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Santa
Lucia has 13 miles (21 km) of wide, white-golden
sandy beaches
bathed by warm turquoise water that is always calm,
thanks to an extensive coral reef just a mile and
a quarter (two km) from the coast. This reef is
the longest one of its kind in the western hemisphere.
The hollows and branches of these coral formations
from the habitat of a surprising diversity of marine
life. |
In one area which has 35 scuba-diving
sites, you can see ridges nearly 33 feet (10 m) high,
and the wealth of underwater flora and fauna is complemented
with many sunken ships-some of them dating from the
19th century. Inland, the El Real Lake is an excellent
place for seeing flocks of Roseate Flamingos (Phoenicopterus
ruber ruber) and other water birds. Santa Lucia is a
tourist resort with enormous potential which is being
developed in harmony with its gorgeous natural surroundings.
Cayo
Sabinal is another jewel. Once a refuge of pirates-like
many other islets in the Cuban archipelago it has several
miles of intimate beaches of excellent quality, tucked
into nooks along the coastline with virgin areas inland
that abound in wildflowers and animals. Here, too, you
can see the ruins of San Hilario Fort (built in 1831)
and visit Colon (Columbus) Lighthouse (built in 1848),
which warns mariners of dangers in the area.
| Location
and How to Get There |
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Santa
Lucia Beach is on the nothern coast
of Camaguey Province, in the east-central part of
Cuba, around 338 miles (545 km) from Havana. By
air, you land at Ignacio Agramonte International
Airport, which serves the city of Camaguey, 68 miles
(110 km) southeast of Santa Lucia, where there is
an airport for small planes. By land, the region
is linked to the rest of the country by road (the
Central Highway) and by rail. |
What
to Do
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Activities
at Santa Lucia include scuba
diving
and snorkling at the coral reef, sunning, swimming,
playing beach volleyball, windsurfing, pedal boating
and engaging in other water sports. Visit the coral
reef. Enjoy the entertainment that is offered during
the day and at night. |
| Or
go to the Bay of Nuevitas for sports fishing, scuba
diving in sunken ships, seeing colonies of Roseate
Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) and watching
a great show featuring Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus
leucas). At Cayo Sabinal, you can go snorkling,
scuba diving
and hiking. |
Accommodations
and Facilities |
There
are over 1000 rooms at Santa Lucia Beach, in 4-
and 3-star hotels. All use the All-Inclusive plan.
Each air-conditioned room has satelite TV, a refrigerator,
a safe and other features. There are swimming
pools for children and adults, a mini-club for
children, volleyball and tennis courts, water
sports, games rooms, a jacuzzi, shops, and shopping
malls, restaurants with many options, bars, discoteques,
money-exchange offices, a doctor on call 24 hours
a day, gymnasiums, international communications,
taxis, rental cars and entertainment during the
day and at night. The Shark's Friends Scuba Cuba
International Scuba-Diving Center, with international
qualified specialists, offers at all levels and
an opportunity to make underwater videos. There
is an international clinic.
Cayo
Sabinal has five ecologocal cabanas which blend
with their surroundings. Each has a private bath
and fan. There is also a combination bar and restaurant
which specializes in seafood, plus bicycle rentals
and facilities for snorkling and scuba diving.
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| Places
of Interest, besides the city of Camaguey |
The
province has many natural attractions. The Sierra
de Cubitas ecological preserve has several natural
corridors, more than 70 caves of great speleological
and archeological value, and interesting flora
and fauna. Walk through Paredones Pass - a deep
defile nearly 5000 feet (1500 m) long on the bed
of an extinct river, between rocks more than a
million years old and roofed over by plants where
colorfull birds nest - Vigueta Pass, where you
can see several endemic species of flora and fauna;
and on to Lechuza (Owl) Cave, whose galleries
lead to halls 164 feet (50 m) in diameter. Bonet's
Pit, the largest known karst depression in Cuba,
is 295 feet (90m) deep and has important vegetation.
Maria Teresa's and Pichardo's Caves contain Indian
pictographs. For underground climbs, try Rolando's
Chasm, 433 feet (132 m) deep, with a lake at the
bottom around 164 feet (50 m) in diameter, or
Mayanna's Chasm, a cave with a vertical access
295 feet (90 m) deep and a dry bottom.
Off
the southern coast of the province, at Cayo Caguamas,
go swimming and snorkling or go for boat rides
and fish with light gear.
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