Cayo Guillermo

Cayo Guillermo is a small cay in the Jardines del Rey archipelago off Cuba’s northern coast in Ciego de Ávila Province, developed as a tourist destination and known for long white‑sand beaches and water sports.

Sandy beaches and resort infrastructure line the northern shores, with Playa Pilar as the best‑known beach on the cay; nearby coral reefs provide snorkeling and diving opportunities. The island is also popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing because of reliable coastal winds.

The cay was developed for tourism in the late 20th century and forms part of Cuba’s coastal resort belt in the Jardines del Rey chain, with hotel zones concentrated on the seaward side.

Cayo Guillermo sits off Cuba’s north coast in Ciego de Ávila Province, adjacent to other cays such as Cayo Coco; it is reached by causeway links to nearby cays and via airports that serve the Jardines del Rey tourism zone.

• Access: The island is part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago and is linked to nearby cays and the Cuban mainland by road causeways and bridges.
• Watersports: Consistent coastal winds make the northern beaches a established spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing during the high season.

What to See #

• Playa Pilar: Long stretch of white sand beach named after Ernest Hemingway's boat; soft sand, shallow water shelves and popular shore facilities in the resort zone.
• Coral reef areas: Fringing coral reefs and shallow shoals offshore that support snorkeling and diving near the island's northern shorelines.