Cayo Guillermo
Encyclopedia
Cayo Guillermo is a kay
of the Jardines del Rey
archipelago. It is located on the northern coast of Cuba
, between the Bay of Dogs (Bahia Perros) and the Atlantic Ocean
.
.
It is part of the Ciego de Ávila Province
, and lies in the Morón
municipality. The island is a popular tourist destination, with four all-inclusive resort
s located on the north side of the island: Gran Caribe Villa Cojimar, Iberostar Daiquiri, Melia Cayo Guillermo and the Sol Cayo Guillermo. Two of the hotels are owned by the Sol Melia
Group. Just east of the resorts by the causeway to Cayo Coco
is a marina used by yachts, sport fishing and tour boats. One of the country's best beaches, the Playa Pilar (Pilar Beach) is located at the western end of Cayo Guillermo. This beach is named after Ernest Hemingway
's yacht, the cabin cruiser
Pilar. The island provides the setting for the climax of Hemmingway's last novel Islands in the Stream
Access to the island is possible through the Jardines del Rey Airport (Aeropuerto Jardines del Rey) as well as by means of a long causeway from mainland Cuba to Caya Coco leading to a second shorter causeway to Cayo Guillermo, connecting the two kays.
Sparsely inhabited in early years by fishermen and charcoal producers, the island gained fame in the 1960s with deep sea fishermen. The first resort was built in 1993 in an era known as "Tourist apartheid" as Cuban citizens were not allowed on the island unless they worked at the resorts serving tourists. However this restriction was lifted after 2000 and Cubans who can afford motor transport often visit Playa Pilar on the island. Many staff who work in the hotels commute from the distant mainland town of Morón
.
Cay
A cay , also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island formed on the surface of coral reefs. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans , where they provide habitable and agricultural land for hundreds of thousands of people...
of the Jardines del Rey
Jardines del Rey
Jardines del Rey is an archipelago located off the northern coast of the island of Cuba, in the northern parts of the provinces of Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey. It is developed on the coral reef system that lines Cuba's shore, between the Atlantic and the Bay of Buena Vista and Bay of Jiguey...
archipelago. It is located on the northern coast of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, between the Bay of Dogs (Bahia Perros) and the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
.
It is part of the Ciego de Ávila Province
Ciego de Ávila Province
Ciego de Ávila is one of the provinces of Cuba, and was previously part of Camagüey Province. Its capital is Ciego de Ávila, which lies on the Carretera Central , and the second city is Morón, further north....
, and lies in the Morón
Morón, Cuba
Morón is one of ten municipalities in province Ciego de Ávila in central Cuba. It is the second in importance and the oldest. Morón is the closest city to the tourist resorts on Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.- Geography :...
municipality. The island is a popular tourist destination, with four all-inclusive resort
All-inclusive resort
An all-inclusive resort is a holiday resort that includes a minimum of three meals daily, soft drinks, most alcoholic drinks, gratuities and possibly other services in the price. Many also offer sports and other activities included in the price as well. They are often located in warmer regions...
s located on the north side of the island: Gran Caribe Villa Cojimar, Iberostar Daiquiri, Melia Cayo Guillermo and the Sol Cayo Guillermo. Two of the hotels are owned by the Sol Melia
Sol Meliá
Meliá Hotels International, S.A. is a Spanish hotel chain which was founded by Gabriel Escarrer Juliá in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca. The company is the world's largest operator of holiday resorts and the 13th biggest hotel chain worldwide. Domestically the company is the market leader in both...
Group. Just east of the resorts by the causeway to Cayo Coco
Cayo Coco
Cayo Coco is an island in central Cuba, well known for its luxurious all inclusive resorts. It lies within the Ciego de Ávila Province and is part of a chain of islands called Jardines del Rey . The cay is administered by the Morón municipality. It is named for the white ibis, locally called Coco...
is a marina used by yachts, sport fishing and tour boats. One of the country's best beaches, the Playa Pilar (Pilar Beach) is located at the western end of Cayo Guillermo. This beach is named after Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
's yacht, the cabin cruiser
Cabin cruiser
A cabin cruiser is a type of power boat that provides accommodation for its crew and passengers inside the structure of the craft.A cabin cruiser usually ranges in size from in length, with larger pleasure craft usually considered yachts. Many cabin cruisers can be recovered and towed with a...
Pilar. The island provides the setting for the climax of Hemmingway's last novel Islands in the Stream
Islands in the Stream
"Islands in the Stream" is the title of a song written by the Bee Gees and sung by American country music artists Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. It was released in August 1983 as the first single from Rogers' album Eyes That See in the Dark and the second pop number-one for both Rogers and Parton...
Access to the island is possible through the Jardines del Rey Airport (Aeropuerto Jardines del Rey) as well as by means of a long causeway from mainland Cuba to Caya Coco leading to a second shorter causeway to Cayo Guillermo, connecting the two kays.
Sparsely inhabited in early years by fishermen and charcoal producers, the island gained fame in the 1960s with deep sea fishermen. The first resort was built in 1993 in an era known as "Tourist apartheid" as Cuban citizens were not allowed on the island unless they worked at the resorts serving tourists. However this restriction was lifted after 2000 and Cubans who can afford motor transport often visit Playa Pilar on the island. Many staff who work in the hotels commute from the distant mainland town of Morón
Morón, Cuba
Morón is one of ten municipalities in province Ciego de Ávila in central Cuba. It is the second in importance and the oldest. Morón is the closest city to the tourist resorts on Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.- Geography :...
.