Cayo Largo del Sur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cayo Largo del Sur
Cayo Largo
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Resort island and village
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Cayo Largo Airport
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Map of the island
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 Cayo Largo del Sur
Location in Cuba
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| Country | Cuba |
| Province | Isla de la Juventud |
| Municipality | Isla de la Juventud (seat: Nueva Gerona) |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
Cayo Largo del Sur, often called Cayo Largo, is a small island in Cuba. Its name means "Long Key." This resort island is found off the south coast of Cuba's main island. It sits in the beautiful Caribbean Sea.
The island is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) long. It is also about 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide. Cayo Largo is the second largest island in the Canarreos Archipelago. It is part of the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud.
Contents
Exploring Cayo Largo's Past
Christopher Columbus is believed to have visited Cayo Largo. This happened during his second trip in 1494. Sir Francis Drake might have also stopped here. He was sailing around the world at the time.
Pirates probably used the island as a secret base. Today, Cayo Largo attracts tourists. People come for its amazing beaches, scuba diving, and wildlife. No one lives on the island permanently. Workers at the hotels stay for about 20 days. Then they go back to their families on nearby islands.
There are five all-inclusive hotels on the island. Tourists fly in from places like Argentina, Italy, and Canada. Flights from Miami stopped in December 2019. This was due to a U.S. government rule.
Discovering Cayo Largo's Geography
Cayo Largo is a limestone island. It formed over millions of years. This happened from the remains of tiny sea creatures. These creatures are like those that build coral reefs.
The northern coast of Cayo Largo has many mangroves. It also has salt pans. The water south of the island is very clear. You can often see the ocean floor. But the water on the north side is cloudy. This means sediment is washing into the water.
Cayo Largo's Climate and Weather
Cayo Largo has a warm, tropical climate. The weather is usually sunny and pleasant. This makes it a great place for vacations.
| Month | Avrg | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Temp (C) | 26 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 24 |
In November 2001, Hurricane Michelle caused a storm surge. The entire island was covered by water.
Fun Things to Do: Tourism on Cayo Largo
The fine white sand on Cayo Largo is usually firm. This makes it easy to walk along the water's edge.
Two main attractions are the west beaches: Playa Sirena and Playa Paraiso. These beaches are about a kilometer apart. You can easily walk between them when the tide is low.
- Playa Sirena: This beach offers many services for tourists. It has restaurants and water sports. There's also a dolphin attraction.
- Playa Paraiso: This is one of the most beautiful undeveloped beaches. It's a peaceful place to relax.
A shuttle "train" used to take tourists to these beaches. It stopped for a while but started again in 2022. Taxis are also available. Sometimes, beach activities might be limited. This happens during sea turtle egg-laying season. The calm side of the beach has shallow areas. Here you can see many large starfish and other tropical fish.
Getting Around Cayo Largo
Airport and Flights
Vilo Acuña Airport is the island's international airport. Its code is CYO. This airport helps tourists arrive on the island.
Sea Travel
A large catamaran ferry also provides transportation. This boat helps people travel to and from the island by sea.
See also
In Spanish: Cayo Largo del Sur para niños
