Cayo Coco

Shopping in Cayo Coco

It is wise to bring essentials such as toiletries with you to Cayo Coco, as shopping is pretty limited – the island is primarily made up of holiday resorts. However, resorts do tend to have on-site shops, largely selling useful beach accessories such as towels, sun hats and colourful T-shirts. Being Cuba, bottles of rum and fat cigars are also popular souvenirs. These can be picked up at the airport on the way out for convenience – often for the cheapest price as well. Local artisans, who regularly frequent resorts and beaches, sell an assortment of trinkets of varying quality.

Food & Drink in Cayo Coco

Luxurious, all-inclusive resorts are the name of the game here, so holidaymakers tend to dine in whichever resort they are housed. Food is generally fresh and varied, with a mix of Cuban dishes and international fare. Resorts with good restaurants include Meliá Cayo Coco (Jardines del Rey), which has a selection of eateries, including an à la carte gourmet restaurant, a Spanish tapas bar and a poolside snack bar. Hotel Colonial (Jardines del Rey) serves a good buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner; while the Cuban fare at Sitio la Güira (in the community of the same name) goes down well with its guests.

Events in Cayo Coco

International Book Fair

February/March

Founded by renowned Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier, this national book fair has become Cuba’s most publicised and biggest literary event. Thousands of bookworms flock to Havana’s San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress every February, while events in other towns and cities throughout the country take place in the subsequent weeks.

Pinar Rock

March

Cuba’s young rock and metal bands and aspiring musicians are encouraged to strut their stuff at this feisty event in Pinar del Río in western Cuba. The festival provides an ear-bashing alternative to the summery Afro-Latino vibes of Cuba’s more traditional music.

Santiago Carnival

July

This lively celebration is one of Cuba’s most exuberant, and a wonderful spectacle for those visiting the area. Santiago Carnival takes place every year for a week in late July. Hotels in Santiago get quickly booked up during carnival time, so it’s wise to secure a room well in advance.

Benny Moré International Music Festival

September

This biennial festival of Cuban music in Cienfuegos shows off a fine selection of Cuba’s singers and musicians while paying homage to the popular Cuban singer Benny Moré. As well as plenty of musical offerings, the festival also includes exhibitions and talks, and tours of the singer’s hometown Santa Isabel de las Lajas.

Las Parrandas de Remedios

December

The modest and laid-back town of Remedios becomes the setting for one of the country’s most popular outdoor celebrations in late December when Las Parrandas comes to town. This feisty festival is an intense experience that's not for the fainthearted, with explosive fireworks and large, passionate crowds.