Hotels and Hostals in Cuba

General Introduction to Jardines del Rey, Cuba

The archipelago Jardines del Rey is located precisely on the north coast of Ciego de Avila province and it's also part of the archipelago Sabana-Camagüey, the largest of the Cuba Island four archipelagoes, with its 2500 little cays and islets. Governor Diego Velázquez named it in 1514 as Jardines Del Rey to honour the king Ferdinando the Catholic from Spain. Now, five centuries away, the archipelago still has things to be discovered!

Cayo Coco and Guillermo Cay, the most famous ones, have great natural beauties. There, the modern world comforts have been added prudently in order to complement and protect the environment. Paredón Grande, even being the smallest among these cays, is not least than the others at all and is being developed quite a lot for toursim.

For tourists, the Jardines del Rey archipelago attractions are confirmed by its extraordinary natural beauty components (over 200 animal species are living there) and by the high level of sea and ecosystem preservation.

The "Keys of Cuba", characterized by the Jardines Del Rey archipelago small isles have been inmortalized by the pages of the novel Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway. Mangroves and swamps, the whitest sand and the sea skyblue waters make these places a charm of the seventh sky.

Places of Interest to Visit in Jardines del Rey:

Cayo Coco

Covered by thick mangroves, palms and other forestry plants, it includes 22 kilometers of uninterrupted beach, where a variety of excellent hotels are found.

Guillermo Cay

Ernest Hemingway has stayed there for a long time, camping, fishing, and sailing in boat during World War II. He is remembered by his double daiquiris, his boat (Pilar) and his fishing stories along the spectacular beaches of Guillermo Cay.

The Turiguanó Isle

It bears this name because of Saint Gertrude's rearing. The residents of the place live in small Dutch towns.

Laguna de la Leche

In the south of Turiguanó, it's coloured by its sodium carbonate deposits. It's the largest natural deposit of Cuba.

La Redonda

A lake in the east of Turiguanó, is the site where fishing tournaments are held every year.

La Trocha

It's a military path built in the 19th century and partially restructured, 68 km long with its fortifications and its old railways.

Morón

With the city of the Rooster it's the favorite spot of tourists in the resort area of Jardines del Rey.

Excursions to Jardines del Rey

Cayo Coco and Cayo Gullermo

Made famous in the novels written by Hemingway Cayo Coco and Guillermo Cay continue to be the ecological paradise that the writer used to describe in his works.
These two cays are part of Sabana-Camagüey archipelago. Cayo Coco is among the largest of them all. Las Coloradas, promises a perfect combination between water sports and nature. The beaches La Jaula and Los Flamencos are considered as the very best. All guests at Guillermo Cay share the same goals: being able to fish where Hemingway did and seeing his boat tied on the beach bearing its name, drowsing under the royal palm trees, and doing scuba diving, swimming and getting a suntan.

Ciego de Avila Province

The province of Ciego de Avila is the "queen of fruit" with its fertile soil and abundant water, to such an extent that the cedar trees and the pinaple that are grown there are meant to be envied. Its cultures and traditions, influenced by the Spanish, Haitian ans Jamaican migrants, provide Ciego de Avila with a its unique identity.

Ciego de Avila City

The character of this provincial capital is widely defined by its architecture: unique porches, arches, roofs, tiles and neoclassical pillars. The Independence Avenue constitutes the core of the city, where the centers of cultural interest include the Main Theater, the House of Culture, the Raúl Martínez Art gallery, the José Martí Park and the Church of San Eugenio de Palma – named like this to honour the saint sponsoring the city. Both cities, Ciego de Avila and Morón have played a key role during the independence wars and that is why they have also played it in the development of tourism as well.

Morón

You could notice your arrival in Morón seeing the rooster bronze statue at the "gates" (so to speak) of the city. Other distinctive features of Morón are the Trova House, a place where you will enjoy the most vanguard Cuban music and the railway station with its unusual architecture. From the architectural perspective, the Morón Museum visit is a must as well as the one kilometer long road up to Jucaro — declared as world heritage by UNESCO.

Turigano Isle

This isle with 18000 hectares of land, separated from its interior by creeks and canals, is now connected to the rest of the province by a 23 km long avenue enabling access to its livestock farmings. The adorable city is modeled in a a Dutch style.

Redonda Lake

It occupies an area of 4 square kilometers and it's a favorite spot for fishermen. The lake has gained popularity in the 1980s, when a group of fishermen fished thousands of fish in five days. The bigot fishermen consider Redonda an ideal lake to test their persoanl, national and international fishing records.

La Leche Lake

Between Turiguano and the coast, near to the city of Morón we find the La Leche Lake, where the natural deposists of sodium carbonate have turned the water milky white. This lake is also a fishing site and a place for water racing.

Aguachales de Falla

One of the swampiest and marshiest areas in the north coast is Aguachales de Falla, where there are hunting clubs and several species of ducks. The area constitutes a system of seven lakes and a dozen of ponds linked by a network of creeks and canals.

Colonial Trinidad

This striking colonial city is also a relic of ancient history. Visiting tips: the Iznaga Tower, the La Canchánchara bar, a cigar factory and a ceramics store.

Cuban Night in the Jabali Cave

Enjoy a special night in a bright and decorated cave. The night also includes a show, a discotheque and four cocktails.