Getting to the island of Cayo Largo is both difficult and simple.
Difficult to reach independent tourists– air tickets to Cayo Largo are not sold just like that (online through well-known booking systems).
Just for package travelers who bought a tour to Cayo Largo from the state travel agency of Cuba or agencies associated with the state travel agency of Cuba.

I bought air tickets to Cayo Largo (Havana - Cayo Largo) and booked a hotel in Cayo Largo - in different places and I can say that this is not the best option.
I recommend doing this as a package (tickets + hotel) in one place.
I’ll tell you, using my own example, how all tourists (both packaged and independent) get to Cayo Largo from Havana.
Step by step.

Departure time is unknown

Having ordered and paid for air tickets on the Spanish website xxx (it no longer works), I received a voucher (not air tickets, but a voucher) in which it was written that the flight from Havana to Cayo Largo was on April 18, and the flight back was on April 21.
Departure time and place were not specified.

The voucher says that the day before departure you need to call the Cuban state tour operator Cubatur and confirm by saying the reference number indicated in the voucher and the passenger details.
And then they should tell you the place where they will pick you up and the time of the meeting.

Highly not recommended, and this is clearly stated in the voucher, plan international flights on the day of departure to Cayo Largo there and back.
That is, you need to have accommodation in Havana on the way there and back.
As I indicated, the departure time is unknown: it could be either early in the morning or in the evening - depending on the Cubans’ cards.

Transfer to Playa Baracoa airport

You cannot go to the airport by taxi yourself.
You need to take a bus transfer that collects tourists from hotels in Havana.
If you are staying in a casa particular in Havana, then you will have to go to one of the hotels in Havana from where tourists are picked up.
You will also have to find out about this by calling Kubatur on the phone the day before.

During the first call, we were assigned the Florida Hotel at 2:00 p.m.
On the second call (an hour later) we were assigned the Melia Havana hotel at 15:00
Just in case, having called Kubatur on the morning of the departure, we learned that the meeting point had now been moved to the Havana Libra hotel at 14:00.

This was the starting point for a bus that went around the hotels in Havana, so we had the dubious pleasure of traveling around Havana for 2 hours.
I understand that all tourists have a very approximate departure time - just like us at 14:00.
They sit and wait for the transfer in the hotel lobby.
If you are not there, the bus will not wait and the tickets will be lost since tourists are not accepted by taxi at the airport.

Check-in for your flight to Cayo Largo

The bus brings tourists to a building that resembles a cafe in an open field.
Everyone is lined up at the door.
Queuing is a favorite pastime of Cubans, and they apparently believe that other people also enjoy standing in lines.

2-3 people are allowed into the room where they check in for the flight.
If you have nothing better to do, try to walk around the area - 20 meters from the “airport” the police will stop you and send you back under the canopy.
At check-in, you check in your luggage and receive a boarding pass without a seat.

Next you need to move on to the next step, to pass the scanner and the metal detector frame.
The scanner detects lighters in hand luggage and take them away.
Inside the waiting room there is a smoking room and a cafe where you can buy beer and chips.

After everyone goes through the procedures and accumulates in the waiting room, the door opens and, in the order of the queue, you are allowed onto the field along which you walk to the plane.
ATR turboprop aircraft, landing in the cabin 2-2.
Travel time to Cayo Largo is 35 minutes.

Arrival to Cayo Largo and transfer to hotels

Having arrived at Cayo Largo, whose airport looks more presentable than Havana, and having received your luggage, you need to get to your hotel.
A guide arrives with a list and notes who is going to which hotel.
Then you have to wait for the bus.

In our case, about 50 people were waiting for the bus, sitting on the steps of the arrivals hall.
At the same time, empty buses were passing by.
After a long wait, a bus arrived where tourists with reservations at two hotels were boarded: Sol and Pelican.

Check in hotel

After our bus pulled into the lobby of the Sol Cayo Largo Hotel, tourists poured out and lined up at the reception.
The man who was there before saw us and ran away somewhere.
I don’t know - maybe take a shit or have dinner: the clock hands were approaching 19:00 (our journey began at 14:00).

After about 20 minutes he appeared and began to leisurely serve tourists.
One man.
30 tourists.
Someone who, apparently, was not here for the first time, calmly went to the bar for cocktails and by the time he checked in was already pretty drunk.

I booked a room in the luxury category at this hotel - ocean view, superior.
Having submitted our passports, we found out our room number, but then the man went out somewhere (probably to take a piss), and upon returning announced that the hotel was full and they would give us one night Standart room.
I booked the hotel 2 months before.

None of the options like “call the elder”, “we will complain” had any effect.
The dude, with a calm expression, began to serve those who were standing in line behind us.
Feeling like complete schmucks, we agreed to the proposed option - we really wanted to shower and eat.

Flight back to Havana

You will find out the flight time to Havana the day before, in the evening.
Two flights to Havana.
One morning at 8:20 (transfer from hotel at 6:45)
Second evening at 17 with kopecks.

As the guy at the reception said, the choice when you fly is completely random, a lottery.
Of course, we didn’t believe him: bribery is rampant in Cuba, so someone slipped 20 cookies at the reception and asked for a late flight.
Or as in our case: I put in 20 cookies and got a room upgrade from standard to superior, and the one who booked and paid for superior, but on principle does not give bribes (for example, me) - stomps to standard.

We were extremely glad that we had an early flight.
By this time, we decided to leave Cuba as quickly as possible and we did not need the extra few hours on the island of Cayo Largo, although the reservation indicated “late check-out at 15:00 for our room category.

When checking in for a flight, everyone asked what airport the plane was arriving at.
The staff replied that we were arriving at Playa Baracoa airport.
Nevertheless, the plane arrived at Havana’s Jose Marti airport - which we were very happy about, since we were going to immediately buy tickets to Costa Rica and leave the “island of freedom”.

It’s interesting that along the way the plane made an intermediate stop on the Island of Youth (Isla de la Juventud) and everyone, not knowing about it, rushed to the exit.
And only the intervention of the pilot, who said over the speakerphone in Spanish - this is not Havana! stopped the mass exodus from the plane into the rain.

At Havana's José Marti International Airport, Aerogaviota stopped the airplane in the middle of a field next to Cubana's IL-96 and picked up a bus to take it to the Domestique terminal.
On the side of the bus it was written Taxi-Bus 1$
And although they did not take money upon delivery from the airfield to the terminal, I would not be surprised if they opened the front door and checked in all the passengers.

While all the tourists were scratching their heads and wondering what was going on with their “free transfer” to the hotel in Havana.
We took a taxi for 5 CUC (VAZ-2105 with doors falling off), 15 minutes later we were in the departure hall of Havana International Airport and having bought tickets to Costa Rica via Mexico for $1,150 in cash (there were simply no other options for flying), we now said goodbye to Cuba for sure forever – we’ve had enough of the “charms” of the island of “freedom”.

Tickets that were purchased a month ago for today are, of course, gone.
We paid a thousand bucks so that in the evening, upon arriving at the San Jose airport, without any tip, we could book a room at the Holiday Inn near the airport, have a normal dinner in the restaurant across the street, sleep, have a normal breakfast and rent a car one day earlier: it’s possible here, no bribes or tips.

Cayo Largo is located 80 km south of Big Island, almost in the very center of the Cuban archipelago. The length of the small island is only 28 km, and the width is 3 km, but its entire South coast- an extensive beach with 20 km of fine white sand.

There are no permanent residents on Cayo Largo, except, of course, for colorful birds and iguanas; Cubans come to the island only to work in hotels (and live in the small village of Isla Del Sol). But there is a fantastic coral reef, the amazing “Iguana Island” and unique reserve marine fauna. This resort is real paradise for lovers of scuba diving.

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How to get to Cayo Largo

Not long ago, a modern international Airport Vilo Acuña, which can accommodate large aircraft. There are no direct flights from Russia to this airport. It is more convenient to fly from Moscow Sheremetyevo with a transfer in Havana (with a connection of 13.5 hours and a flight the next day to Cayo Largo in 40 minutes - the whole journey will take a little over 27 hours) or to Varadero. Flights to Cayo Largo are operated daily by Cuban charter airlines.

The cost of travel from the airport to the hotels by taxi is 6-8 CUC. And to the beaches of Playa Sirena, Playa Paraiso and Punta mal Tiempo there are free shuttle buses, departures from the airport are scheduled at 9:00, 10:30 and 11:30 am.

There is only one main road across the island, connecting the port, airport and hotel area. There are several smaller roads leading off from it, but most of them are sandy country roads. Due to no traffic and picturesque landscapes, it is worth renting a jeep (for 1-6 days rental - 55-60 CUC per day) or a scooter (for 1-2 days rental - 20-25 CUC per day) and explore the island on your own. You can also rent a bicycle from the hotels (free of charge).

Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

Cayo Largo Hotels

All hotels are located within 5 km of south coast islands and 10 minutes drive from the airport. The rest of Cayo Largo is largely unexplored and remains wild to this day.

Cayo Largo

At the Gran Caribe hotel, beach towels are changed upon request at least every day directly in the room. And in the Sol Pelicano, Sol Cayo Largo and Playa Blanca hotels they need to be changed in the small Club House building next to the pool. They are free and included in the all inclusive package; for lost towels there is a fine of 20 CUC.

All hotels except Villa Soledad have their own swimming pools sea ​​water, which are open 24 hours a day, and buffet restaurants. Breakfasts are typically served from 7am to 10:30am, lunches from 1pm to 2:45pm, and dinners from 7:30pm to 10:00pm. Alcoholic drinks included.
You can drink tap water, but it is not very tasty, so it is better to buy bottles of mineral water in bars.

Beaches of Cayo Largo

There are no private beaches on Cayo Largo; they are all municipal and located at hotels. It is not forbidden to use umbrellas or sunbeds of other hotels. Topless sunbathing is also not prohibited, but to take sunbathing “a la naturel”, it is better to look for a secluded corner so as not to embarrass the service staff and conservative tourists.

Beaches from west to east:

  • Playa Sirena (restaurants, bars, shops and water sports center)
  • Playa Paraiso (bar, sun loungers and umbrellas)
  • Punta Mal Tiempo ( wild beach)
  • Playa Lindamar (hotels Sol Cayo Largo, Sol Pelicano, Villa Lindamar, Villa Soledad, Villa Coral, Isla del Sur and Playa Blanca are located here)
  • Playa Blanca, Playa Los Cocos and Playa Tortuga are wild beaches where you rarely, rarely see a couple of happy, and often naked, tourists

Restaurants

The most popular restaurant for lunch is The Ranchons Grill Bar, which is located on the beach of the same name near the Sol Cayo Largo, Sol Pelicano, Villa Lindamar and Playa Blanca hotels. Here you can taste lobster and giant shrimp upon reservation.

Included in the all inclusive package

In addition, almost every hotel has its own snack bar on the beach where you can have a snack during the day: in Sol Cayo Largo - Sol Azul Snack Bar, in Sol Pelicano - ZunZun, in Barcelo - Opalino and in Isla del Sur - Medusa Bar .

A la carte restaurants open at lunchtime: Las Trinas (gourmet) and Lindarena (grill) at the Sol Cayo Largo, La Yana (gourmet) and Los Quelonios (Creole) at the Sol Pelicano, Espigon (Creole) in Villa Lindamar and the Vela Mar restaurant (Creole cuisine and fish dishes) in Playa Blanca.

For all a la carte restaurants it is necessary to do pre order table and dress accordingly (dress code). During low season (May to November) some restaurants may be closed.

Other restaurants and bars

The following drinking establishments are not included in the standard all-inclusive packages, but you can eat there at very reasonable prices:

  • restaurant and bar in Playa Sirena (lobster and shrimp)
  • bar in Playa Paraiso (cocktails, beer and hot dogs)
  • El Torreon restaurant (pizza and fish dishes)
  • bar Taberna del Pirata (outdoor terrace)
  • disco La Movita (located in the village, open from 11 pm to 2 am, beer ~1 CUC, cocktails from 2 CUC; salsa lovers - this is the place for you)

Internet in Cayo Largo

24-hour internet can be found at the Sol Cayo Largo, Sol Pelicano, Playa Blanca and Isla del Sur hotels. The cost is 10 CUC for one hour, the speed is snail's pace, the keyboard is usually only in Spanish.

Shopping and shops

Cayo Largo is far from a shopaholic's paradise. There are small boutiques in each hotel and one in the village, all of them are called Caracol and have a similar range: rum, souvenirs, postcards, clothes, drinks, snacks, mineral water, chocolates and so on. The Sol Pelicano, Sol Cayo Largo, Isla del Sur and Playa Blanca hotels also have tobacco and cigar shops. And in Sol Cayo Largo there is also a small handmade souvenir shop. In addition, souvenirs made by the hands of Cuban craftsmen are sometimes sold in the evening on small tables at the entrance to the restaurant.

The most popular souvenir is, of course, Havana Club rum, costing 12 CUC for a 750 ml bottle of 7 years of aging. Also worth trying is the local drink Guyabita del Pinar, which comes in two varieties: dry (Seca) and sweet (Dulce). Cost 5 CUC. In addition, it is worth buying local coffee - ground or beans - it is very good.

When purchasing more than 25 cigars, you must remember that at customs you will need to show a receipt from the store. Their prices vary depending on the brand and store; the most popular brands of cigars are Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta and Monte Cristo.

Entertainment and attractions in Cayo Largo

Popular excursions: catamaran cruise (70 CUC), sunset cruise (50 CUC, lunch included), overnight to Havana (~290 CUC, overnight at the Tropicana Hotel), Treasure Island (80 CUC), deep sea fishing, snorkeling , trip to the island of Trinidad (125-145 CUC).

You can also take a half-day sail to the island of Cayo Rico. Departure at 8:30, return at 13:30. The program includes: snorkeling on a coral reef, visiting a wild island, lobster on Playa Sirena beach. Cost - 75 CUC. Or swim to the “Iguana Island” (Cayo Iguana); the swim lasts 45 minutes and costs 12 CUC.

Flying to Havana on your own is also not difficult - local excursion agencies sell tickets to the capital, the cost is ~150 CUC two ways.

Excursions on the island of Cayo Largo aimed mainly at vacationers on the island. While in Cayo Largo, you can visit, for example, a small farm for breeding and protecting turtles “La Granja de las Tortugas”. The turtle farm is located next to the La Marina harbor and will leave a pleasant impression: you can usually see many young turtles here, which are kept in special tanks. You can also explore the wild beach, where giant sea turtles lay their eggs at night. Night tours are offered from April to September during the laying season to watch the turtles lay their eggs. Kauama tortoise, brown tortoise and green tortoise are raised here.

Entrance fee - 1 CUC per person. The farm is open to the public from 9 am to 6 pm every day.

Cayo Largo hotels organize excursions to neighboring islands, each of which has its own unique attractions:

  • excursion to the island of Juventud (Isla de la Juventud), also called in different translations the Island of Youth or the Island of Youth - the most large island Los Canarreos archipelago. In the past, the island served as a haven for pirates, and is now positioned as one of the best diving centers in the Caribbean: local diving centers are considered the best in Cuba. Of great interest International Center underwater sports "El Colony". This is where international meetings on underwater photography are held.
  • excursion to the island of Cayo Iguanas, where a large population of rare endemic lizards has been preserved. This tiny rocky island, known as Iguana Island, is one of several small nearby islands where these unique, harmless lizards live, reminiscent of a small Jurassic Park. Iguanas live naturally on this island - this is not a zoo. From La Marina harbor to the island it takes about 20 minutes by boat, the total sailing lasts 45 minutes and costs 12 CUC.
  • excursion to the island of Cayo Pajaros, where a variety of birds flock. The island of bizarre rocks is interesting for ornithologists: in fact, it is a huge nest in the rocks, where many birds breed their offspring.
  • excursion to the island of Cayo Cantiles, inhabited by monkeys, for which it received the name “Monkey Island”. Cayo Cantiles is home to a significant number of monkeys in the wild. The island is part of the Science and Technology Experiment Station under the Ministry of Conservation environment(CITMA).
  • excursion to the island of Cayo Rico - a magnificent island, breathtaking in its natural beauty and surrounded by very green water and very fine white sand. In its vicinity lives a colony of lobsters and shellfish. On the island you can use the services of a restaurant specializing in seafood. The excursion lasts half a day: departure at 8:30, return at 13:30.
  • excursion to the island of Cayo Rosario, where a large number of fish live. The excursion is of interest to divers. This is a fantastic dive: dark gorges and tunnels, Glass Fishes, surrounded by dolphins. They seem to play with you, sometimes they swim so close that they almost touch you.
A popular activity on Cayo Largo is full-day or half-day excursions on catamarans or fishing boats. There is a small tourist office on the island that organizes fishing trips.

The beginning of the fishing season from November to January is a very good time to catch especially large bonefish in the shallows and near mangroves, tarpon and other species of fish. To plan your trip to Cayo Largo this good time, since the weather in Cuba is much warmer than in Europe or North America.

The peak fishing season runs from February to June, when tarpon, bonefish, permit and trevally are especially good. Here, the migration of large tarpon up to 100 - 360 kg is often noticed at this time, with an average weight of 10-15 kg and permit.

The resort of Cayo Largo is today best place V Caribbean for spinning fishing. Here you can catch a variety of fish on the reef, in the canals and on the big water: huge sea bass, three types of sappers up to 100 kg, caravel, barracuda and other large fish.

Fresh review

Our trip to France was called "The Atlantic Coast of France", but on the first day we did not see the sea. But on the second day, our bus went straight to the shores of the English Channel, or rather, to a rocky island rising above the bay and called Mont Saint-Michel (Mount St. Michael). True, this rock was originally called Mon-Tumb (grave mountain). The origins of the abbey dedicated to the Archangel Michael are described in a 10th century manuscript. According to this text, in 708, the Archangel Michael appeared to Bishop Aubert from the city of Avranches in a dream and ordered him to build a church on the rock in his honor. Ober, however, did not pay due attention to this and the saint had to appear to the unbelieving Ober three times. The archangel’s patience is also not unlimited; in the end, he pointed his finger at the stubborn man’s skull. It is said that Aubert's skull, with the hole caused by Michael's touch, is still kept in the Avranches Museum. Thus, having understood the message, he nevertheless built a chapel on the rock, and even collected some relics in order to establish the cult of St. Michael in this place.

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Resort area of ​​the city. Surrounded by gardens and parks there are sanatoriums and holiday homes

I’ll finish my winter reviews with this note. These photos were taken by a German tourist in December 2013. There is a little bit of the Kaskelen Gorge and a little bit of Ushkonyr. In winter, really, everything is almost the same. In this review, everything is a little more beautiful than in the previous one about our city, but there are also plenty of photographs that the locals don’t take.

There are quite a lot of photographs, many of them are very similar. Commenting on natural beauty is quite boring, so basically everything will be without description.

Let me start with the fact that the Maralsay rest house is located not far from Almaty, and specifically beyond Talgar in the Talgar gorge or, more precisely, in the Maralsay gully. Maral is a deer and a beam, translated respectively as Deer.

First, a little road - the one that is already in the mountains. Getting to the mountains is not at all interesting and not particularly beautiful - you just drive along the Talgar highway through endless villages, gas stations, roadside shops and banquet halls. And then you turn into the Talgar Gorge and it immediately becomes beautiful.

It was mid-February. We ordered a transfer from home to the recreation center and back - we were told that we would not get there in a regular sedan. The road, in general, showed that they were right - not to say that there was ice, but the road was snowy and the slopes were not small - the all-wheel drive pickup truck skidded and sometimes the driver engaged the locks.

In the previous article about Rouen, I started right away with the main attraction - Rouen Cathedral, since Cathedral- this is the holy of holies in European cities. It has been built for centuries and to last, and they try to decorate it more elaborately. But Rouen is famous not only for its cathedral. The city suffered greatly during the Second World War, especially from British bombing in April 1944 and American bombing in May-June of the same year. During these air raids, the cathedral and the historical quarter adjacent to it were significantly damaged. Fortunately, most of the most iconic historical monuments the city was reconstructed or rebuilt during the 15 post-war years, putting Rouen in the top five French cities according to the antiquity of its historical heritage.

From Champagne we had to move to Normandy. From Reims to the main city of Normandy - Rouen - just over 200 km. After a practically sleepless night, I dozed off while the guide told me about the opening of a second front during World War II. It’s not that it wasn’t interesting, it’s just that I’ve already heard and seen something on TV on Discovery Channel and History, and sometimes I opened my eyes when the guide pointed in one direction or another. But green meadows spread around, the sun was shining and nothing reminded of the war. “It clicked” in her head only when she began to talk about the feat of an American soldier who, showing remarkable ingenuity, was able to make his way to a German firing point, using the body of a dead comrade as a refuge. And thoughts themselves flowed in a different direction. Still, there are events in the assessment of which we will never meet Western requirements. Intellectually, I understand that in war all means are good, but we were brought up with other examples. Our people recklessly cover the embrasure with their bodies so that their comrades remain alive.

The forest tale was enough old resort and quite poor in terms of ski entertainment. But this year everything has changed. We built three new chairlifts, a couple more ski lifts and a bunch of slopes. Even though they are quite simple, and those that are more complex are quite short, there are a lot of them and they are varied, which gives the new resort the right to compete with and, as with the best and biggest ski resorts Kazakhstan.

Let me start with the fact that Lesnaya Skazka is now at least three resorts: Oy-Karagay, Aport and Lesnaya Skazka itself. While you’re riding, it’s not entirely clear how they are intertwined and where, but I think if you carefully study this issue, you can figure it out. But in principle this does not matter.

An international airport, Vilo Acuna, was recently built in Cayo Largo. From here you can get to hotels in just 6-8 CUC by taxi. At 9:00, 10:30 and 11:30, free shuttle buses run from the airport, taking vacationers to the beaches of Playa Sirena, Playa Paraiso and Punta mal Tiempo.

Since Cayo Largo is not connected to the mainland by bridges, you can get to the island either by plane, or by plane plus yacht. This is of course not a budget option, and it will take from one and a half to two days to get to the goal.

Russia is separated from Largo del Sur by 9.5 thousand km. The fastest (relatively and in comparison with other modes of transport) way to get to the island is by air. There are several options:

1) flight through Verona and directly to Cayo Largo;

2) just two transfers and you are on the island;

3) fly to Havana, see the city, and then be in Cayo Largo within half an hour of the flight.

From the Russian capital there is a direct flight to Havana every day at 7:40. The fact is that when you fly from Moscow to Havana, you may miss the plane to Cayo Largo. We'll have to stay in the capital until the next morning.

If you are not tempted by this prospect, then after making just one change in Verona, you will reach your goal. This route will take 28 hours.

You can also get to the resort through Varadero, which you can fly to with one transfer, flying from Moscow to Vienna or Frankfurt am Main.

All other flights require two transfers, which is costly in terms of time and money. You will be on the road for up to 1 day and 18 hours of travel. First you need to fly to one of the European cities: Paris, Amsterdam, etc. Then transfer in Montreal, Havana or Toronto.

Havana itself can be reached with one change in Rome, Milan, Zurich, Paris, etc. With any such route, you stay overnight in the capital of Cuba.

It will be easier to book tickets at a travel agency: you won’t have to look for suitable options, everything has already been decided and planned for you.

By water, the Los Canarreos Islands can only be reached by private yachts. They travel only during the day, stopping for the night: it is dangerous to move between reefs in the dark.

There is only one main (paved) road on the island, connecting the airport, port and hotel area. Small country paths already branch off from it.

To explore the island itself, you can rent a jeep, a scooter, or use a bicycle for free (you can rent it at the hotels).

Hotel area on Cayo Largo

All island hotels at the resort are located within a 10-minute drive from the local airport and extend on the southern coast for 5 km.

The hotels have developed infrastructure and occupy the first beach line. The hotels also have their own swimming pools with the purest sea water (they are open 24 hours a day), tennis courts, buffet restaurants, etc. The system prevails food All Inclusive. Each hotel opened its own snack bar on the beach. It can satisfy your hunger throughout the day.

All hotels have small boutiques, they are called Caracol. Their assortment is the same: souvenirs, clothes, alcohol, snacks, postcards, sweets, etc. In some hotels you will see cigar and tobacco shops. Handmade souvenirs are sometimes sold right at the entrance to the restaurant.