Jardines del Rey, Cuba

Q: What can I see in Jardines del Rey?

Jardines del Rey is made up of a group of ten beautiful islets of white sand and transparent waters, the famous Cuban cayos (keys). Each one of the keys has the wonderful qualities you are used to seeing on Caribbean postcards, where the turquoise blue waters and the fine, nearly white sand create an idyllic setting. Among its keys are some of the most renowned throughout the island, such as Cayo Santa Maria , Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos , Cayo Coco , Cayo Guillermo , C ayo Romano or Cayo Sabinal , bound by the characteristic rock formations. The greatest attraction of this group of keys, just like each one of them, are their beautiful and heavenly beaches . In these virgin beaches and of excellent conservation, you will be able to enjoy the marine fauna. All harmless species like colorful fish, starfish and even dolphins that play very close to the shore.

Q: What can I do in Jardines del Rey?

In each of the cayos (keys) you will find the perfect conditions you need both to rest and to have fun to the fullest, as you will also have options to enjoy water sports and a wide range of activities while admiring the surrounding landscape. The splendid landscapes of the archipelago are worthy of contemplation, where the combination of spectacular vegetation , waters full of treasures such as coral reefs and a rich fauna , mostly native, where reptiles , exotic birds and beautiful flamingos will surely amaze you. The various keys of Jardines del Rey are renowned for their diving spots. It has the best diving spots in the world. Anyone will be amazed by the diverse and beautiful fauna, the coral reefs and other secrets to be discovered at the bottom of the sea. In addition, in most of the keys you will be able to go on excursions and interesting activities, such as the Crucero del Sol (Sun Cruise ). This is an unforgettable excursion on a sailing catamaran that borders the small islands and nearby coasts, with an open bar, music and entertainment along the way. On this excursion you will have time to go snorkeling on the coral reef. Some of the keys also have specific places, such as the delfinario de Cayo Santa María ( dolphinarium ), where you can enjoy a unique experience swimming with dolphins.

Q: What type of accommodations are available in Jardines del Rey?

It is common for the smaller Cuban islands to be somewhat different from the larger island in terms of accommodations. While in Cuba there is much more variety between hotels and even private accommodations, a model that you will only find in Cuba . The cayos (keys) usually have almost exclusively elegant hotel complexes. All of them are all-inclusive resort hotels , where you will have everything you need to have an unforgettable vacation. They have enviable facilities that include swimming pools, SPA center, Fitness Center, tennis courts, football and volleyball courts, day and night entertainment, buffet restaurants and a la carte service and an endless list of other attractions. Some of the best hotels in these keys belong to hotel chains such as Meliá, Iberostar , Pullman , NH Kempinski and Muthu .

Let yourself be surprised by the wonderful cayos de los Jardines del Rey, a true Cuban paradise

Jardines del Rey, Cuba
© Massimiliano

Located in central-eastern Cuba, the Archipielago de Sabana-Camagüey, better known as Jardines del Rey, is one of the most incredible corners of the Caribbean for some of its most outstanding cayos (keys).

Jardines del Rey (King's Gardens) receives its curious name from the colonial era. Around 1513 and 1514, the Spaniards led by Diego Velázquez named the archipelago after King Ferdinand the Catholic, in contrast to other more southern islands, already named Jardines de La Reina (Queen's Gardens) in honor of Queen Isabella the Catholic. They were also, even before that, the scene of pirate and corsair contests or the place where groups of fishermen settled down. Its role since the 1980s has developed into one of the island's most popular tourist attractions.

They have been able to design an exemplary way of growing tourism with environmental conservation. This is reflected in their virgin beaches and their biodiversity, but also in their construction. The Pedraplén, is a road that connects the archipelago with the main island of Cuba and between its small keys. This engineering masterpiece was carried out taking into account the marine currents and wanting to reduce the harsh impact on nature.

Index:

What can I see in Jardines del Rey?
What can I do in Jardines del Rey?
What are the best keys in Jardines del Rey, Cuba?
How can I get to Jardines del Rey?
What type of accommodations are available in Jardines del Rey?

What can I see in Jardines del Rey?

Cayo Guillermo, Jardines del Rey
© Gianluigi Bresaola

Jardines del Rey is made up of a group of ten beautiful islets of white sand and transparent waters, the famous Cuban cayos (keys).

Each one of the keys has the wonderful qualities you are used to seeing on Caribbean postcards, where the turquoise blue waters and the fine, nearly white sand create an idyllic setting. Among its keys are some of the most renowned throughout the island, such as Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos, Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Romano or Cayo Sabinal, bound by the characteristic rock formations. The greatest attraction of this group of keys, just like each one of them, are their beautiful and heavenly beaches. In these virgin beaches and of excellent conservation, you will be able to enjoy the marine fauna. All harmless species like colorful fish, starfish and even dolphins that play very close to the shore.

What can I do in Jardines del Rey?

In each of the cayos (keys) you will find the perfect conditions you need both to rest and to have fun to the fullest, as you will also have options to enjoy water sports and a wide range of activities while admiring the surrounding landscape. The splendid landscapes of the archipelago are worthy of contemplation, where the combination of spectacular vegetation, waters full of treasures such as coral reefs and a rich fauna, mostly native, where reptiles, exotic birds and beautiful flamingos will surely amaze you.

The various keys of Jardines del Rey are renowned for their diving spots. It has the best diving spots in the world. Anyone will be amazed by the diverse and beautiful fauna, the coral reefs and other secrets to be discovered at the bottom of the sea.

In addition, in most of the keys you will be able to go on excursions and interesting activities, such as the Crucero del Sol (Sun Cruise). This is an unforgettable excursion on a sailing catamaran that borders the small islands and nearby coasts, with an open bar, music and entertainment along the way. On this excursion you will have time to go snorkeling on the coral reef.

Some of the keys also have specific places, such as the delfinario de Cayo Santa María (dolphinarium), where you can enjoy a unique experience swimming with dolphins.

What are the best keys in Jardines del Rey, Cuba?

Jardines del Rey
© leewoods106

Throughout the Jardines del Rey you will find unparalleled heavenly spots. The most visited of them all is Cayo Santa Maria.

It is known as the“Rosa Blanca de los Jardines del Rey” or "White Rose of the King's Gardens". Here you can swim in dreamlike beaches like Playa Perla Blanca with very fine sand and there are thousands of activities to do like swimming with dolphins in the delfinario de Cayo Santa María (dolphinarium).

This key belongs to the group of the Cayerías del Norte of which also the smallest are part Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Las Brujas. In Cayo Ensenachos there is the well-known and popular Mégano Beach, and in Cayo Las Brujas you can also enjoy a natural environment with the magnificent Playa Las Salinas. The three keys (Cayo Santa María, Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Las Brujas) are connected to each other by the Pedraplén, a road that connects them to the island, so that they can be visited at the same time without any problem. Finally, the Crucero del Sol (Sun Cruise), a catamaran tour that travels through these Northern Cayos, stands out.

Other very important keys of Jardines del Rey are the neighboring Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.

Cayo Coco is directly connected to the main island of Cuba by the Pedraplén in addition to having an airport. It's recognized internationally for being one of the best places to dive in the world. In this key you will be able to enjoy the magnificent Playa Larga, Playa Flamencos and Playa Las Coloradas. You will also enjoy activities such as boat rides or you can demonstrate your skills at the famous rockodromo of the key.

Cayo Guillermo is accessible by the Pedraplén from Cayo Coco. This key is no exception to scuba diving or snorkeling, as its crystal clear waters allow you to enjoy the spectacular sea beds. In Cayo Guillermo you can take a catamaran trip to observe the Cuban coral reef. It is ideal for rest and disconnection and the best place to do it is its beautiful beaches of fine white sand, Playa Pilar, Playa del Medio and Playa de El Paso.

In both keys you have a wide range of all-inclusive hotel resorts from the international chains Meliá and Iberostar, as well as other luxury chains.

In the province of Camagüey there is another key that is increasing in importance over time and is becoming the first destination in the area, Cayo Cruz. With several hotels offering a variety of services, Cayo Cruz is an idyllic place that combines the large beaches of fine sand so characteristic of Jardines del Rey with some rocky cliffs creating a heavenly and diverse landscape.

How can I get to Jardines del Rey?

Although to reach any of its keys you can follow the pedraplenes or rock paths that seem to float on the sea and connect with each other. You can also do it by air, since the archipelago has its own Aeropuerto Internacional Jardines del Rey (International Airport Jardines del Rey). This airport is ideal to reach the keys of Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco.

Another option would be the relatively close Aeropuerto Abel Santamaría ( Abel Santamaría Airport ) in Santa Clara , a little less than an hour away from Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Las Brujas and Cayo Ensenachos. So, from any way, you will be able to access this wonderful spot and discover its natural charms, with the guarantee that you will have a completely delightful experience.

What type of accommodations are available in Jardines del Rey?

Hotel Melia Jardines del Rey Cayo Coco
© fabfotophotography

It is common for the smaller Cuban islands to be somewhat different from the larger island in terms of accommodations. While in Cuba there is much more variety between hotels and even private accommodations, a model that you will only find in Cuba. The cayos (keys) usually have almost exclusively elegant hotel complexes.

All of them are all-inclusive resort hotels, where you will have everything you need to have an unforgettable vacation. They have enviable facilities that include swimming pools, SPA center, Fitness Center, tennis courts, football and volleyball courts, day and night entertainment, buffet restaurants and a la carte service and an endless list of other attractions. Some of the best hotels in these keys belong to hotel chains such as Meliá, Iberostar, Pullman, NH, Kempinski and Muthu.

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