Cayo Coco

While beautiful in terms of nature, Cayo Coco is hardly part of typical Cuba. These islands are isolated from the mainland, connected only by a man-made causeway 27 kilometers long. Access is controlled by a security checkpoint.

A visit to Morón is a good way to see more of what Cuba really is like. Taxi drivers can organize inexpensive tours for groups of 4-5 people which may include visiting a country farmhouse.

The language spoken in Cayo Coco is Spanish. Cubans have free education and you will often find a Cuban able to speak many languages but sometimes not fluently. Most employees of all-inclusive hotels understand and speak some basic English. Outside of resorts, you may have some difficulties to communicate if you don`t understand or speak a little bit of Spanish.

Many airlines and charters fly to Cayo Coco airport (CCC). From Canada, you have Air Canada, Sunwing, Westjet, Air Transat and Cubana that provide service from many Canadian cities. European centres of London, Glasgow, Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Paris and Warsaw are all connected to Cayo Coco by European carriers.

From the airport to resorts, your transportation is already organised in big comfortable buses. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the hotels which are all located around the same area on the north shore of Cayo Coco island.

Your resort sometimes may organise disco to other resorts (so all the tourists of different resorts can party together) or go to the only night club located on Cayo Coco island, the bat cave. They provide the transportation in vans or buses for a minimum fee.

Playa Pilar is one of the most beautiful beaches of the world. It is possible to take the local bus (hop on, hop off style). It costs 5CUC, but it takes an hour because it stops at every resort and it's located in Cayo Guillermo Island. There's chairs in the beach but you have to pay 5CUC to use them. It is also possible to reach the beach by catamaran but it depends it itinerary.

It is also possible to visit the nearest town Morón. We can also visit the capital city Ciego de Avila and a crocodile farm. Theres some tours organise from most of the resorts

• The usual sort of all-inclusive stuff. Fry in the sun, drink too much, prove that white men can't dance.

Most of the people come to Cayo Coco to enjoy the beautiful white sand beach and enjoy some hot weather while escaping the freezing Canadian winter. There's also many activities provided in most resort such as aquaform, dancing lessons or night shows.

Someone who decides to go to anywhere in Cuba needs to keep an open mind when mealtime arrives. They are very limited in resources and they don't import anything from the USA. Importation being very expensive since goods come from Europe. They use well what they have and you will rarely eat something that tastes bad unless you are picky, but you will sometime find the food a little bland. Cuban food is not spicy at all. They serve a lot of chicken, pork and fish. Plenty of vegetables. Some fruits. Here is a hint, bring steak spice and tabasco on your trip and you will always have seasoning.

Usually all the meals are included in most all inclusive resorts. They also have snackbars and à la carte restaurants.

Several hotels - all "all-inclusive", most operated by foreign companies:

• Melia Cayo Coco
• Sol Club Cayo Coco
• Iberostar Cayo Coco
• Iberostar Mojito
• Tryp Cayo Coco
• Blau Colonial
• Hotel Playa Coco
• Memories Caribe
• Iberostar Daiquiri
• Memories Flamenco
• Pestana Cayo Coco
• Melia Jardines del Rey
• Pullman Cayo Coco

The nearest town is Morón. There's also a cavern converted into a disco place. It's a nice place to have a good. There's transportation form most resort to this cave.