 Discover Playa Pilar!
Playa Pilar is one of the prettiest beaches in Cuba, located about seven kilometers west of the resort's area of Cayo Guillermo. The sand is white, fine and dense enough to facilitate walking. Playa Pilar is a small beach (facing north) extending over 500 meters.
At Playa Pilar, you find a bar, restaurant (not included) that offers drinks and meals at reasonable prices such as a succulent lobster lunch for 15 CUC or 18 CUC with extra shrimp. There is a toilet. You can rent chairs (2 CUC) and there are many palapas and beach shelters for those wishing to stay in the shade.
If you prefer to get away from the restaurant, it is advisable to bring an umbrella or a small beach tent. There is no natural shade in Playa Pilar.
The site has improved a lot since our last visit in 2004. From the road, there is now an elevated walkway that leads from 130 meters to Playa Pilar services. A tower was constructed to have a nice look of the area. A little further west, we find a nautical club « Marlin » to the west of the restaurant.
 Catamaran excursionists come to spend few hours on the most beautiful beach of Cayo Guillermo, Playa Pilar!
To do to Playa Pilar ...
- By bike or scooter. Playa Pilar is located 10 minutes by scooter from the furthest hotel or Cayo Guillermo, Club Villa Cojimar. If you want to get there on foot, allow about 1-1 ½ hours. In this case, bring a good supply of water and sunscreen! By the beach, Playa Pilar is 5.7 km west of the nearest hotel is the Sol Cayo Guillermo. As this is not a continuous beach, but rather several small beaches (including the longest is 700 meters), so wear appropriate shoes or sandals.
- By coach (or minibus). Like in Varadero, there are a transit system buses for Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo islands, for only 5 CUC per day (children free). You can visit the two islands as you see fit, it is a « hop on / hop off » bus. Click HERE for more information about transportation in Cayo Guillermo.
- In taxi. You ask a taxi at the hotel lobby and fix an hour to return with the driver. The price is 5 CUC payable in cash only.
- Excursion « Pilar Plus ». A tour in the Jungle Boat to visit Cayo Media Luna, snorkeling, lunch and free time to Playa Pilar. Click HERE for info on tours offered at hotels in Cayo Guillermo.
Here are some satellite photos of Playa Pilar and Cayo Media Luna ...
|
|
|
|
|
Playa Pilar and Media Luna
|
Clothing optional sector
of Playa Pilar
|
Services in Playa Pilar
|
Cayo Media Luna
(resto and snorkeling)
|
*****
|
|
|
Cliquer pour voir les photos de notre album, un montage vidéo en format Flash et le positionnement avec Google Earth en format kml (logiciel requis).
|
 « Au Natural » sunbathing lovers should know that there is a clothing optional section on the west end of Playa Pilar. One can enjoy this peaceful freedom since many years but it's strongly recommended not to walk without a bathing suit outside the west part of the beach. The area is not "officially" designated to be clothing optional and there's no sign, so please be respectful in order to maintain this tolerated, safe and confortable opportunity for the future.
 The clothing optional beach of Playa Pilar is located at the west end of the island. By the main entrance, it takes ten minutes to walk.
There's a few other places in Cuba where you can find a clothing optional beach. Cayo Largo with its 20-km of pristine beaches where each hotel has a CO beach section. Also in Cayo Santa Maria, where the CO beach is located on the west side of Hotel Sol Cayo Santa Maria and to the east of hotel Meliá Buenavista. These two islands are an interesting option for those who don't have the budget to go to Jamaica or the French islands. Please note also that topless is tolerated everywhere on the beaches in Cuba.
Cayo Media Luna
A small island of only 850 meters long, located approximately 1.7 kilometers north of Playa Pilar. Related to the history of privateers and pirates, Media Luna is an island which has also done his time of happiness for Ernest Hemingway, the great American writer. By the way, Playa Pilar was named after Hemingway's boat.
 A photo of Cayo Media Luna taken from Playa Pilar
As it is impossible to reach by swimming or even by snorkeling. Two options are available ...
- Buy the excursion « Media Luna » sold by tour operators at the hotel. This tour includes a visit to Playa Pilar, transfer to Media Luna, free time for snorkeling and eating seafood. Click HERE for more information about tours in Cayo Guillermo.
- To pay 8 CUC (per person) for a transfer by Zodiac or catamaran. To do this, you have to go to Playa Pilar Yacht Club.
Cayo Media Luna (half moon island) is a small coral island, ideal for lovers of snorkeling because the water is shallow and perfect conditions for pretty underwater photos! When you move away from the shore, you can see a boat that sank during the Second World War more than 10 meters deep and even a statue in bronze.
For those who bought the tour, a meal of lobster is offered in the Ranchón (beach restaurant) on the island and snorkeling equipment is also included in the package price. You can buy drinks (beer 1 CUC) in the Ranchón bar and a meal of lobster (15 CUC), pork or chicken (3 CUC).
There are two beaches on the island of Cayo Media Luna, a small one only 100 meter near the restaurant and also another one of 300 meters long further west. If you're lucky, it is possible that you are alone on the island, but during the high season, you may see more than 200 tourists invading the island, according to what the Cuban says.
Top of page
|
