of the Pinar del Rio Province.
- Sabana Camaguey also known as Jardines del
Rey north of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Sancti Spirtus
, Ciego de Avila and Camaguey.
- Jardines de la Reina South of Ciego de Avila
and Camaguey.
- Los Canarreos South of Matanzas, Habana and
Pinar del Rio.
Among the small islands the most outstanding
for the importance in tourism and ecology are
: Cayo Levisa,Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Largo, Cayo
Coco, Cayo Saetia and Cayo Las Brujas.
- Cayo Largo
This beautiful island located to the south of
the Cuba, in the Caribbean Sea, is only 175
KMS from Havana and 170 from Varadero.
Cayo Largo is in the Canarreos Archipelago ,
it is 1 km in its wider part , has an area of
37.5 sq Km and is 27Km long , which is also the
complete length of its beaches.
Apart from having a marvelous history, where
the settlement of the first Cuban Indian Siboneyes
tribes, descendant from the Arauca Indians, Cayo
Largo was visited by Christopher Colombus in 1494
and by famous pirates like John Hawkins, Jean
Lafitte Latrobe, Pepe El Mallorquin and Henry
Morgan between 1565 and 1820.
Also a shipwreck happened in Cayo Largo shores
in 1600 with a precious treasure belonging to
the famous corsair Bartolome the Portuguese.
The average temperature is 26ºC, with 8
hours of tropical sunshine, with these conditions
you’ll have to admit that Cayo Largo is
easily the paradise of holidaymakers.
Different kinds of fauna representatives can
be found in Cayo Largo, such as the Iguanas, Colibries,
Tortoises, Sea Gulls, Coruas, Shellfishes and
Pelicans.
Cayo Largo is the ideal land to recover what
has been forgotten because of daily routine, to
fall in love, or simply to recover lost inspiration;
to live passionately like it is always done in
Caribbean lands.
Cayo Largo is an All Inclusive island, meaning
that you can eat, drink and make use of all services
and facilities in the different properties.
With a surface of 350 Square Km this island converted
into a paradise is an excusive resort.
This island was an old refuge for the pirates,
at present it is one of the main resorts in the
Cuban tourist industry. A unique work of engineering
connects Cayo Coco to mainland. It is called Pedraplen
and it is 17 Km long across the sea.
Enjoying the benefits of its marvelous beaches
Cayo Coco has become a destination for those holidaymakers
seeking for relaxing vacations and good beaches.
Among the birds found here we find a colony of
flamingoes estimated in 12 to 15 thounsand pairs
which makes it the most important in the western
hemisphere.
Also the Pajaro Coco bird is found here , it
is a white bird that gives the name to the island.
This island is well known for the transparency
of the water in its beaches and the sand quality.
Found to the north east of Cayo Coco ,Cayo Gullermo
enjoy beautiful underwater landscapes and coral
reefs very close to the shore.
This island is connected to the neighbor Cayo
Coco by a pedraplen that goes across shallow waters.
It is at about 2 Km fro the north coast of Pinar
del Rio this small island enjoys wonderful beaches
and blue transparent waters. This is an almost
virgin island.
Near the island there is a great coral barrier
containing different types of corals amongst the
black coral can be found .
A peninsula linked to the main land by a narrow
causeway and a drawbridge over a canal that joints
two bays. This 42 sq km island is a virginal,
unspoiled part of Holguín. A patchwork
with different ecosystems is found here. Ranging
from Mangrove swamps to Rain forests in which
wild imported animals roam freely. (ostriches,
zebras, deer, antelopes, feral pigs, wild bulls,
leguanas, and innumerable species of birds).
Cayo Saetia is said to have 25 Km of small beaches,
separated by high limestone cliffs and rocky outcrops.
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