Must-see attractions in Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

  • Palm trees on white sand at Playa Sirena on Cayo Largo.
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    Playa Sirena

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    Cayo Largo's (and, perhaps, Cuba's) finest beach is the broad westward-facing Playa Sirena, where 2km of powdery white sand is wide enough to accommodate…

  • CUBA, Isla de la Juventud, Nueva Gerona.Presidio Modelo. Model Prison where Fidel Castro was held prisoner between 1953-1955 by former President of Cuba Fulgencio Batista. Panopticon five story circular buildings  ..©Brian Moser / Eye Ubiquitous / Hutchison Picture Library

    Presidio Modelo

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    Welcome to the island's most impressive yet depressing sight. Located near Reparto Chacón, 5km east of Nueva Gerona, this striking prison was built…

  • Cueva de Punta del Este

    Isla de la Juventud

    The Cueva de Punta del Este, a national monument 59km southeast of Nueva Gerona, has been called the 'Sistine Chapel' of Caribbean indigenous art. Long…

  • Punta Francés

    Isla de la Juventud

    This beach is the location of the National Maritime Park, accessible by a 90-minute boat ride from the marina just south of Hotel Colony. The white-sand…

  • Museo Finca el Abra

    Isla de la Juventud

    On October 17, 1870, the teenage José Martí spent nine weeks of exile at this farm-prison before his deportation to Spain. Legend has it that the…

  • Criadero Cocodrilo

    Isla de la Juventud

    This farm has played an important part in crocodile conservation in Cuba over the last few years and the results are interesting to see. Harboring more…

  • Vivero de Crocodrilos

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    A beautiful, old building on Cayo Largo? You'd better believe it. Just past the turnoffs to the Sol resorts, the stone tower marking the Vivero de…

  • Presa El Abra

    Isla de la Juventud

    Where have all the folk from Nueva Gerona gone? Gone to cool off in Presa El Abra, every one. On a scalding La Isla afternoon, you'd best join them. With…

  • Cayo Rico

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    A big day-trip destination between Cayo Largo and Isla de la Juventud. Boat excursions to the beaches leave from the hotels (for around CUC$85 per person)…

  • Playa Bibijagua

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    This unusual beach on the island's north coast, 4km to the east of Chacón, sports black sand rather than white, and pine trees rather than palms…

  • Playa Larga

    Isla de la Juventud

    Playa Larga is the star of La Isla's south-coast beaches, lying about 12km south of the village of Cayo Piedra. The long strip of white sand fronting a …

  • Cayo Iguana

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    Off the northwest tip of Cayo Largo, Cayo Iguana is home to, that's right, hundreds of iguanas. A catamaran trip with snorkeling and lunch will cost you…

  • Playa los Cocos

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    You can head up the island's east coast via this beach, where there is good snorkeling, but no shade or facilities. The paved road gives out after Playa…

  • La Jungla de Jones

    Isla de la Juventud

    Situated 6km west of La Fe, several kilometers off the main road (look for the sign), Jungla de Jones is a 'botanical garden' containing more than 80 tree…

  • El Pinero

    Isla de la Juventud

    Two blocks east of Parque Guerrillero Heroico, you'll see a huge black-and-white ferry set up as a tatty memorial next to the river. This is El Pinero,…

  • Museo Municipal

    Isla de la Juventud

    In the former Casa de Gobierno (1853), the Museo Municipal houses a small historical collection that romps through the best of the island's past. It…

  • Nuestra Señora de los Dolores

    Isla de la Juventud

    On the northwest side of Parque Guerrillero Heroico, this dinky, Mexican colonial-style church was built in 1929, after the original was destroyed by a…

  • Museo Casa Natal Jesús Montané

    Isla de la Juventud

    This museum documents the life of revolutionary Jesús Montané, who was born here, took part in the Moncada Barracks attack in 1953, fought alongside Fidel…

  • Centro de Rescate de Tortugas Marinas

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    A small, often-closed complex beyond the airstrip on the northwest end of the island in the settlement of Combinado. From May to September guides here can…

  • Playa Paraíso

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    About 2km north of Chacón (about 6km northeast of Nueva Gerona), Playa Paraíso is a dirty brown beach with good currents for water sports. The wharf was…

  • Cementerio Colombia

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    The cemetery here contains the graves of Americans who lived and died on the island during the 1920s and 1930s. It's about 7km east of Nueva Gerona and…

  • Playa Tortuga

    Isla de la Juventud & Cayo Largo del Sur

    Beyond Playa los Cocos at the far end of the island is this beach, where sea turtles lay their eggs in the sand in the summer.