Cayo Coco

Cayo Coco. It is an island in the Jardines del Rey archipelago, part of the Republic of Cuba and administered by Ciego de Ávila Province. Connected to the main island of Cuba by a 27-kilometer causeway, it is a major hub within the country's tourism industry, renowned for its extensive beaches and protected natural areas. The island's name is derived from the abundant population of the white ibis, locally known as "coco" birds, which inhabit its mangroves and wetlands.

Geography and location

Cayo Coco is situated in the northern part of Cuba, within the shallow waters of the Atlantic Ocean and specifically the Old Bahama Channel. It forms a key part of the Jardines del Rey chain, lying east of Cayo Guillermo and west of Cayo Romano. The island's terrain is predominantly flat, characterized by dense mangrove forests, saltwater lagoons, and over 20 kilometers of pristine white-sand beaches facing the open ocean. The construction of the Pedraplén a Cayo Coco, a monumental causeway built in the late 1980s, permanently linked it to the mainland near the town of Morón, fundamentally altering its accessibility and hydrological patterns.

History

The island was historically a remote and sparsely inhabited key, used occasionally by Taíno peoples and later by Spanish colonists and pirates as a navigational landmark and temporary refuge. It gained literary fame through the works of Ernest Hemingway, who used the surrounding waters as a setting in his novel *Islands in the Stream*. For much of its modern history, the area remained an undeveloped part of Ciego de Ávila Province. Significant transformation began in the late 1980s under the direction of the Cuban government and with investment from foreign partners like Sol Meliá, aiming to develop a new tourism zone. The opening of the first major hotel, the **Tryp Cayo Coco**, marked the beginning of its current era as a dedicated resort destination.

Tourism and economy

Tourism is the absolute cornerstone of the local economy, driven by all-inclusive resort complexes operated by international chains such as Meliá Hotels International, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, and Blue Diamond Resorts. Major developments include the **Meliá Cayo Coco** and the **Iberostar Playa Pilar**. The island caters primarily to international visitors from Canada, Europe, and Latin America, offering activities centered on its beaches, water sports, and ecological excursions. Key attractions include the famed Playa Pilar beach, named for Hemingway's boat *Pilar*, and organized trips to neighboring cays like Cayo Guillermo. The tourism infrastructure is largely self-contained within the resort zones, with limited economic interaction with nearby mainland communities such as Morón.

Flora and fauna

The island forms part of a vital ecosystem protected within the larger Jardines del Rey archipelago. Its extensive mangrove forests serve as crucial nurseries for marine species including the Caribbean spiny lobster and various reef fish. The namesake white ibis colonies are a prominent feature, alongside other bird species like the Cuban flamingo, roseate spoonbill, and the endemic Cuban trogon. Offshore, the healthy coral reef systems, part of the broader Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago environment, support diverse marine life. Conservation areas are managed to balance protection with controlled tourist access, particularly in the lagoons and wetlands that dot the interior.

Transportation

Primary access is via the **Pedraplén a Cayo Coco**, a man-made causeway that spans from the mainland near Morón. The causeway includes several bridges designed to allow some water flow between the ocean and the bay, mitigating environmental impact. Visitors typically arrive at the Jardines del Rey Airport (also known as Cayo Coco Airport) on neighboring Cayo Guillermo, which receives direct charter flights from international destinations. Ground transportation on the island is dominated by hotel shuttle buses and taxis, as there is no public transit system. Rental cars are available for travel to the mainland or to explore the connected causeways leading to Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Romano.

Category:Islands of Cuba Category:Tourism in Cuba Category:Ciego de Ávila Province