Cayo Saetía
Cayo Saetía is located in the east of Cuba. The 42 km² big peninsula is connected to the Cuban island by a dam. The drive to the Cayo by bus or car can be a bit bumpy but everyone who dares the adventurous drive will be rewarded by a unique paradise.
Unique animal paradise in Cuba
More than half of the island is covered by deep forests, which are perfect requirements for wild animals. The unique conservative area was once a famous hunting ground for Cubans. Due to strict control of hunting activities nowadays, many animals made the Caribbean Island their home. Here you can find zebras and buffalos along with stags and antilopes walking through the forests, while wild boars are digging for food in the ground.
With this amount of animals and species diversity you might get the impression to be in Africa. Ostriches, peacocks and many more birds are part of the island. One special habitant of Cayo Saetía is the national bird of Cuba, the Tocororo. He's jumping around with a feathering, that has all the colors of the Cuban flag.
The protection of the nationalpark is very important for the Cuban government, therefore you can find the military monitoring the entrance of the park. To get access as a tourist, you can either buy a day ticket (about 10 CUC) or show the reservation of a hotel on the island. This strict control made sure, that much of the original flora and fauna can still be found in the nationalpark today.
No wonder, that so many animals got comfortable around here. If you are travelling by car, you might be the only guest around. The dense forests and isolated little bays are creating an idyllic athmosphere.
Most of the time you can relax at the beaches without any disturbance. Photographers will love this place as well. If you are arriving by boat from Guardalavaca, you will arrive at the beach of the only hotel on Cayo Saetía.
Accommodation
To protect the park from mass tourism, you can only find one hotel on the island, which is named Villa Cayo Saetía. The facilities are simple but you will find everything you need: spacious rooms, a bar, a shop and a restaurant with exotic dishes. The offered dishes, for example roasted antilope, can also be enjoyed at the balcony of your room.
Activities
The hotel is offering a diverse program of different activities and excursions. You can book them directly at the hotel. If you want to get close to the animals you can go on a safari, either on the back of a horse or with a jeep. Parts of the island are surrounded by coral reefs. During a snorkeling or diving tour you can explore the underwater world. If you want to stay above the water a catamaran tour might be perfect for you.
Tours to experience this highlight
Drive Eastern Cuba
