Cuba - Lonely Planet [151]
Other activities available on the island include snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, tennis, horseback riding, cycling and volleyball. Ask at the hotels.
Two international fishing tournaments are held here in September.
Sleeping
All of Cayo Largo del Sur’s hotels face the 4km beach on the south side of the island. Though largely shadeless, the beach here is gorgeous and rarely crowded (as no one lives here). If you’re on a day trip, a day pass to the Sol resorts is CUC$35 including lunch.
Barceló Cayo Largo Beach Resort ( 24-80-80; s/d CUC$135/150; ) The 306-room Barceló is Cayo Largo’s newest resort and is set apart from the other hotels on an expansive stretch of Playa Blanca. Rather drab architecture is augmented by a smorgasbord of different dining options and an impressive array of energetic sporting activities. Good testimonies abound.
Sol Pelícano ( 24-82-33; s/d CUC$112/180; ) This Spanish-style resort, flush on the beach 5km southeast of the airport, has 203 rooms in a series of three-story buildings and two-story duplex cabañas (cabins) built in 1993. This is the island’s largest resort and facilities include a nightclub and plenty of family-friendly concessions.
Sol Cayo Largo ( 24-82-60; s/d CUC$165/270; ) Sol Meliá’s other property is the five-star Sol Cayo Largo, with its Greek-temple like lobby and trickling Italianate fountains. The beach out here is fantastic (and nudist) and the brightly painted (but not luxuriant) rooms come with terraces with sea views. To date, it’s Cayo Largo’s most exclusive resort and great if you want to escape the families and poolside bingo further east. Check out the on-site spa and gym – a trip to Shangri-La.
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ASK A LOCAL
You can hike from Playa Sirena down to Paraíso and continue all the way around the headland to Hotel Sol Cayo Largo. It’s about 7km in total and traverses Cuba’s only ‘unofficial’ nudist beach (the rocky section just east of the hotel).
Fidel, Cayo Largo del Sur
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Villa Coral (Gran Caribe; 34-81-11; s/d CUC$100/140; ) Also known as El Pueblito, this villa consists of 10 two-story buildings outfitted to look like colonial villas (eg faux terra-cotta roofs, wooden balconies) arranged around a swimming pool. There are 60 rooms here.
Villa Soledad (Gran Caribe; 34-81-11; s/d CUC$100/140; ) This adjacent cluster of single-story, plainer bungalows has another 43 rooms (but no restaurant – you have to go to one of the neighboring hotels held by Gran Caribe).
Hotel Isla del Sur ( 34-81-11; s/d CUC$100/140; ) This hotel has 59 rooms with mini-fridges in a long, two-story building. Built in 1981, it was the first hotel on Cayo Largo del Sur and is starting to show its age. All meals are served buffet-style, and there’s slightly tacky poolside entertainment nightly (unless you’ve got a secret penchant for water ballet).
Villa Lindamar (Gran Caribe; 34-81-11; s/d CUC$112/164; ) At the time of research the Isla de Sur and the adjacent Villa Lindamar catered exclusively for Italian tourists who book through agencies back home. Check for current situation.
Eating
Ranchón Playa Sirena ( 9am-4pm) A rather fetching beach bar with Latino Tom Cruises tossing around the cocktail glasses. Good food is also served here and they stick on a buffet if enough tourists are around. There’s no-nonsense, salt-of-the-earth comida criolla. There’s also a bar on Playa Paraíso.
Restaurante El Torreón ( noon-midnight) In Cayo Largo’s Combinado settlement, this is the best of the motley eating joints. Encased in a stone fort-like building next to the marina, it serves good old-fashioned Cuban-style grub with a few Spanish surprises (and wine).
Entertainment
Taberna El Pirata ( 24hr) You’re in all-inclusive land, so almost all of the entertainment is confined to the resorts. One exception is this place next door to the marina. It’s primarily a haunt of boat-hands, resort workers and the odd escaped tourist.
Fiesta Marán (admission CUC$15; 11pm-2:30am) This is a night disco held on a yacht or