Category: Caribbean

Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba

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Cayo Santa Maria is a small island of just sixteen kilometres long and at most two kilometers wide, located in Buena Vista Bay, North of the great island of Cuba, in the archipelago Jardines del Rey”(gardens of the King). This archipelago has been declared biosphere reservation by UNESCO. Cayo Santa Maria island is connected to the island of Cuba by a dam of forty-eight kilometres. This important project (of the firm Campaña de las villas) was initiated in 1989 to end 10 years later. The beaches and the hotels are all located on the north coast of the island. The south being composed of mangroves. The first hotel opened on the island was the Sol Cayo Santa Maria in 2001.

Tips

The place is known for having the best temperature of Cuba. It is important to note that the sea in Cayo Santa Maria is often rough with high waves. It is not uncommon to see a red flag on the beach. If you are looking for a calm sea, it would be wiser to opt for Cayo Ensenachos (nearby island of Cayo Santa María) or Cayo Guillermo. The two beaches at Cayo Ensenachos (Playa Megano and Playa Ensenachos) are among the most beautiful of all Cuba!

Despite this development, Cayo Santa Maria is a charming small island, quiet and very safe. In a short time, Cayo Santa Maria became the second tourist pole of Cuba after Varadero.

Saint Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Lesser Antilles

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Saint Kitts is an island in the Lesser Antilles and together with Nièves form the State of St. Kitts and Nevis. Originally called San Cristobal because it was Christopher Columbus that discovered it and baptized it in his name. The island is of volcanic origin and the highest peak is the volcano Liamuiga (1131 meters); which is currently asleep. Between its main cities are Basseterre, Sadlers, Cayon and Sandy Point Town. The island keeps a peculiar character since the time of slavery; a colony of African vervet monkeys or green monkeys, a large free-ranging colony. The economy of the island comes from agriculture, especially sugar cane and its drifts and tourism. The island has sixteen beaches.

Tips

If you visit the island during your cruise, the best way to get a glimpse of the island is to take a taxi, the driver will tell you a bit about the island’s history and show you the more interesting places and if the weather allows you, you can finish your day with a swim in one of its beautiful beaches.

If you want to visit the fortress of Brimstone Hill (1690), classified National Park and inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage, plan a minimum of half a day. It is the ideal place to make beautiful pictures of the neighboring islands and the north of Saint-Christophe. There is a historical museum set up in the citadel’s barracks.

There is also a small two-story tourist train that runs slowly, allowing you to take pictures or videos. You will be accompanied by live songs and depending on who you will have your excursion with, there is also the possibility of a guide in different languages. Alcoholic beverages (with rum, of course) and a few non-alcoholic beverages will be served during the journey.

 

Whala!bávaro, Punta Cana

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Whala! Bávaro is an all-inclusive hotel located 25 km from Punta Cana International Airport, Los Corales, El Cortecito, Bavaro, Punta Cana. It is a small hotel complex of 263 rooms only, divided into 5 different sections being the number 1 building the only one directly on the beach, inaugurated in 2018 with building number 2; there is a small street that separates the 2 buildings with oversight all the time to cross but there is very little traffic because it is not a main street, just a passage to join other properties. There are 5 swimming pools, a small children’s corner, a buffet and an à la carte restaurant, a sushi restaurant, a snack bar (next to the beach), 3 bars and a sky bar located on the 5th floor facing to the sea. You can choose between 5 room options that can accommodate up to 4 people. There are garden, pool or sea view rooms, standard or superior. All rooms have a small fridge, safe, flat screen TV with a wide selection of local and international stations, air conditioning and fans. Free wi-fi arrives everywhere in the complex. There are different activities offered during the day (yoga, step, board games, volleyball, etc.). In the evening you will find various performances and you can also dance with lessons of Latin rhythms on the spot. The hotel tries to protect the nature so you will find two bottles of water in your room upon arrival and you will be asked to keep them and refill them on the water tanks that you will find everywhere. The staff is very kind and smiling.

Tips

If you are a family with 3 children, on request, they will be able to add an extra bed for the third child.

It’s ok to book with a minimum of one or two months of anticipation due to the hotel’s capacity and the large amount of frequent guests.

You will find souvenir shops, pharmacy and small stores right next to the hotel.