Starfish Cayo Largo: On a beautiful isolated island

Because of its beautiful beaches and amazing friendly local staff, is the reason I've been going back for several years. Unfortunately, the variety of food and the night shows have been declining year after years.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Amazing resort

Excellent staff, beach, grounds, service, food, entertainment, and weather at Christmas/New Year and March Break. Great walking, swimming, snorkelling, sites, excursions, and short distance from airport.

Memories Cayo Largo: Beautiful Beach

The beach at this resort is spectacular! They also offer shuttle services to nearby beaches which were also beautiful and quite deserted for March break. The buffet could use some serious work, I could not say enough terrible things about it. Even the staff working in it are very cold. That being said there are other restaurants on the resort that have wonderful staff and wonderful food. We ate at the snack bar as often as we could, it turned in to an a la carte restaurant at night. They never t [... read more]urned as away even without reservations and provided spectacular service. The resort itself is beginning to be somewhat dated but is still very clean and the grounds are well maintained. We went because of the beach and we will be going back because of the beaches as well.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Excellent vacation with good value

Enjoyed our stay! Excellent service, good food, beaches are spectacular! Accomodation was more than adequate - only negative was lack of hot water most days. Not a lot of other things to do on the island, so would recommend for people just wanting an excellent resort experience.

Starfish Cayo Largo: 2 great weeks

Got back Feb 28 from our first visit to pelicano and it won't be our last. It is just 5 minutes from the airport which is a bonus right off the start. Our room was on the western edge of the site so being on the 2nd floor we had drinks on the balconey watching beautiful sunsets each evening before supper. The beach is superb for walking going either left or right. Going right you go in front of just 1 resort (Sol Cayo Largo) and then it is just natural beach after that for a long way. Lots of wi [... read more]ndy days so playing in the breakers was fun. Grounds and rooms and food are 4 star Cuba so no surprises good or bad. The island is resupplied twice a week so sometimes they didn't have everything for a day or 2 but we never found it a problem. Staff is friendly and helpful. Probably more friendly than elsewhere in Cuba because they are there for 20 and back home for 10. The whole atmosphere is very relaxing which is what we were looking for and why we will go back.

Grand Memories Cayo Largo: Best trip !

Two friends and I went to ole playa Blanca the week of feb 21-28. I went in with little expectations and it was mind blowing! I had a great time. Yes it's by far not a 5 star but Id still rate it a 4. The food was really good you never went hungry, I guess some people are just really picky. The drinks were great can't complain about to much alcohol! The grounds were very nice, could use more flowers though. The rooms were old but still nice. The only issue we had were ants in our bathroom. The a [... read more]nimation staff was awesome. We made friends with all of them! The marina parties were excellent! However there is something there that makes you catch a rash on the feet but other then that Id recommend going for sure! I can't wait to go back there! It was amazing and a trip I'll never forget!

Starfish Cayo Largo: great place for beach lovers

This resort is well kept and grounds are nice for being on sand. The beach's are the best in Cuba ,one is rated the eleventh best in the world. the food is typical for Cuba hit and miss but the beach restaurant is great. People are very friendly and speak many different languages . Cant go wrong trying this place, many return guests.

Memories Cayo Largo: Some new issues, still fairly nice

Last year was the best at this resort as numerous improvements had been made. This was our fourth visit. This year there is a new manager and there were some marked deficiencies such as lack of mosquito control (everyone in our party had literally dozens of bites) and there was no running water in the rooms on numerous occasions. On the plus side the staff is marvelous and the food quality seems to have improved. The cost of packages to this resort have also increased significantly (30 to 40%) o [... read more]ver the years. I suspect this is due to its increased popularity as the resort was fully booked.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Paradise in the south

It is a 3 star resort. The Sol Pelicano is dated but clean. There were shortages of food and bottled drinking water but the staff make the best with what they have. Wonderful beach. I would return and recommend the resort, but would point out the limitations.

Villa Marina: Very peaceful and relaxing

This is a nice small resort. Very laid back and quiet. It was a perfect getaway for my husband and I who work way too much and needed a break. Rooms were always clean-fresh towels and bedding daily. Food was ok-we didn't starve...but always the same thing....rice, soup, chicken, pork or fish. Pool was great and usually empty Lots of marine wildlife to watch...crabs, stingrays, starfish, jellyfish etc... Snorkelling was great. Not a good resort for those who get bored easily....all there Is to do [... read more] is lay around the beaches and pool. unless you opt for excursions which are basically snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing. We plan on going back for when it's just hubby and I, but on the times we bring our kids, we'll go somewhere on the main island where there is more to do.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Good time

Nice Cuban resort ... decent facilities. Nice rooms. Good Cuban food. It is an island so not a lot to do outside the resort. Beaches are amazing. Great location from the airport. As with most Cuban resorts very good staff.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Relaxing Vacation

The resort is in a beautiful location. The beach, the grounds and the surrounding areas are all lovely and well kept. It is great to be able to walk on the beach for miles and feel safe and not confined to the resort. The food is good, as good as a 5 star resort I have stayed at in Cuba - variety, fresh and great service. This is a good place to go if you want to relax and enjoy nature - definately not a party resort. The close proximity to the airport is a bonus.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Good Value

Grounds & rooms were clean. Food was OK. Beaches were fantastic! If you want a relaxing vacation by the ocean then this is the place, especially the cost. Only disappointment was they had no hot water for 3 days.

Villa Marina: Perfect, Quaint, Quiet and Did I Mention Perfect?

I decided to go to the Villa Marinera in Cayo Largo on a whim. The size of the resort and the whole vibe that Cayo Largo as an island gives off was truly enticing to me. The Villa Marinera is located not even a few minutes from the airport. It coincides a short walk beside the Marina which harbours beautiful boats, sails and even the odd Yacht. It is but a walk away to access a boat to take you on a fishing trip, tour or even as a drop off to the beautiful Playa Sirena (beach). The grounds of th [... read more]e resort are the definition of cozy; the people, the staff and the brilliant sun that sets each day in your back yard, make this place paradise. The people whom you meet become friends, even family after a short few days because of its size. And If you are desiring a larger feel you can shuttle over to Hotel Playa Blanca and enjoy the big resort amenities and more people throughout your stay, all inclusive as well. The beaches here are quite possibly some of the best in the world, your surroundings are nothing short of a tropical paradise and just exploring or taking that long walk along the beach does the soul some good. Tranquility is the word of the vacation, but there is definite opportunity for fun as well. Well dear hesitant potential vacationers; I had a week vacation there and after the week my only complaint is that I didn't book another week. Thanks Villa Marinera and all the people who made it amazing, and thank you jesus

Villa Marina: A Cuban gem! Part 1 or 2

Part 1 of 2: Cayo Largo has to be one of the best destinations in Cuba. An isolated island off the south shore of the mainland with its own airport enabling direct flights from Canada with very short shuttle rides to the various resorts on the island. To top it off, the beaches seem to go on for ever and there are some great diving destinations with a wide variety of underwater life. We stayed at the Villa Marinera, a quaint B&B style resort that accommodates about 50 guests in rustic cottages [... read more] that are split into two units each. The resort has some great recreational opportunities like a well equipped games room, a nice pool and a variety of entertainment opportunities. Fishing enthusiasts can take in a fly fishing adventure with the onsite Avalon Cuban Fishing Center. The all inclusive restaurant is limited but it serves healthy and well prepared options during three time slots, breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is a bar attached to the dining hall and its open from the morning till late in the evening. Outside those hours there are several options for getting food or drink at the resort, but they are not included and charge nominal fees. The Villa is located beside the marina which is an advantage for any waterborne excursions but it means there's no swimming in the ocean off the resort’s small beach as the boat traffic presents a hazard. That isn't a problem as the resort runs three shuttles a day to Sirena Beach which is just a 10 min trip by boat. The Villa is incorporated in the only town on the island which means services like the bank, a Habanas store, the tourist bureau and a variety of shops are located there. While it’s handy to have the bank to exchange currency, a traveller is advised to exchange currency at the hotels; the bank process is long and cumbersome while it’s quick and easy to exchange funds at a hotel reception desk. Besides the boat shuttles, it’s easy to arrange land transport by either taxi or bus, at time of writing it was 2 pesos per person by bus and 2.5 pesos per person by taxi. Very little wait time is required to catch a ride. One major attraction of the Villa Marinera is that guests of the resort also have full access to all of the inclusive options available at the Playa Blanca resort a short shuttle away from the Villa, approximately 8 Kms distant. While Villa guest can take advantage of the various dining and entertainment options at the Playa Blanca any time they wish by taxi or bus, the Villa offered free daily morning shuttles which returned mid-afternoon and two after dinner excursions returning before midnight, at time of writing those were on Tuesdays and Fridays. There are very few locals actually living on the island. Most of the staff live off the island and work long shifts during a 20 day stay, then go to their homes for a 10 day rest. That does mean a visitor might establish a good relationship with staff, but get caught in the middle of a shift change and have to re-establish a connection. Virtually all the staff we encountered anywhere on the island were extremely helpful and friendly, but you would occasionally run into a staffer nearing the end of their shift who was getting anxious to get home and was grumpy. There was something special about this intimate little resort, it made you feel at home. This is more than likely the reason that 50 percent of the visitors were return customers. That said us newcomers felt welcomed. Language challenges were not a problem on the island. Some of the locals were pretty much uni-lingual Spanish speakers while others were quite fluent in a variety of languages. English and French were most common, but it wasn't uncommon the hear German, Italian or Russian. Children staying at the Villa can occupy their time by playing at the small beach, visiting the local turtle hatchery, looking for conch and starfish off the docks and feeding the fish bread or even observing the resident Iguana. Cayo Largo was heavily damaged by a hurricane a number of years ago, and you can still see some reconstruction in progress, but most of the buildings have benefited from some major upgrades. The beach at Playa Blanca was wiped out during the hurricane, but has since returned though it is limited at high tide. It is worth noting that the beaches of Cayo Largo are among a very few in Cuba that actively supports nudism. There are a few spots between the resorts that are set aside as clothing optional, most are staffed with people who will set up chairs and most have signs designating clothing optional. The nudism seems to be well accepted and folks strolling along the beach beside the nudists just seem to take it in stride. It would be a great place to get an“all over”tan without feeling any shame or judgement while doing it. The most popular beach on the island is Playa Sirena, but to the east there are also Playa Paraiso and Punta mal Tiempo. Sirena is mostly sand, if you want to go snorkeling among coral reefs you'll need to head a bit farther east to one of the other beaches. There is a prominent point of land that's defined by a sharp change in direction after a large but shallow lagoon. Just off this point of land is an easily accessible reef that's teeming with underwater life. A short distance off shore you can comfortably swim with a wide variety of underwater creatures in water that ranges from just below the surface to about 5 meters deep. Sting rays, eagle rays, tarpon, moray eels, barracuda and sharks can all be found swimming here but timing and weather will impact on what you actually find. Regardless, it’s well worth the excursion. At Playa Sirena, they offer a trained dolphin show. Captive dolphins go through the paces their trainers have set up which you can watch before boarding a boat shuttle and for a fee you can swim with the dolphins if you wish. All of the designated beaches have places where you can buy drinks or food if you wish. See part 2 of 2.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Amazing Beaches!!!!!!!

Typical Cuban resort, slightly overrated. At arrival rooms were not ready so he had to wait for about an hour. Room a bit small, with two double beds, and fairly clean. Have to pay two peso per day for safe. Grounds fairly clean but overall buildings and other facilities in need of some renovations. Food was good but occasionally they might run out of some items (eggs, bear?????), it's an island so deliveries are not that frequent. Fantastic beach, probably one of the best you'll ever see especi [... read more]ally in the Caribbean. Water could be a bit rough though and nudes are quite common (at some parts of the beach). Not enough huts, so if you like to sleep in get the beach umbrella at towel exchange booth. Overall good vacation.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Excellent Place

What a great resort, very clean, super friendly people, awesome food. From being on Masterchef Canada season 1, I know food, this was great food, great selection, there is something for everyone, even had fresh made pasta, as this resort now has a Italian Chef overseeing the resorts food. Nude beaches are amazing, it was fun to take it all off in front of others ;) No tan lines.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Just what the doctor ordered

This is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your partner, your family or even just yourself if you travel alone. Tranquility at it's best! We will definately be returning again , and we thought we would never leave our "usual" resort in Cuba. I couldn't have been happier with my vacation!

Starfish Cayo Largo: Great Resort

The grounds at Sol Pelicano were well kept. The rooms were clean and looked after early ever day. There were two el la carts and the buffet food was very good. Snack bar food was quite good. Staff were friendly and helpful.

Starfish Cayo Largo: Good vacation for the price

My boyfriend and I recently spent 7 nights at Sol Pelicano in Cayo Largo, Cuba. We both really enjoyed it. The food is not great, like anywhere in Cuba.. The rooms were clean, AC worked good, we had no hot water in the shower on our last day there. The beaches are amazing! On several days we took 2-5 hour walks up the beaches, they are to die for!! We rented a "jeep" and drove all of Cayo Largo. Next time, I'd stay in Cuban mainland, however, because Cayo largo has no locals, only tourists. It's [... read more] safer, but u don't get to see how Cubans actually live, or go to the markets ran by locals, which I find interesting to see..