One of the few beaches left on Cayo Santa María not connected to a resort, Playa Las Gaviotas is located inside a nature reserve at the far east of the island. Pay your entry fee in the car park and follow a 700m trail to the beach, which has an offshore reef but little shade since a recent hurricane blew away most of the trees.
Playa Las Gaviotas
Villa Clara Province
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Museo Nacional Camilo Cienfuegos
28.47 MILES
This excellent museum was opened in 1989 and is eerily reminiscent of the Che Guevara monument in Santa Clara. Camilo fought a crucial battle in this town…
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This much sought-after strip of sand is regularly touted as Cuba's (and the Caribbean's) best beach, courtesy of its diamond-dust white sand and rugged…
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Tucked away on Ciego de Ávila Province's northwest coastline, this significant archaeological site was originally excavated during the 1980s after…
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Strict conservation measures mean public access to Parque Nacional Caguanes with its caves, aboriginal remains and flamingos is limited but not impossible…
Refugio de Fauna Cayo Santa María
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One of the area's oldest and oddest curiosities is this San Diego tanker, built in 1920 and wrecked in 1933 on the far side of Cayo Francés, just west of…
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The nexus for the Jobo Rosado Reserve is just off the main road a few kilometers east of Yaguajay and is equipped with a bar-restaurant, natural swimming…
Nearby Villa Clara Province attractions
1. Refugio de Fauna Cayo Santa María
3.13 MILES
You can forge your own way into what's left of Cayo Santa María's natural habitat in this fauna refuge. A small booth (sometimes unmanned) with various…
16.69 MILES
One of the area's oldest and oddest curiosities is this San Diego tanker, built in 1920 and wrecked in 1933 on the far side of Cayo Francés, just west of…
17.48 MILES
This much sought-after strip of sand is regularly touted as Cuba's (and the Caribbean's) best beach, courtesy of its diamond-dust white sand and rugged…
22.81 MILES
Tucked away on Ciego de Ávila Province's northwest coastline, this significant archaeological site was originally excavated during the 1980s after…
5. Museo Nacional Camilo Cienfuegos
28.47 MILES
This excellent museum was opened in 1989 and is eerily reminiscent of the Che Guevara monument in Santa Clara. Camilo fought a crucial battle in this town…
28.82 MILES
Strict conservation measures mean public access to Parque Nacional Caguanes with its caves, aboriginal remains and flamingos is limited but not impossible…
29.32 MILES
The nexus for the Jobo Rosado Reserve is just off the main road a few kilometers east of Yaguajay and is equipped with a bar-restaurant, natural swimming…