Cayo Largo owes
its name to its elongated shape. Around 1494 admiral Christopher Columbus
touched upon it during his second voyage to Cuba. It is also linked to
the large groups of corsairs and pirates that of old used to roam the
Caribbean Sea.
In this islet, nature shows a well-kept appearance. It has coral reefs and is complemented by neighboring keys inhabited by numerous species of flora and fauna, among them iguanas, pelicans and turtles.
This heavenly islet has an international airport as well as 24 km. of beaches. Its superb white fine sand keeps off excess heat because of its chemical origin. It’s a perfect place for open air recreation and water sports.
On
the landscape of Cayo Largo several beautiful Cuban beaches stand out,
among them the one called Sirena, considered the fairest and the one with
the most tranquil waters, located in a spot sheltered from wind and waves.
Lindamar is another gift for sea lovers: small, friendly and private. It has the peculiarity of being located in a zone where the shore is shaped like a shell and is surrounded by white boulders.
However,
the largest beach in the islet is Playa Blanca, with big crags bordering
the sea creating retired coves, which give the illusion of being in a
totally uninhabited island.
Playa Luna –with quiet waters and gentle sand slopes going into
the sea– and Playa Cocos, this last so called because of the coconut
trees giving it shade, fit perfectly into the matchless environment of
Cayo Largo.
Finally, among these Cuban beaches is Playa Tortugas, which has as its
chief attraction the fact of being a place chosen by hundreds of chelonians
to spawn within its peaceful sands.
Besides the beauty of the sea encircling the islet, visitors have all kind of facilities for diving, in addition to various tours to discover the natural charm of the zone.
Sports,
including nautical ones, can also be practiced at this place, where there
are sports facilities such as tennis and volleyball courts.