Read tourist reviews about Cayo Santa Maria for 2019-2020 - one of the most famous island resorts in Cuba. How do they assess the weather, beaches and the sea, what they write about excursions. The pros and cons of 2021 Cayo Santa Maria
Take a look: How to go to Cuba now - there you will find the latest tourist reviews, conditions of entry in case of a pandemic, a list of available resorts and prices for tours. See also the list of open countries. Below we talk about holidays in Cuba before the start of the pandemic.
Reviews about the weather in Cayo Santa Maria
Thanks to the warm tropical climate, tourists come to the Cuban resort at any time of the year. In winter and summer, the air temperature is +27 ... + 32 ° С, and the water in the ocean is +25 ... + 30 ° С.
According to tourist reviews for 2019-2020, excellent weather in Cayo Santa Maria from November to April, when there are 5-9 rainy days per month. From late spring to mid-autumn, precipitation is higher - from 11 to 16 days per month. According to many, the wet season is not a reason to cancel your trip! Rains in Cuba are short-lived and moisture evaporates quickly. However, not everyone likes to relax during the low season due to the heat, humidity and winds.
Olya: "The sun is hellish, you have poured all the cream on yourself, and you can still burn out even in the shade! Be careful in April."
Valeria: "In June, the weather is unstable, strong winds, there may be storms, the beach is drowning, you cannot swim."
Reviews of Cayo Santa Maria hotels
Last Minute Tours search OnlineTours - they will find the best deals from different tour operators. Want to save money? Check out our 7 rules for buying tours online.
Hotels are located along the beach in the northern part of the island resort. All of them receive guests on an all-inclusive basis. It is good to relax in Cuba with children - the hotels have a children's menu, mini-clubs, animation and babysitting services.
In 2019-2020, Cayo Santa Maria hotels received good reviews from tourists:
- Starfish Cayo Santa Maria 5 *
- Grand Memories Santa Maria 5 *
- Melia Cayo Santa Maria 5 *
- Melia las Dunas 5 *
- Iberostar Ensenachos 5 *.
Look for hotels with discounts on Booking. Here are the main rules for finding hotels.
Reviews about the beaches and the sea in Cayo Santa Maria
Magnificent sandy beaches are located near the hotel complexes - in the north of the resort. The beach areas of the hotels are separated from each other by mangroves and dunes. You can relax on any of the beaches for free. According to tourists, the best beaches in Cayo Santa Maria are Sol Cayo Santa Maria, Melia Cayo Santa Maria, Barcelo and Melia Las Dunas.
The shore is carefully looked after and all rubbish is removed. The bottom is cleared of sea urchins, so it is safe to swim on the equipped beaches. Tourists like that there are small crabs on the sand, dolphins swim to the shore, and while swimming, pelicans fly overhead.
Vacationing with children on the island is not very convenient! The entry into the sea is shallow, the ocean is clean and warm, but the depth begins quickly, and there are always small waves near the coast.
alisa-fanka: "Santa Maria Beach has nice sand, fish swim. The sea of beautiful shells throws ashore".
Cayo Santa Maria island on the map of Cuba
Reviews of excursions in Cayo Santa Maria
The resort has an entertainment village called Pueblo La Estrella. Vacationers come here to buy souvenirs, have a good time in restaurants and bars, have fun at a disco, play in a bowling club, relax in a spa and massage parlors.
During their holidays, tourists enjoy diving, snorkeling, surfing, fishing and watching shows at the dolphinarium. According to reviews, excursions to the small island of Cayo Ensenachos, trips to the cities of Santa Clara, Remedios and Caibarien are popular from Cayo Santa Maria.
shantaram1917: "We visited the dolphinarium during the excursion on the catamaran. We did not regret a single spent cookie. Everyone was happy from interacting with the dolphins."
Pros and cons of staying in Cayo Santa Maria
Everyone who came to the Cayo Santa Maria in the past years has left positive reviews and dreams of returning to the island.
pros holidays in Cayo Santa Maria in 2021, according to tourists:
- No need to apply for a visa.
- Clean Atlantic Ocean.
- There are no cold currents. The water near the coast is always warm.
- Magnificent beaches with white coral sand.
- Nice hotels.
- High level of service.
- Delicious cuisine.
- Rich flora and fauna.
Elizabeth: "There are many songbirds, animals, a crab was knocking on our room."
Minuses:
- Long flight from Russia.
- Very active sun - easy to burn out.
- There are no water and amusement parks.
- There are sea urchins on the wild beaches.
- Mosquitoes get out in the evenings.
TatianaS: "Be careful - very biting midges. Be sure to take something from allergies and mosquitoes with you."
Travel tips for Cayo Santa Maria
The flight to Cuba takes 12 hours. Some airlines are saving and canceling second meals. If one meal and drinks is not enough for you, take a snack with you.
Cayo Santa Maria is a small island in Cuba that stretches for 13 km and is up to 2 km wide. Transfer from the airport by shuttle bus takes 1.5-2 hours. The bus travels through picturesque villages, so the journey to the hotel is never boring.
The main road of Cayo Santa Maria is the Pedraplen Dam. For travel on it take 2 CUC from the car. Sometimes vacationers are asked to show their hotel reservation. Other roads on the island are much worse, but they can be ridden by scooters and jeeps. Renting a scooter costs 31-32 CUC per day, and a jeep - 55-70 CUC per 100 km.
Cashless payments are possible, but if you pay with a bank card, the purchase costs 3% more.
Taisiya: "You can buy cigarettes in a pack at the hotel and in the village, but at the airport, at duty free only in blocks. At duty free, if you pay by card, then the purchase must be at least 30 euros."
