Cayo Santa Maria Beach

Connected to Cuba’s main island at Caibarien by a long causeway, Cayo Santa Maria is one of a series of small islands lining the country’s northern shores from Matanzas in the west to Camalote in the east.

Little more than a sand bank which rises just four metres above the waves of the Caribbean, Cayo Santa Maria has exquisite white sand beaches totalling 13 kilometres in length, alongside warm turquoise shallows which make even the most reticent beachgoer strip off and enjoy them.

Only really welcoming international visitors since the year 2000, Cayo Santa Maria remains a far cry from the crowded beaches of other Cuban resorts such as Varadero. Immediately beyond its sands, visitors will find a region of endemic forest, mangrove and salt marshes home to species including the Cuban trogon bird.

Snorkelling and scuba diving are popular activities, while accommodation is dominated by five-star all-inclusive resorts.