cajo levissa

This small island is situated in the Los Colorados Archipelago by the northwest coast of Cuba, some 150 km and some 2 hours by car from Havana. The road is not very good so be prepared for slow driving, but not so bad so you can get a car broken. It is well signed from highway Havana-Vinales, and then just to follow the road until it ends, and you come into fenced guarded area where there is a parking for people who are going to the island, a small café, toilets and a pier where the boat to the island coming and leaving. Boat leaving three times a day at 10 in the morning and at 2 & 6 in the evening, (from island at 9, 1 and 5). there are also a larger tourist boat, because sometimes the tourist groups coming to island over a day, and some smaller excursion boats which you also can rent and go to/from island when you wish, costs 10 CUC/person single way.The island is some 6 km long and just maybe 250 meter wide, with a nice white sandbeach along mostly whole north side and the mangrove-woods on the south side closest to the mainland. After a 20-minutes sailing by boat you arrive to the pier on the south side of the island and then walk a nice wooden elevated path to the reception on the north side of the island, some 200 meters. See a map and pictures attached. There is only one hotel on the island which is now undergoing the enlargement. From the beginning few years back it was only 20 cabins/bungalows on the island, now there is about 60 and more are under construction. Near the reception there is a restaurant and bar, and from here begins wooden paths which goes along the beach and to the all bungalows, beginning from nr 10 which is nearest reception and to the 60 and further to the construction area. In the area of bungalows 50 there is a snack-bar situated, and periodically there are paths to the beach from main path. Bungalows stand on a distance from each other and every bungalow has its own sunbeds by the house and a section of strand with sunbeds and suntents. The older part buildings (standard bungalow) are somewhat easier and are more used, the newer buildings (2-storeys 4-rooms bungalows and own tropical bungalows) are more modern and larger, the newest from 58 up (junior suite) are large and of top quality. Our room Bungalow 59 was fantastically nice, with large living area, sitting area inside, 2 AC-apparatus, double shower capacity indoors, shower outdoors, wooden sunbeds and sitting furniture by the house. We never could imagine such level of comfort when booked this hotel. It was over all expectations and a happy surprise for us, in our opinion the level of maintenance and comfort in this place exceeds every resort and hotel of every star-designation we have seen on Cuba during our 4-weeks roundtrip.There are two restaurants in the hotel, one of buffet-style, and we found food to be good tasting and fresh (may be not very varying as somewhere else because of obvious reasons, all food and water is delivered by boat here) so it was a relaxing experience to eat there with completely enough choices and fine service. A full board is a good option because of absence of other alternatives.There is a smaller souvenir/touristshop by the reception open 9-17 , all staff is coming and leaving with boats and not living on the island. There are no people at all living on the island.There are great possibilities for all types of water activities as diving, snorkelling, fishing etc. with and without help of smaller motorboats which can take you to the nearby coral reefs or wherever you like. During our visit unfortunately was a big storm and hard northwind, so such was impossible. There is also a chance that nasty bluebottle-jellyfishes coming together with hard north wind, so we´ve seen some and then it is not recommended to go into water.The bungalows are placed along this fantastic beach to the left from reception. To the right side in about one kilometre there is a smaller mangrove-wood coming out on this fine sandy beach. When you pass this woods by the path, you arrive to the another large white-sand beach called Punta Arenas, totally desolate, where only nature surrounds you. There is an indigenous species of a large rat living on the island, they can be seen sometimes on the grounds. They are large, darkbrown, and behave like domesticated animals, waiting to get food. When got it, they hold food in the hands sitting and are rather sweet.When we leaved the carparking on the way back, our car had very little air in one of the backwheels. Parking officer showed it to us and offered help in form of a man who needed a ride to Havana and could show us where a car repair shop is situated who can pump our tire. Fortunately we had no need to go by this, because we knew that the workshop is situated 3 kilometres from parking on the way to Havana. Our wheel was fixed there fast and good. Later we learned from our car-hire agent, that this is an ordinary trick on this place to get a lift from there – to take out little air from your tire, but not as much to be dangerous.To walk many kilometers along those beaches, through mangrovewoods, observing wild nature, birds, crabs, fishes and excellent beautiful seaviews without meeting many human beings is really this quality one want to have in Caribbean.We wish to come back to this place.

We booked a day trip to Cayo Levisa the day before from the tour office in Vinales. About 28CUC per person including a sandwich and fruit juice for lunch. We went by bus to the boat and took the ferry across the island. As previous reviewers have said this is a tourist only beach. We didn’t want to snorkel or dive and spent the day on the beach relaxing. It was a bit of windy day so we had to turn our loungers to avoid getting blown about. The sand is an amazing powder white. We had been to Playa Ancon near Trinidad and the water here was even more blue and crystal clear. It was quiet on the beach as most people went out on the boat. We went to lunch after the groups and were glad to just have a sandwich as after about 20 days in Cuba we were struggling a bit with the food. The bar was busy and there was a singer on guitar to entertain us. In the afternoon there were salsa dancing classes if you wished. Some people stayed on at the hotel. We took the boat and bus back to Vinales. It is a long day but really a good day out and good value too for a bit of beach paradise.

It is the second time in three years I visit the islands, and yes it is beautiful. Beaches forever, mangroves, turquoise warm waters. Snorkeling is fun too, you go out with a boat and park by the corals for an hour. But be warned, it is a place only for tourists ( you need your passport as Cubans are not allowed on the island, except the waiters of course...!) so your experience will be that of a tourist :) You passport might be checked as you embark on the very very old ferry, personally I find the ferry trip bit of a drag - it is noisy and slow. Nevertheless, you can experience a lovely day there, and if you are in Cuba/Vinales with a bus tour (no own transport) it is a great option. Two days later we went to Cayo Jutias, similar beach, available for all, but hidden away so almost empty. And no ferry, you can simply drive there over a bridge. See Trip Advisor entry.

You can scuba dive the house reef at 11:45 AM. The ferry arrives at 10:30 AM. The dive boat leave at 9 AM for other dive sites. This mean that you as a day-tourist can't dive the external/outer dive sites :-( Jorn S. Larsen (Denmark)

We were out of high season and it was very quiet - even the day trippers didn't make much of a crowd. Takes half hour to walk beach end to end, very clean. Minimal but sufficient activities for a ~3day stay. Snorkelling 18CUC for shared boat ride and 1 hr in water with divers and other snorkelers. Reef visibility clear, but I've seen better fauna and flora. Cabins are 50m from the beach and area a range from concrete boxes to wooden Junior Suites. he former are near the main reception site & you can definitely hear the generators at night. The new wooden ones require a good 5 min walk to reception. The snack bar half way along has good grilled options, but less variety than the buffet (which is typical Cuban). Breakfast buffet the usual mediocre type. Mosquitoes and sand flies bite - take repellent. Supposed to be all inclusive, but they refused lunch on first day even though we missed the last day by taking the 09.00 boat departure. TV service did not work due to poor signal - but that's what you're there for? We sef drove to Havana - be aware that the northern coast road was very slow due to pot holes, road works, horse traffic and poor signing - I wouldn't advise driving back in dark from the late boat!

We spent a day on Cajo Levisa and we enjoyed every minite there. We went on a snorkeling trip and could see a lot of beautiful fishes and we enjoyed a desert beach with warm see away from the resort. The sand is white and the see is turquoise and transparent. The only point which could have been better is the lunch buffet which was not too much various. Otherwise, it is a perfect place to forget the day to day life.

This beach is a fantastic place to spend a day, walking over the mangroves and discovering the wildlife. The sand is white, and in the mangroves, there is a fair amount of wildlife to see, from turtles to crabs and birds. The restaurant/bar provides reasonable lunch and drinks.If travelling from Vinales, make sure to travel through Pons, and not on the north coast road, which is in shocking condition.

This beach is really beautiful and quiet. We did a day tour here from Vinales with Cubanacan which works out at 35CUC each including lunch. Its an hour bus from Vinales then a wait then a half hour boat ride to the Cayo. If you want to go to the beach for a day from Vinales Id recommend Cayo Jutias as its cheaper (22CUC p.p) and takes only an hour each way.There is a resort on the Cayo but its low key and the facilities were fine with decent toilets and a restaurant. Sun loungers were free (unlike Jutias: CUC1.50) and the sand is lovely fine white sand with light blue water. There are the odd Portguese Man-o-War jellyfish on this coast to watch out for but otherwise its a great spot for swimming and sunning. I would recommend one stay at the hotel for at least 2 nights rather than going all the way from Vinales for a day but the hotel is often fully booked due to its obvious attractions.

I was all over a great place. Nice beaches, friendly staff.It was a peaceful place, just what Im looking for

white sand,max 30houses,see through water. you can only love it.

the perfect island for a relaxing time in cuba! wonderful beach with turquoise waters. u can catch the ferry in the mornings and evenings or just stay there, as we did.

We did a day trip to Cayo Levisa from Vinales, which was excellent value, included bus, ferry and lunch and a full day on the beach, which was beautiful and uncrowded.The only down side was that the next day I came out in a rash of red itchy sores which lasted a good week. This despite a good covering of sun cream. I still don't know what caused it....I'd still go back!

Excursión cara aunque recomendable. La salida es por la mañana temprano y se vuelve sobre las 19h de la tarde. Al cayo se llega en barco por lo que hay en la isla los que caben en él más las pocas familias que se alojen en las cabañas del cayo que no son muchas. Por lo tanto es fácil encontrar un hueco en el que sentirte solo. Lo malo es que hay mucha alga en la orilla. Nosotros recorrimos la playa de este a oeste hasta que la arena dejaba paso a los manglares. Si al llegar se va a la derecha se pasa un poco de playa y luego de pasar por entre manglares se llega a un arenal donde en un tiempo hubo un bar. El sitio es espectacular. Soledad, arena como talco, menos algas, estrellas de mar. Es aconsejable llevar gafas de buceo para echar un vistazo. A la izquierda de la isla llegando del embarcadero hay más playa solitaria, árboles secos sobre la arena y más posibilidades de encontrar una playa para ti solo. En la isla se puede hacer buceo y snorkel. Hay un restaurante y el bar del hotel. Cada día cayo levisa se queda semi desierto cuando a las 17h zarpa el barco hacia otra isla, ésta más grande.

Levisa gibt einem zurück, was man an Tribut an das All inclusive-Hotel zu leisten hat... - aber dafür erntet man reich: Der Strand ist ein Traumstrand, weisser Pulversand, guter Seegras-freier Einstieg in das Wasser, tiefer drin immer wieder großflächige sandige Stellen. Das Auge sieht eine Reihe von blau-grünen Farbtönen, die das Karibikflair aufkommen lässt. Wer Vinales macht, der sollte hier ein paar Tage bleiben, denn die Anreise von Vinales ist einfach und kurz. Nehmt das Hotel, wie es ist, in den neueren Bungalows kann man hier eine phantastische Zeit verbringen!

Me gusto todo es muy virgen no esperes gran fiesta ahí es relajación, leer antes de ir que hay que hacer porque nada hay que hacer ,solo sol playa y relax