holidays in Cuba

3:34pm Friday 25th June 2010 in Holiday information

Thomson Introduce a New Cayo to their Cuban Programme

Holidays in Cuba have just taken on a whole new meaning. Watch out Guardalavaco, Havana and Varadero, there's a new Cayo in town. From summer 2011, Thomson's would like to introduce the breathtaking Cayo Santa Maria. Part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago, which directly translates as 'Garden of the King', Cayo Santa Maria nestles just off the north coast of Cuba in the Atlantic Ocean.

Landing in Santa Clara airport, you will reach Cayo Santa Maria by a manmade causeway built in the nineties having taken over a decade to complete. Perhaps the locals here would much rather have kept the place to themselves. Remote, secluded and so natural that it has been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The scenery here is simply sublime and could not be any prettier if it were painted in a picture. To the north of the island the sand lays practically untouched and immaculate dunes create the perfect secluded sunbathing spot. You might be lucky enough to see the odd turtle swimming among the rainbow coloured fish and vibrant corals in the stunning underwater world that exists just blow the surface. To the south the terrain is awash with palm lined grassland, mangrove swamps and a labyrinth of creeks and lagoons.

Thomson is offering an excellent choice of accommodation on Cayo Santa Maria. All inclusive luxury with stunning views and fantastic facilities, some are ideal for families, whilst others are adult only. Some of the hotels have relaxing spa treatments available others offer great water sport opportunities. Whatever you are looking for in your holidays in Cuba, Thomson and Cayo Santa Maria can easily provide.

If all this relaxing is simply too much to bear then head off for a change of scenery to Cayo Brujas or Cayo Ensenachos, just along the causeway. Here the rural villages have sun faded houses with rickety porches and the customary rocking chair creaking in the breeze.

For a totally realistic look as to how Cuban's live their daily lives then a trip to Havana is an absolute must on all holidays in Cuba. Although it is a long day trip it can be done in a short flight but is definitely worth the effort. The old town here is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you will feel as though you've stepped back in time. Baroque style buildings and pastel shaded houses line streets filled with huge fifties style American cars. See where Fidel Castro and Che Guevara rallied the masses during the revolution in the aptly named Revolution Square.

In stark contrast though is the Vedado region, bringing you right back into modern times with glass fronted skyscrapers, cosmopolitan bars and trendy art galleries.

So why not consider Cayo Santa Maria when you are looking for holidays in Cuba during 2011, but keep it under your hat...you don't want the rest of the world to get there first.