• Submitted by: manso
• Travel and Tourism
• 03 / 26 / 2011

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In the 1600s, the Jardines del Rey became a hiding place for pirates.Today, these 400 tiny islands make a great place for you to hide from your everyday stress. It is easier now then back then.

A 17-kilometre causeway joins the mainland to the archipelago and the resorts on Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo in Cuba.

We flew in with Sunwing Airlines on a on-time pleasant flight all ready to enjoy this barefoot destination, and it didn't disappoint.

The airport is a quick 10 minutes from the resorts, and the first person to spot the pink flamingos in the lagoon area should get first dibs at check in.

Canadians have flocked in droves to the lovely white beaches of these Cayos, and played by the water, in the water and under it. Word is out that there is less rain in this area than in the rest of Cuba.

There are more than 200 species of birds in the water and in the forests. You'll see majestic trees, palms, coastal grapes, mangroves and coconut palms. This is the perfect destination for hikers.

Just west of Cayo Coco is Cayo Guillermo, it is much smaller and connected to Cayo Coco by a causeway. The mangroves off the south coast of Cayo Guillermo are home to pink flamingos and pelicans, and there's a great diversity of tropical fish and crustaceans on the key's Atlantic reef.

This was why it was a favourite fishing spot of American writer Ernest Hemingway, who mentioned Cayo Guillermo in his book Islands in the Stream. Cayo Guillermo is probably the number one sport fishing destination in Cuba. The deep-sea fishing facilities are good and several freshwater lakes on the mainland are within commuting distance.

Playa Pilar, a lovely white beach near the west end of Cayo Guillermo, named for Hemingway's boat, is surrounded by great dunes and cliffs. Other guests at the resort will urge you to go and talk about it as though they were the first to discover it.

Across the causeway is the closest town Moron. Bring your driving license so you can rent a car, or a scooter, or grab a cab to the "city of roosters" and see the huge rooster monument. This is a great city to see how Cubans live. Yes, you'll see cars from the 50s, and you'll also see oxen carts, and horse and buggy transportation.

This is a barefoot, lie-around, hike, swim, loaf and read kind of destination. The biggest complaint visitors make is that no Cubans live on the Cayos so if you want to hang out you'll need to visit the mainland.

You'll have your choice of resorts, all medium size of 200 to 450 rooms. For example, the four-star Daiquiri is 312 rooms and gets high marks from guests as a family property with great food. I love staying in a villa on stilts in the adults-only five-star Melia Cayo Coco. I came home with a copy of the pianist's CD. He played while people were checking out and waiting for transfers, a very nice touch. The three-and-a-half-star Sol Cayo Guillermo is a nice property too. We loved the beach BBQ and quickly learned if you wanted ribs to get there early.

And of course the newly re-done Blau Colonial with manager Edwardo is getting great reviews.

The gardeners on the resorts make palm leaf hats.

For $4 (CDN) you'll have a great souvenir of your memorable trip to Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.


Source: /www.mykawartha.com/opinion/columns/article/971751