Welcome to Jardines del Rey! If you are planning your next trip to this beautiful destination, don’t miss this article prepared especially for you, where you will find valuable information to make the most of your stay in this Caribbean paradise. From recommendations to organize your trip and lodging, to the best places to visit and the most exciting activities you can do.
Jardines del Rey: a Caribbean paradise
Jardines del Rey is the name of a spectacular group of keys located in the eastern part of the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago, officially in the province of Ciego de Avila, and is currently one of the main tourist centers in the Caribbean region.
Curiosity! Many Cubans simply know it as “Los Cayos”.
Of the archipelagos that surround the island of Cuba, this is the largest and most numerous, made up of more than 2,500 keys and islets. Each one of them has the wonderful characteristics usually seen in Caribbean postcards: turquoise waters of different shades, fine sands, beautiful palm trees and a delicious sun.
Curiosity! Jardines del Rey owes its name to King Ferdinand II of Aragon (nicknamed “the Catholic”), who held this title in the 15th century. It is said that it was Christopher Columbus and his sailors, while exploring the Antillean coast, who baptized the archipelago with this name, as opposed to another set of islands discovered to the south named Jardines de La Reina (in honor of Isabella the Catholic). Both cays retain their names to this day.
Most of the tourist activities and hotel zones are concentrated in the following keys, although the tourist infrastructure continues to grow: Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Coco, Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Santa María and Cayo Cruz.
Flora and Fauna
If you are passionate about nature, in Jardines del Rey you can enjoy a great variety of native flora and fauna. The archipelago is home to numerous species of exotic birds, some of which can only be found in Cuba, such as the tocororo, the royal woodpecker and the zunzuncito. In addition, if you are an animal lover, you cannot miss the opportunity to see the colony of pink flamingos that inhabits the area (if your entrance is by land, it is very likely that you will be able to see it from the bus).
Its beaches (many of them virgin) and in an excellent state of conservation will also allow you to enjoy a rich marine fauna. Most of the species that compose it are harmless: for example, colorful fish, starfish (some of them can be seen very close to the coast), dolphins, among others.
The flora of Jardines del Rey is equally impressive, with a large number of trees, shrubs and tropical plants, which provide an exuberant and colorful environment.
In addition, the archipelago is located near a barrier reef of about 400 km in length, which is considered the second most important in the world in terms of marine biodiversity. The barrier reef is home to thousands of species of fish and other marine life, so if you’re a diving enthusiast, it’s clear that this is one place you won’t want to miss.
→Weather
Jardines del Rey has a warm, tropical climate all year round, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C most of the time. The high season is from November to April, when the weather is cooler and drier, while the rainy season is from May to October. Although the rains can be abundant at times, they can also be intermittent and do not affect tourist activities too much since they usually occur in the afternoons. In general, Jardines del Rey is a highly recommended destination for tourists due to its pleasant climate all year round.
→The first thing: how to get there?
Traveling to this beautiful region of Cuba is quite easy and affordable. If you are looking for the most comfortable and efficient way to get there, our agency offers you several options.
First, there are two ways to access any of these keys; one is by land and the other is by air.
- Overland
Whichever city you are visiting on the island, you will have the option of taking a colectivo tourist bus (along with other visitors). This is usually the most economical option, but it is the one that takes the longest time on the road. Usually the bus makes between 2 and 3 mandatory stops, depending on the key.
The trip from the capital can be a bit long if you use this alternative (about 6 hours approximately) but if you are visiting other cities such as Trinidad, Remedios, Santa Clara or Cienfuegos, this can be a great option, since the distance is not so great.
Curiosity! The cays are connected to the main island (Cuba) by means of causeways: a magnificent work of Cuban engineering.
The other option to travel by land is to rent a car or a rent a carwhich you can do directly from the web or if you prefer contact one of our travel advisors. If you are considering this option, remember to be proactive and do not leave it to the last minute, as the availability of cars may be limited in certain seasons. If this option seems attractive to you, I recommend you to read these 7 useful tips if you want to rent a car in Cuba.
- By air
Unlike tour bus travel which can take several hours, flying by plane will extraordinarily shorten the duration of your transfer: less than1h in total, departing from Havana! In addition to saving you time and effort compared to other transportation options (such as driving or taking a bus), traveling by plane gives you the opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the beautiful archipelago you will be heading to, which will surely make your travel experience more memorable.
Now, the first important detail you should know in relation to this alternative is that the keys have their own airports and airports in adjacent cities that could also be functional. In the case of Cayo Coco, it has an international airport that facilitates access to Cayo Coco as well as to Cayo Guillermo or Cayo Cruz (connected to each other only 30 minutes by road), which receives daily flights from more than twenty cities around the world. (Note: None coming directly from Spain without stopovers in Havana. )
→ Important! An easy, fast, comfortable and safe way to get to Cayo Coco as well as to Cayo Guillermo or Cayo Cruz is by our internal flight(operated by MagniCharters) on the Havana-Cayo Coco route, with two weekly departures: Wednesdays and Saturdays. If your first stop is Havana, this can be an excellent option.
From our website you can access travel packages that already include this flight so you can travel without worries.
The Abel Santamaría International Airport, in Santa Clara, has a strategic location due to its proximity to Cayo Santa María and Cayo Las Brujas. Although there is another airport in Cayo Las Brujas, since it is only for domestic flights, many tourists prefer to arrive directly through Santa Clara and reach the keys through the pedraplén. This trip takes about an hour by bus.
The second detail is to know how to transfer you to your accommodation once your plane has arrived. If you booked through our travel packages, this transfer will already be included. If you have only booked the flight, make sure that your travel consultant includes the transfer to your accommodation. You will also have the option to travel by cab(we suggest you agree the price with the driver before getting in).
Whether you travel using one or the other variant, the trip from the airport to the hotel zone of Cayo Coco takes between 35-45 minutes, while, if your hotel is located in Cayo Guillermo, the transfer time will be approximately 25 minutes. The most distant drive to Cayo Cruz would be about 1 hour.
→Hotels and accommodations
Regarding lodging options, in all the keys of Jardines del Rey you will find a great variety of hotels. Most of them offer the AllInclusive system and are rated as 4 or 5 star hotels, which makes them first class hotels.
It is worth noting that the keys are not residential areas and are designed especially for tourism, therefore, there is no option to rent a room or a private house. This option would only be possible in nearby municipalities with easy access to the keys, such as Caibarién or Remedios, which are the closest towns to Las Brujas and Santa María keys, or Morón for Guillermo or Coco keys. Although this alternative may be considerably cheaper in terms of accommodation, it would also involve constant transfers and road trips for at least 1 hour, so it is probably not worth it. Ah, yes! These accommodations are usually run by Cuban families, so it could be a way to have a more authentic experience and support the local economy.
But without a doubt, the alternative of private homes I would leave as an option in other cities and in the keys I would enjoy a dream vacation in one of the best tourist areas of the island. It is really worth leaving your money this way and enjoy all that Jardines del Rey has to offer!
Some of the most important chains that offer lodging to visitors are:
- Meliá Hotels International: This chain operates several hotels in Jardines del Rey, such as the Meliá Jardines del Rey, Meliá Las Dunas, Meliá Buenavista, Meliá Cayo Santa María, Meliá Cayo Coco, Sol Cayo Coco, and Sol Cayo Guillermo.
- Iberostar Hotels & Resorts: Iberostar Playa Pilar and Iberostar Daiquirí.
- Memories Resorts & Spa: This chain has hotels such as Memories Flamenco Beach Resort and Memories Caribe Beach Resort.
- Blue Diamond Resorts: Blue Diamond operates the Royalton, located in Cayo Coco.
Other important hotels in the area are the Gran Muthu Imperial and Gran Muthu Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski and Starfish Cayo Guillermo, all of them located in the homonymous key, but another long line follows… Jardines del Rey has not stopped growing in the last 30 years.
Remember that our consultants are available to help you choose the best option for your accommodation based on your interests and travel budget. Whether you are traveling as a family or as a romantic getaway or your intentions are to have a complete disconnection, ask us for advice without obligation.
→Beaches
The main attraction of this place is, without a doubt, its beautiful and paradisiacal beaches, some of which have been considered by different rankings among the most beautiful in the world, and they are not without reason!
That is, it is unthinkable that if you come to Los Cayos you do not visit at least some of the following beaches: Flamenco Beach (Cayo Coco); Pilar Beach (Cayo Guillermo); Daiquirí Beach (Cayo Guillermo); Las Gaviotas Beach (Cayo Guillermo); Las Salinas Beach (Cayo Coco); Las Brujas Beach (Cayo Las Brujas); Ensenachos Beach (Cayo Ensenachos); Santa María Beach (Cayo Santa María); Perla Blanca Beach (Cayo Santa María); and the list goes on.
- Pilar Beach (Cayo Guillermo)
Playa Pilar deserves a special mention, as it is one of the most impressive and famous beaches in Cuba, competing for a long time for the first place with the famous Varadero beach. With a length of almost 3 km, its white sands and turquoise waters make it one of the most impressive and spectacular beaches in the country. In fact, it is considered an icon of the Cuban beach landscape and its image, with the islet of palm trees centered on the horizon, is one of the most commercial and recognizable. If you visit Cuba, you can’t miss this beach… believe us, it will take your breath away.
On the beach is the Meliá Cayo Guillermo Hotel, a luxurious resort that offers a wide range of services and amenities for tourists. To enjoy Playa Pilar first hand, this can be an excellent lodging option.
→Tourist attractions
In the keys of Jardines del Rey you will have at your disposal everything you need to rest and have fun to the fullest. Not only will you be able to relax to the maximum in some of the fabulous beaches that we presented before, you will also find a wide range of tourist attractions ranging from the practice of water sports (such as sport fishing) to diving, snorkeling or others linked to ecotourism (bird watching, hiking, visiting nature reserves, etc.).
Here are some of the places and activities you can do:
- Dolphinarium: The dolphinariums are open every day of the week and are perfect places for animal lovers to swim and interact with dolphins, one of them even offers catamaran tours to interact with dolphins in the open sea!
- Barrier Reef: Jardines del Rey is home to the second largest barrier reef on the planet. Either in the hotel where you are staying or in one of the existing dive centers, you can find out about the schedules and costs for diving or snorkeling in this incredible place.
- Marinas (water activities): The marinas International Diving Center Gaviota (Cayo Las Brujas) and Marina Cayo Guillermo (Cayo Guillermo) offer various types of excursions and tours. You can take a catamaran trip (which includes food and drinks) where you can snorkel among fish and corals (includes equipment), or you can take a speedboat ride (also includes snorkeling), scuba diving or even sport fishing. There are many options here with very affordable costs that can range from 40€ to 100€ approximately!
- Cayo Santa María Natural Reserve. There is a minimum fee to enter the reserve. It is an opportunity to hike through a “Cuban forest”. Once you have finished the hike (approximately 1 km) you will arrive at a beautiful and quiet beach very little frequented.
- Flamingos Lagoon. The lagoon is located on the road that crosses from Cayo Coco to Cayo Guillermo, on the opposite side of the dolphinarium, and is one of the locations where pink flamingos are most frequently seen. Access is not easy due to the belt of plants and bushes that separates the lagoon from the road, but you will surely find space to take some good pictures.
- Cayo Media Luna: is a small and quiet key with a beautiful beach and crystal clear waters. It can be visited by boat from Playa Pilar. If you come as a couple, this is an intimate place to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
- La Estrella Village and Las Dunas. Both towns are located in Cayo Santa María and their main attractions are the handicraft stores, although there are also bars, restaurants, a lighthouse to enjoy beautiful views and even a sailboat. It is a good opportunity to see what lies beyond the All Inclusive hotels in the area.
- Laguna de la Leche: Although it is not exactly located within the area known as Jardines del Rey, but in the vicinity, this is one of the most interesting attractions in the region where the keys are located. It is the largest natural freshwater lake on the island, where you can feed fish, take some nice pictures and enjoy a wonderful lunch at the restaurant “La Atarraya”.
- Take an excursion to the nearest towns: In the case of Cayo Las Brujas and Cayo Santa María you can visit the fishing village of Caibarién or Remedios (famous for the Parrandas de Remedios). A little farther away you could visit the capital of Villa Clara: Santa Clara and the Mausoleum of Ché. This point can be combined in your travel itinerary before arriving or when you leave the key. In the case of Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo or Cayo Cruz you can take a stroll through the city of Morón and get to know the village life.
How to get to these places?
To get around Jardines del Rey, you have two options: take a cab, which can cost between 5 and 10 euros (much more if it is somewhere outside the key) depending on the location of your hotel, or board the Panoramic Bus that circulates around the hotels in the area and whose price per trip is approximately 2 euros.
→Places to eat
In Jardines del Rey you will find a wide variety of dining and drinking options. However, you will probably decide not to spend in restaurants or bars, since the most common lodging option among tourists who visit this place is to stay in All Inclusive hotels.
The restaurants and bars of the hotels in the area are excellent, but if you want to try something different anyway, here are some popular choices among those who have visited Los Cayos recently: Ranchón Cuba Libre; Playa Pilar Restaurant; Parador La Silla; Ranchón Las Dunas; Lenny’s and Punta del Pirata. The most acclaimed and sought-after dishes on the menu at these places are seafood and fresh fish. Many of them will allow you not only to enjoy an exquisite meal, but also fabulous views. Ah, yes! Everything has a price; it happens that many of these places have somewhat high prices.
Recommendations
- Go beyond your hotel. Since you are getting to know the Keys, it may be a good opportunity to explore some nearby towns and/or cities in the center of the country.
- Fly by plane. We recommend you to make your trip to the Keys by plane to optimize your travel itinerary and make the most of your stay. You can try spending a few days in Havana, and then relax in some of the hotels in Jardines del Rey before returning to Europe.
- Protect yourself from the sun: Cuba, as they say, is “an eternal summer” and the sun can be very harmful at any time of the year. As you will surely visit the beach many times, remember to bring sunscreen, a hat or cap and cool, comfortable clothes to avoid sunburn and heat stroke.
- Bring cash: Although some places are accepting card payments, the Internet connection can be unstable at times so always bring cash with you (either in local currency or euros).
- Respect nature: The region has spectacular flora and fauna, so we recommend that you do not damage or collect plants, do not touch the animals and do not leave garbage on the beach or on the trails.
Vegetarian tourist: If you don’t eat meat at all (whether for health or ethical reasons) eating in restaurants outside of hotels can play a trick on you. Some places may have vegetarian and vegan options available, but this is not always the case (especially in places where the specialty of the menu is seafood).
