Cayo Coco

The island isn't immune to cold fronts, especially in the months of January, February and March so pack a light jacket or long-sleeve top. While you won't find many rainy days here (rain tends to be brief, an hour or two at most), April, May and June are Cayo Coco's rainiest months. That's when a small travel umbrella may come in handy.

Cayo Coco is a place known for its solitude – most visitors return from here marvelling at their ability to relax. It's an offshore island, set apart from the Cuban mainland by the broad Bahìa de Perros (Bay of Dogs).

Nearby in Cayo Guillermo, you’ll find one of Cuba's top sport-fishing destinations, where even a half-day fishing trip can result in a haul of kingfish, sailfish, tuna, barracuda and even blue marlin. Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo also form one of Cuba's top bird-watching destinations. More than 150 species of birds live here, including one of the largest colonies of flamingos in the world!

While you can find sun and sand at locations around the Caribbean, you'll simply find more of it here on the 27 kilometres of beaches that line Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo. The sand is as fine and white as sugar, the water a clear blue and the massive coral reef is filled with life. It’s no wonder the region is so well known for unbeatable snorkelling and diving opportunities.

Even the dunes that line the beaches here are amazing, especially the huge 15-metre sand dune at Playa Pilar, the tallest in the Caribbean. Enjoy the company of others on the main beaches, or wander off to quiet places like Playa Flamenco or Playa Prohibida to stake out your own little piece of paradise.

Cayo Coco is deceptively large. Several kilometres often separate individual resorts, and it generally takes about 45 minutes to travel between the main hotel zones on Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo. Both islands are also covered in palm trees, scrubby vegetation and mangrove swamps.

White sand beaches run along 22 km of Cayo Coco's coastline and another 5 km on Cayo Guillermo. These beaches are often lined with grassy dunes. Playa Pilar, a popular, beautiful beach at the far western tip of Cayo Guillermo, features the tallest sand dune in the Caribbean, which rises to a height of about 15 metres.

Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo are both connected to the mainland of Ciego de Avila province (a flat, largely rural area covered in sugar cane and other crops) by a 27-km causeway that crosses the Bahìa de Perros. There are no permanent settlements on either island.

Cuba has long been a meeting point of African and Spanish cultures. The two cultures come together most notably in salsa, a dance form born in Cuba that is now practised and performed around the world. You'll find salsa dancing in clubs and discotheques across Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, often led by residents of the nearby town of Moròn.

Solo dancers form a line for the salsa suelta or the casino ruedo – forms of the dance that don't require a partner – and sometimes borrow moves from hip-hop, jazz and rumba. For partner dances (the most common form of salsa), dancers use turns, changes in direction and plenty of hip movement. They also keep a fast pace, moving to music that ranges as fast as 250 beats per minute.

Most resorts on Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo include restaurants with Cuban cuisine, a blend of Spanish, African and Caribbean culinary traditions. These restaurants are great places to get acquainted with the local foods that residents of the nearby towns cook.

Most fruits and vegetables in Cuba are organic and pork is the most popular meat. Try some traditional Cuban congri (a pleasing mixture of white rice and red or black beans), fried plantains and traditional Cuban pork roast topped with sweetened papaya for dessert.

Although Cuba is an island with a very long history, its culture is largely been shaped by the Cuban Revolution of 1959. After overthrowing the government of Fulgencio Batista, the revolution ushered in more than five decades of communist party rule, most of it under Fidel Castro. He officially handed the reins of power to his younger brother, Raul, in 2008.

The revolution and the American trade embargo that followed have led to an almost-complete absence of American brands in Cuba. Driving in this country can sometimes feel like a trip back in time. Most noticeable is the fact that it's nearly impossible to find Fords and Chryslers on Cuba's roadways—at least anything built after 1961. Cuban car owners have kept a large number of American classics running, carefully maintaining their engines and even making their own parts for repairs.

Tobacco remains one of the country's largest industries, with cigars being one of Cuba's biggest exports. Cuban cigar rollers, known as torcedores, are highly respected within the country and regarded by international aficionados to be the most skilled in the world. While some cigars are made by machine, many, including those made in the factory in Ciego de Avila, are still created using the time-honoured, hand-rolled techniques.

Should you wish to explore the area more, you can always rent a car for long distances or rent a scooter for shorter trips. Check with your WestJet Vacations representative for assistance renting a car or to inquire about excursions offered on Cuba's mainland.

There is also a local bus that travels between Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo at a cost of just CUC$5 per person, per day. Check with your hotel's front desk for the most up-to-date bus schedule.

Most tourist spots, hotels and restaurants will accept Visa, MasterCard and travellers cheques from Canadian financial institutions. Please do be aware that travellers cheques are subject to a surcharge so it is usually wise to convert them to pesos at your hotel.

US dollars, American Express and any other credit cards issued by American banks will not be accepted in Cuba. Before your departure from Cayo Coco, you should exchange any remaining pesos back to Canadian dollars. There is usually a surcharge of approximately 10 per cent, but you will only be able to change pesos back to Canadian dollars while in Cuba. Once outside of Cuba, the CUC has no value. That said, you can always save your leftover pesos for your next visit!

Your WestJet Vacations Representative will provide you with a bus number. Once on board your bus, you will be welcomed by a Cubanacan Guide who will hand you a helpful information pamphlet. Your WestJet Vacations Representative will then give a brief speech on the bus welcoming you to Cuba and you'll be on your way to your hotel.

Departure

A bus will take you from your resort to the airport on the day of your departure. Please refer to the WestJet information binder in the lobby of your hotel two days prior to your departure date to obtain the pick-up time of your bus. Since the bus may make various stops, the pick-up time may vary by 15 minutes or so. Upon arrival at Cayo Coco International Airport, please proceed to the WestJet counter to check in for your flight. You’ll then proceed to immigration and security check. Once through, you'll wait in the international departures area to board your WestJet flight back to Canada.

Insurance

As of May 1, 2010, all guests must have proof of health insurance to enter Cuba. When entering, guests may be required to present this proof of insurance.

Although your Canadian provincial health insurance card is accepted as sufficient documentation, your provincial health plan may only cover part of the costs—and as with health services to foreigners in many other parts of the world, you'll need to pay upfront.

To ensure you're covered in case of sickness or emergency, it's recommended that you purchase supplemental health insurance. While you can purchase insurance from your insurer of choice, it's worth noting that policies issued by American insurance companies will not be recognized in Cuba.

Vaccinations

Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, malaria, typhoid and tetanus are commonly recommended. Visit your local health clinic for additional information. It is also recommended that you use mosquito repellent to protect yourself from mosquito-transmitted diseases.