Exploring Cuba’s islands: 5 reasons to visit the Villa Clara Keys
| 29th May 2018
Words and images by Caroline Howley.
Why should you venture to the islands of Villa Clara when travelling in Cuba?
When you think of Cuba, colourful images of Havana tend to spring to mind. But to truly make the most of a trip to this iconic country, you need to explore a bit further. Just off Cuba’s northern coast, around a five-hour drive from Havana, you’ll find the three idyllic islands of the Villa Clara Keys: Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Las Brujas and Cayo Ensenachos. This stunning destination provides paradisiacal surroundings perfect for relaxing, while also offering a base from which to explore the many attractions nearby.
Here are five reasons you should consider a trip to the Villa Clara Keys while exploring Cuba:
1) Its blissful beaches
Soft, white sand, crystalline turquoise water, distant sails silhouetted against the endless azure of the sky. The sea’s embrace is warm and gentle, the pleasantly deserted sand is lined with skyscraping palm trees: make no mistake, this is beach heaven. Cuba is a tropical paradise, and nowhere is this more evident than its beaches.
Each hotel on the islands claims its own section of idyllic coastline, most of which boast beach bars and sun loungers. There’s also something for the adrenaline junkies, with plenty of opportunity for watersports, from snorkelling to kayaking. Leave the hotel pool behind and in a few easy steps you’ll find yourself in a sandy paradise.
2) Explore Remedios, Trinidad, Santa Clara and more
You can’t get a true feel for a nation without venturing outside its capital city, and the Villa Clara Keys are located within a few hours’ drive of some of Cuba’s most intriguing towns. All of the hotels dotted around the islands offer plenty of tours of these locations, making it a hassle-free process to explore this fascinating part of the country.
Choose tours to historic destinations nearby such as Remedios, Trinidad or Santa Clara, or go further with an overnight trip to Havana. In Santa Clara you’ll find the striking Che Guevara Monument, and the remnants of Batista’s infamous armoured train that Che fought against. Choose Trinidad and gaze upon the rainbow-coloured houses of the Spanish colonial town, or opt for Remedios to glimpse a languid way of life. Head to the 19th-century town of Sagua la Grande and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere as you stroll the colonial streets. Alternatively, explore a Cuban pastime such as rumba or tobacco, or take a jeep or motorbike ride.
3) It was built for you, from the ground up
If you’d ventured to Cayo Santa Maria a few hundred years ago, you’d have found fishermen casting their nets into the glittering water and pirates hiding amid thick tangles of mangroves. However, when mainlanders were gifted more reliable energy and water supplies in the post-revolution 1950s, all but the mosquitoes deserted the island. In the 1990s, a project began to transform the empty land into a tourist haven.
The first step was to connect the island to the rest of Cuba, which was achieved through the ambitious construction of a 48 km causeway. One construction team began on the mainland, the other on the key, and when they met in the middle, they celebrated by jumping in the sea. These days, the sea road offers stunning views across the glittering water, with cotton wool clouds suspended just above the waves and a horizon on either side.
The first hotel on the island – Sol Cayo Santa Maria – opened its doors back in 2001, and since then, 13 more have been constructed on the island, as well as a total of six on the other Villa Clara Keys of Cayo Las Brujas and Cayo Ensenachos. All these hotels are connected via the sea road, taking no more than a 25-minute drive from the first hotel to the last.
4) Luxury hotels
Most of the hotels on the Keys have a similar aesthetic: a vision of glossy white marble and enchanting water features; spotless rooms with balconies; large foyers filled with greenery that are neither inside nor out. Despite this, there is still variety when it comes to star ratings (between three and five) and price.
With all the hotels built post-millennium, they boast all the amenities you would expect, from spas and pool-side service to a variety of restaurants and discos. The service is impeccable too. Opt for the five-star Melia Cayo Santa Maria, or the Iberostar Ensenachos, and you’ll find yourself comfortably in the lap of true luxury, with gourmet food and decadent decor at your disposal, while the four-star all-inclusive Dhawa offers a very comfortable experience for slightly less.
5) The wildlife
A tropical paradise, Cayo Santa Maria has been recognised for its natural beauty by UNESCO, and declared a Biosphere Reserve. Tropical birds including flamingos, herons and cormorants live on the small keys surrounding the causeway. Offshore, divers will find colourful reefs teeming with aquatic life. There are a number of trips you can take from the hotels of the Villa Clara Keys in order to immerse yourself in Cuba’s natural beauty.
The author visited Cuba as part of the FITCUBA Fair 2018 where the UK was the guest country, invited by the Cuba Tourist Board on behalf of MINTUR. Visit www.travel2cuba.co.uk and www.cubatravel.cu for more information.
