Wildlife Refuge | Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba

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Wildlife Refuge Cayo Santa Maria

photos: Nov. 2015

There is a protected area that covers the entire southeastern tip of the island of Cayo Santa Maria. The entrance to this wildlife refuge is located on the main road leading to the eastern tip of the island, that is the road which is just a little south of the one leading to the hotels located in the « Lagunas del Este » sector (where are the hotels Roc Casa del Mar, Roc Lagunas del Mar, Paradisus Los Cayos and Valentin Perla Blanca).

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The entire « Cayos de Villa Clara » archipelago is part of the Buenavista Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO, but this « Refugio de Fauna » is one of the best places to observe the flora and fauna of the region in a virgin and natural setting, non-invaded by hotels. You can find in the Cayo Santa Maria Wildlife Refuge some beautiful virgin beaches (Playas Las Gaviotas), hiking trails (Sendero Aguada Baga), a secluded cove (Ensenada de Santa Maria), and finally the Punta Amanecer (Dawn Point) at the very tip of the island.

You can get there by yourself by renting a car or a scooter; there are also two organized tours, called Motonatura and Micronatura, which offer the opportunity to discover this wildlife preserve with a guide. To learn more about the rich flora and fauna of this region, we invite you to visit also our Fauna and Flora section.