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S e r e n e , Wi l d B e a u t y i n C a y o L a rg o , C u b a Article and Photography by Steve Gillick
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he more you visit Cuba, the more you discover the incredible diversity of the country. Cuba is an extensive archipelago with over four thousand islands and keys (Cayos), each with its own unique personality and attraction. Certainly, Cayo Largo stands out as one of the most enjoyable destinations to explore. Located 80 Km (50 miles) south of the main island of Cuba and 135 km (84 miles) east of
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Isla de la Juventud in the Caribbean Sea. Cayo Largo means ‘Long Cay’ due to its 28 km (17 miles) length (and only 2-3 km (1.2 to 1.8 miles) width. The flight from Havana or Varadero is roughly 30 minutes, plus there are several direct international flights. After arriving at the newly remodeled and expanded airport, visitors board a tour bus, pick up their rental car, or hop on the little beach train to take them to the hotels, villas, and local experiences, such as the Sea Turtle Rescue Center.
In fact, Cayo Largo is also known as Turtle Island. Between April and October, visitors are asked not to walk on the beaches at night because sea turtles, using their natural GPS locators, are returning to the beaches on which they hatched years before. And from May to September, as long as there are no perceived threats, hundreds of turtles emerge from the sea and crawl onto the sandy beaches to dig nests and lay their eggs.
