Iberostar Playa Pilar – Reviews. The most beautiful beaches in Cuba Iberostar playa pilar hotel 5 reviews

Coming to Cuba for a vacation, first of all, a tourist is looking for beautiful and comfortable beaches in the chosen resort, we decided to help you and made a rating of 10 good Cuban beaches with photos for relaxing with a girl, a young man or a family

The content of the article Girl on the beach, Cuba

There are many good reasons to visit Cuba, but for many, one of the most important will be the beautiful Cuban beaches. Huge stretches of pristine white sand, warm weather and turquoise waters welcome tourists all year round as the average temperature rarely drops below 21 degrees Celsius. No matter which part of the country you choose to holiday in, you are guaranteed to enjoy your time on the beach.

Fine THERE is ready to present for you a list of the best sandy beaches worth visiting while you are in Cuba.

1 Cayo Jutias

Not many foreign tourists visit Cayo Jutias beach, which is located to the west of Viñales. Come here to eat lobster, drink rum and watch the Cubans have fun on the beach.

Cayo Jutias beach, Cuba

2. Varadero Beach

Cuba's most famous beach stretches for more than 19 kilometers and is surrounded by numerous all-inclusive resorts. If dance lessons, aerobics classes and games offered by the resorts are not to your liking, head out to explore the area's natural attractions, including sea caves and coral reefs.

Varadero beach, Cuba

3. Playa Pilar

A lot of people check into the big hotels on Cayo Coco, but far fewer prefer to go to Cayo Guillermo. Although it's much quieter here, Playa Pilar is an easy spot to soak up the sun.

An interesting fact is that the beach is named after the yacht of the writer Ernest Hemingway, as he often came here while on the island.

Playa Pilar, Cuba

4. Playa Ancon

If you are in the colonial city of Trinidad and want to spend some time on the beach, then Playa Ancon would be the perfect place. This is one of the best beaches on the south coast of Cuba, a great place with beautiful thatched umbrellas and inviting golden sand, where you can snorkel and dive in the nearby reefs.

Playa Ancon beach, Cuba

5. Cayo Santa Maria Beach

Cayo Santa Maria Beach, quite popular with honeymooners, is this delightful place on the northern coast of Cuba. The long, picturesque sandy beaches are renowned for swimming, snorkeling and sunset watching, which is said to be particularly impressive. It also offers a beautiful view of the luxury hotels that are located nearby. Santa Maria has a 13-kilometer public beach, so if the sea and sand are your goal, then this is the place for you.

Cayo Santa Maria beach, Cuba

6. Maria La Gorda

At the westernmost point of Cuba lies this stunning palm-fringed beach, a favorite spot for divers. It has been named one of the top ten dive sites in all of Latin America.

Maria La Gorda beach, Cuba

7. Guardalavaca

Guardalavaca is a typical example of a classic Cuban beach: swaying palm trees, miles of white sand and clear blue sea. A cluster of small cafes, bars and a bustling street market are only minor distractions from the vast sandy sea, which is said to be much less cluttered with seaweed. Vacationers can walk for several hours before reaching the edge of the beach, making it a great choice for those who want to relax, replenish energy and get closer to nature.

8. Playa Sirena

An excellent 3-kilometer beach is the only one on the island with perfect palm trees. Almost all hotels organize ferry and bus transportation to this point of the peninsula, which is located at the western peak of Cayo Largo. The harbor, shared by the hotels, has a restaurant, bar and a full range of water sports including diving, snorkeling and boat rentals ranging from kayaks to catamarans. If the beach is crowded, you can arrange a boat to take you to nearby, deserted islands like Cayo Rico and Cayo Iguana.

Playa Sirena beach, Cuba

9. Playa Giron

Playa Giron is not much different from other small beaches in Cuba, the same coral sand and turquoise waters that cover the wonderful reefs. But what makes it really special is a testament to how the Cuban people, over the years, have been the victim of various attacks that they fought back so desperately.

The first attack occurred at the beginning of the 17th century by a group of pirates under the command of Drake. The result was the beheading of a pirate by the inhabitants for attempting to capture. Because of this, the Cubans decide to keep the memory alive by christening the beach with the name of the pirate Giron.

More serious was the attack that took place on April 17, 1961 and was carried out by American troops under the command of the CIA to overthrow the regime of Fidel Castro. This event became part of the history of the Cuban people, who still admire the people who defended the country despite the significant difference in the number and quality of weapons.

10. Playa Esmeralda

Just five kilometers from the city of Guardalavaca in the eastern part of Cuba, this beautiful beach is located. If you feel like pampering yourself, there are two luxury hotels here that are great places to stay. From the amenities you will find here delicious food, drinks, water sports, as well as meet the best sunrises and take unforgettable walks.

Cayo Guillermo is a small tropical island in the Jardines del Rey archipelago located along the northern coast of Cuba. The area of ​​the island is less than 20 km ?, but at the same time it provides excellent opportunities for a beach holiday along with the neighboring island of Cayo Coco, very popular among tourists, and several other islands of the archipelago. Cayo Guillermo is suitable for a quiet measured rest and romantic trips.

There are only a few hotel complexes on Cayo Guillermo, each of which provides all-inclusive services. For local residents, with the exception of workers in the tourist service sector, access to the resorts of Cayo Guillermo is closed. On the territory of hotel complexes there are shops, restaurants, bars, water sports centers. In the evenings there are entertainment shows. Outside the hotels, only untouched nature and excellent sandy beaches await tourists.

Beaches

The beaches of Cayo Guillermo stretch for more than 5 kilometers along the northern coast of the island. The most famous of them is the beach Playa Pilar(Playa Pilar), named after Ernest Hemingway's yacht of the same name. Playa Pilar is located on the western tip of the island and amazes travelers with sand dunes reaching a height of 15 meters. This beach is considered to be one of the best in Cuba due to its wide stretch of sand and crystal clear water. There are no hotels on Playa Pilar, so the beach is usually not crowded.

Other beaches of the island are also located on the north coast. All hotels are located in the east of the island. The beaches of Cayo Guillermo attract with calm waters, regardless of the tides, this distinguishes them even from the beaches of neighboring Cayo Coco.

Attractions and entertainment

Most of the territory of Cayo Guillermo is occupied by picturesque mangrove and palm groves. Flora is also represented here by mahogany and juniper. In the pristine lagoons, travelers can see colonies of pink flamingos, pelicans and other feathered abodes of Cayo Guillermo. The best time to watch migratory birds on the island is winter.

In the immediate vicinity of Cayo Guillermo is one of the world's largest coral reefs, which provides exceptional diving opportunities. Yachting and other water activities are very popular.

Transport

The closest international airport to Cayo Guillermo, Jardines del Rey, is located on the neighboring island of Cayo Coco. Air communication connects the islands with Havana, Varadero, some other cities of Cuba, as well as cities in Europe and Canada. Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco are connected by a road. Cayo Coco, in turn, is directly connected with Cuba by an artificial highway that runs along a dam with a length of about 20 kilometers.

No matter how you travel around Liberty Island, it's important to know where the best beaches in Cuba are located: Relax in a hammock overlooking Caribbean happiness, take a dip in the turquoise waves or get your adrenaline pumping while diving with sharks. Find out where it is better to relax with children or get romance, hang out with nudists or retire from the whole world. The beaches of Cuba attract both sloths a la all inclusive, and adventurers who are with nature on YOU. For those who are going to go to Cuba, Jazz Tour has compiled the TOP 5 best beaches on Liberty Island...

Varadero: The longest beach in Cuba
The picturesque 22 km beach of Varadero is a dream come true during depressing rainy autumns and cold winters. Varadero accepts charter flights, and its hotels operate, for the most part, on an all-inclusive basis, being practically on the beach strip. The most top and most convenient form of recreation in Cuba for tourists from all over the world. Getting to Varadero is not difficult from Havana if you flew to the capital of Cuba, and not by charter to Varadero.

Playa Pilar: The whitest beach in Cuba
The dazzling white Pilar beach is famous for its "calm water" because the islands in front protect the beach from strong waves. Perhaps Pilar can be called the best and truly paradise beach of the island of Liberty. No wonder it was here that the dictator Batista had his most beloved mansion and it was here that Hemingway lived when he went fishing in the archipelago. Pilar beach is located on Cayo Guillermo. You can drive to the island in a rented car via the causeway in Cayo Coco.

Playa Santa Lucia: The most family beach in Cuba
Children swim here in complete safety, with a comfortable and gently sloping sandy bottom, in the stunning turquoise waters of Playa Santa Lucia. Here, fans of extreme sports can order an adrenaline trip at the local Divecenter and chat one on one with sharks in deep water. Playa Santa Lucia is located 110 km northeast of Camagüey. There are no scheduled buses, so the best option is to rent a car or, in extreme cases, take a taxi to Camagüey.

Playa Ancon: The most romantic beach in Cuba
Kilometer-long white sandy beach framed by cozy palm trees, Playa Ancón blends perfectly with the sights of the beautiful city of Trinidad. And if you are looking for more secluded beaches and an underwater paradise, then you should take a catamaran trip from the mangrove bay near the Ancón Hotel to the uninhabited islands of Cayo Blanco de Casilda and Cayo Macho de Afuera. Getting from Trinidad to Playa Ancón, which is located 6 kilometers from Trinidad, is quite easy. If you don't have a rental car, you can get to the beach on the Cubatur bus, which departs from Trinidad every hour.

Cayo Largo del Sur: Simply the best beaches in Cuba
There are nudists on the beaches of Cayo Largo del Sur, although these beaches are also very good for families. Nudists have their own place - Playa Paraíso, but family vacations are good at Playa Los Cocos ... a beautiful palm-lined beach where children can splash in crystal clear water. From May to October you can see sea turtles nesting on Playa Tortuga. You can get to Cayo Largo del Sur by air flight from Havana or Varadero.

Saved

Pilar Beach is one of the most spectacular beaches not only in Cuba but in the entire Caribbean! This pristine beach is located on the northwestern tip of Cayo Guillermo. Not far from Playa Pilar you can see Saio Media Luna, a small island located about 2 km from the coast. The Pilar beach on Cayo Guillermo is about 1 km long and faces north. It is covered with powdery white sand and its shallow and calm waters are ideal for swimming. This is one of the best swimming spots in Cuba.

On Pilar beach you will find the following amenities and services:
1. Ranchon type restaurant (beach bar and grill) where you can enjoy a cold beer or cocktail and a delicious lunch at an affordable price.
2. A beach bar called Coco Loco, which serves all sorts of cocktails, including "Saoko" (served in a green coconut, this is a refreshing lager drink made from coconut water, soda, rum and ice).
3. Sun loungers for rent. One sun lounger costs 2 CUC per day, but you can take two sun loungers under an umbrella for 10 CUC per day. Please note that there is no natural shade on Pilar Beach, so an umbrella can come in handy. By the way, these 10 CUCs also include 3 free drinks.
4. Water sports center where you can rent different equipment or order some kind of water entertainment. This center also offers a walk to Cayo Media Luna where you can snorkel. The cost of the trip is 25 CUC per person, including snorkeling equipment.
5. Observation tower.
6. Showers.

Many services have appeared here only recently. There is currently a 130 meter long footbridge from the car park to the beach, making it easier to access the beach, especially for people with reduced mobility.

Pilar beach on the map of Cayo Guillermo and the map of Cuba

How to get to Pilar beach

This beach is within walking distance of the Iberostar Playa Pilar (about 1 km). If you are staying at another hotel, you can rent a car or scooter, take a taxi to the beach, use the Jardines del Rey Bus Tour or buy a special tour from a tour operator. It seems to me that the ideal option is to travel by tourist bus. Pilar Beach is the last stop of this bus and the ticket costs 5 CUC for the whole day. That is, you can ride this bus several times in one day.

Ranch Playa Pilar

As mentioned above, Pilar Beach has a grill restaurant that offers delicious seafood, fish and grilled meats. This is the largest and by far the most visited private ranch in the Jardines del Rey archipelago. It is located at the northwestern end of Cayo Guillermo, on one of the most impressive beaches in Cuba, Playa Pilar.
This restaurant is run by the Cuban group Palmares, which offers other services on the beach, including a beach bar called Coco Loco, as well as sun lounger and umbrella rentals.
Food prices at Playa Pilar Ranch are relatively low. For example, a dish of half lobster, shrimp and fish costs 15 to 20 CUC, while a whole lobster costs 15 to 20 CUC. Prawns are offered here at 8-10 CUC, squid 5-6 CUC, fried chicken or pork 4-5 CUC, grilled fish 5-6 CUC, hamburger 2-3 CUC, beer and soft drinks 1 CUC , rum - 1.5 CUC.

Playa Pilar- located on the very outskirts of the island Cayo Guillermo - this is truly one of the most beautiful beaches in Cuba, named after Hemingway's boat Pilar - as the writer loved to fish and stayed on this island - even before it became a tourist mecca. Before these islands... Playa Pilar- located on the very outskirts of the island Cayo Guillermo - this is truly one of the most beautiful beaches in Cuba, named after Hemingway's boat Pilar - as the writer loved to fish and stayed on this island - even before it became a tourist mecca. Previously, only fishermen with a special license from the state had access to these islands. And now, thanks to the bulk dam leading from the "mainland" anyone who has a car can get here. Pilar beach does not belong to any hotel, so access to it is free. And the beach meets all guests with the whitest fine sand, the cleanest azure sea with fish and starfish underfoot. And where the beach ends and the rocks begin, all snorkelers will find an interesting underwater world of the Atlantic Ocean.