4:56pm Friday 25th June 2010
Holidays in Cuba have just taken on a whole new meaning. Move over Havana, Varadero and Guardalavaco, there's a new Cayo in town. From summer 2011, Thomson's would like to introduce the breathtaking Cayo Santa Maria. This tiny part of Cuba nestles just off its north coast in the Atlantic Ocean and is part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago which translates as 'Garden of the King'.
Landing in Santa Clara airport, you will reach Cayo Santa Maria by a manmade causeway built in the nineties having taken over a decade to complete. Perhaps the locals were trying to keep their little edge of paradise all to themselves. Remote, secluded and so natural that it has been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The sands here are pristine and the scenery could be no more beautiful than if you painted it on a canvas. To the north of the island the sand lays practically untouched and immaculate dunes create the perfect secluded sunbathing spot. Life below the water here is just as beautiful as it is above with the odd turtle or two swimming with the rainbow-hued fish past the vibrant coloured corals. To the south the terrain is awash with palm lined grassland, mangrove swamps and a labyrinth of creeks and lagoons.
Accommodation here is also as stunning as the area it is set in which is just as you'd expect from a company like Thomson. All inclusive luxury with stunning views and fantastic facilities, some are ideal for families, whilst others are adult only. Some hotels offer relaxing spa treatments whilst others have energetic water sports. Whatever you are looking for in your holidays in Cuba, Thomson and Cayo Santa Maria can easily provide.
You can also head along the causeway for a change of scenery to nearby Cayo Brujas or Cayo Ensenachos. Here the rural villages have sun faded houses with rickety porches and the customary rocking chair creaking in the breeze.
As is the case on all holidays in Cuba, a trip into Havana is an absolute necessity. Although it is a long day trip it can be done in a short flight but is definitely worth the effort. Feel as though you've stepped back in time in Havana's old town which is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Baroque style buildings and pastel shaded houses line streets filled with huge fifties style American cars. Visit Revolution Square at the heart of this section where Fidel Castro and Che Guevara rallied the crowds during the revolution.
In stark contrast though is the Vedado region, bringing you right back into modern times with glass fronted skyscrapers, cosmopolitan bars and trendy art galleries.
So if holidays in Cuba are top of your list for 2011, why not try Cayo Santa Maria, but keep it quiet...you don't want the rest of the world finding out.
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