Pleasure7 nights · 3 stops · from Tampa · best December–April

Cayo Coco & the Cays — Beach Escape

A short, low-effort beach week on Cuba's northern cays — Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo — flown into directly, with a half-day of culture in the colonial town of Remedios and a taste of Cayo Santa María.

For: Beach seekers, honeymooners, families

1 · Budget first

A transparent, itemised estimate for 2 travellers · 7 nights · casa tier. Every line is a planner range in USD — an estimate to budget with, not a quote.

International airfare$600 – $1,900
Entry documents (tourist card)$60 – $150
Travel insurance$80 – $300
Accommodation$175 – $350
Local transportation$160 – $440
Food$350 – $700
Guides & activities$90 – $240
Connectivity$30 – $110
Tips$35 – $140
Water, laundry & sundries$21 – $84
Emergency reserve$100 – $377
Total (2 travellers)$1,701 – $4,791
Per traveller
$851 – $2,396
Per day
$243 – $684
Ground only (no airfare)
$1,001 – $2,514
Airfare est. / traveller
$300 – $950

Basis: casa particular · local mixed food · shared taxi · 3 guided days.

Adjust every number in the planner →

Estimates in USD to help you budget — not observed prices, quotes or guaranteed availability. Most US cards don’t work in Cuba; carry cash and keep the reserve.

2 · Fly in

Tampa (TPA)Cayo Coco (CCC)Jardines del Rey

The cays' own airport — Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo.

Example dates 2026-09-152026-09-22 (adjust on the live search). CubaAtlas books nothing — these open live results:

3 · Day by day

Where to sleep and dine each day is a real listing from the CubaAtlas provider dataset, nearest your base.

  1. Morning
    Land at Jardines del Rey; straight to the resort strip.

    Afternoon
    Playa Flamenco.

    Evening
    Resort dinner.

    StayHotel La Marina Plaza & Spa4★ · Grupo Gaviota · Cayo Coco+53 32 65 26 92Website ↗Map →Source: Gaviota Hotels
    DinnerArenas BlancasrestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
  2. Morning
    Playa Pilar — the finest sand in the cays.

    Afternoon
    Kite-surf or laze.

    Evening
    Seafood dinner.

    StayHotel La Marina Plaza & Spa4★ · Grupo Gaviota · Cayo Coco+53 32 65 26 92Website ↗Map →Source: Gaviota Hotels
    DinnerArenas BlancasrestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
  3. Morning
    Catamaran to the coral gardens.

    Afternoon
    The flamingo lagoon on the causeway.

    Evening
    Beach dinner.

    StayHotel La Marina Plaza & Spa4★ · Grupo Gaviota · Cayo Coco+53 32 65 26 92Website ↗Map →Source: Gaviota Hotels
    DinnerArenas BlancasrestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
  4. 4

    Colonial Remedios

    Remedios, Villa Clara

    Morning
    Cross the causeway to the mainland; Remedios' San Juan Bautista church.

    Afternoon
    The Parrandas museum and the plaza.

    Evening
    Town paladar dinner.

    DinnerLa CriollitarestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
  5. Morning
    Transfer to the Villa Clara cays.

    Afternoon
    Playa Las Gaviotas.

    Evening
    Resort dinner.

    StayGran Muthu Cayo Santa María5★ · Gaviota Hoteles · Cayo Santa MaríA+53 42 350016Website ↗Map →Source: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
    DinnerCubanorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
  6. Morning
    Return to Cayo Coco; final beach.

    Afternoon
    Spa or watersports.

    Evening
    Farewell dinner.

    StayHotel La Marina Plaza & Spa4★ · Grupo Gaviota · Cayo Coco+53 32 65 26 92Website ↗Map →Source: Gaviota Hotels
    DinnerArenas BlancasrestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
  7. Morning
    Final swim.

    Afternoon
    Transfer to CCC.

    Evening
    Flight home.

    StayHotel La Marina Plaza & Spa4★ · Grupo Gaviota · Cayo Coco+53 32 65 26 92Website ↗Map →Source: Gaviota Hotels
    DinnerArenas BlancasrestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)

4 · Visa, entry & customs

Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card (tarjeta del turista) plus a passport valid for the stay and proof of onward travel and medical insurance. Buy the tourist card before you fly — the price and colour depend on your departure country and airline.

Travelling under US jurisdiction: there is no general tourism licence. US persons travel under one of OFAC’s authorised categories — most commonly Support for the Cuban People or family visits — which carry record-keeping duties and a full-time-schedule requirement. The tourist card for US departures is the pink one. Confirm your category before you book.

5 · Book direct, or compare an agency

This plan is costed to book direct — the $2,795 (expected) above is what the trip actually costs, itemised, with no package margin. A travel agency bundles flights, hotel and transfers into one price and adds a service fee for the convenience. We don’t quote agencies (we’d never invent a price) — so take a package quote and compare it line-for-line against the breakdown above.

Operating United States agencies serving Cuba, if you prefer a package:

  • Cuba Travel Services (CTS)

    Long-running US seller of scheduled and charter air to Cuba plus packages.

    Sells: flights, charters, packages, hotels

  • ABC Charters

    Miami charter operator to Havana and other Cuban cities.

    Sells: flights, charters · +1-305-263-6555

  • Marazul Charters

    One of the oldest US–Cuba travel providers.

    Sells: flights, charters, packages

  • Xael Charter

    Direct flights Miami/Orlando/Tampa to Havana, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín; since 1988.

    Sells: flights, charters, hotels, cars, tours · (305) 643-2200

  • insightCuba

    Non-profit people-to-people and custom group tours; since 2000.

    Sells: tours, packages

  • Cubamax Travel

    Flights, packages, shipping and remittances; 13 Florida branches.

    Sells: flights, packages, hotels, cars · +1-305-512-0303

CubaAtlas is non-commercial and takes no commission. Agency links go straight to the operator; we don’t book, broker or earn from them.

Every Cuba agency, compiled — with the free equivalent for each →

Questions

How much does the "Cayo Coco & the Cays — Beach Escape" trip cost?
An estimated $1,701–$4,791 all-in for 2 traveller(s) over 7 nights ($1,398 per traveller expected), including airfare, lodging, food, transport and a reserve. It is a planner estimate, not a quote — you book each part direct, with no agency margin.
Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?
Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card. Travellers under US jurisdiction have no general tourism licence and travel under an OFAC category such as Support for the Cuban People or family visits. See the CubaAtlas visa & entry guide.
When is the best time for this trip?
Best months: December–April.
Can I book this trip on CubaAtlas?
No — CubaAtlas is a free, non-commercial planner. It gives you the itinerary, the budget, live flight-search links and real hotel and restaurant listings, and you arrange each part directly at the source. We book nothing and take no commission.