The development of the island was carried from west to east. The first three hotels were the Sol Cayo Santa Maria, Melia Cayo Santa Maria and Melia Las Dunas, all administered by the Spanish hotel group Melia Hotels International (formerly Sol Melia). This hotel group administers twenty-five hotels throughout Cuba!
The Barcelo original project was four hotels: Beach, Colonial, Caribe and Tropical. Subsequently, the Beach and the Colonial merged under the same name: Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria Beach Colonial. The Caribe and Tropical are no longer under the Barcelo group, but with the new Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts (a division of Sunwing Travel Group) under the names of Memories Paraiso Beach Resort (formerly the Caribe sector) and Memories Azul Beach Resort (formerly the Tropical sector).
The hotels Memories are sold separately by the tour operator (an exclusivity of Sunwing), but they share the services of the two hotels. The latest hotel to open its doors was the Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria in Dec. 25th, 2011. Unfortunately, the Sirenis hotel group withdrew from Cayo Santa Maria (as well as its hotel in Cayo Coco). In the interim, this hotel is administered by Gaviota, the Cuban owner of this hotel. This is a 4-star hotel of 451 rooms located between the Melia Las Dunas and Cayo Santa Maria Barcelo Colonial Beach (Colonial area). More information in the weeks and months to come.
For people looking for high-quality services in a charming small hotel of only 105 rooms (for adults only) the Melia Buenavista opened its doors in December 2010. It is located in the west end of Cayo Santa Maria named « Punta Madruguilla ». For those who knew the island in its early days will recall that at this point there was a military outpost. This hotel offers to its guests the Royal Service. We stayed in this hotel. The Butler service is excellent, and the ambiance of this hotel is unique. For couples seeking tranquility and good food!
All the hotels have direct access to the beach. To get there, you walk on a small elevated footbridge to minimize the impact on the environment. The dunes also act as a natural protection against hurricanes. The hotels are located North of the island. The South is made up of marshes and mangroves. The beach is beautiful, with fine white sand. The sea is turquoise and sometimes rough due to high winds (red flag). All hotels (presently in operation) are located on the same beach. In fact, there is no obstacle to walk from the Memories Azul Beach Resort to the Melia Buenavista, roughly about 6 kilometers.
All hotels offer an « all-inclusive » package which means meals, drinks, activities, entertainment, non motorized water sports are included. You can buy a travel package, including flight, car, transfer OR only the land portion. In this case, you must pay for the transfer by taxi (or bus) from Santa Clara airport to the hotels (one hour thirty minutes drive). All buildings in Cayo Santa Maria are the exclusive property of the Cuban government (Grupo Gaviota).
Cayo Ensenachos
For lovers of pristine beaches and luxury hotel ... Iberostar Ensenachos (formerly Occidental Royal Hideaway). Click the thumbnail on left to learn more about this hotel near the island of Cayo Santa Maria. These two islands are served by the same airport in Santa Clara
Click the logo to find information about the hotels in Cayo Santa Maria ...
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4 hotels for a total of 1,688 rooms.
Melia Buenavista, Sol Cayo Santa Maria Melia Cayo Santa Maria & Melia Las Dunas |
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1 hotel for a total of 1,308 rooms.
Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria Beach Colonial |
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1 hotel of 451 rooms.
Hotel Gaviota Cayo Santa Maria (formerly Sirenis Cayo Santa Maria) |
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2 hotels for a total of 1,386 rooms.
Memories Paraiso Beach Resort Memories Azul Beach Resort |
