The XLII edition of the International Tourism Fair (FITCuba 2024) takes place in a very special place in the central-northern portion of this country, Jardines del Rey.
FIDEL’S VISION CRYSTALIZED IN NORTH CUBAN KEYS
It is a series of cays and islets that even the American novelist Ernest Hemingway immortalized in his posthumous novel. Islands in the Gulf. Well, here now there are more than 500 foreigners along with their Cuban tourism colleagues and 80 journalists from various countries interested in reflecting not only the Fair, but its surroundings.
Jardines del Rey today constitutes one of the most attractive recreational centers in Cuba, especially for Canadians, British and Argentinians, due to its natural characteristics, and the development of an infrastructure and services adequate to the demands of the world recreational market.
That name, Jardines del Rey, which has become a brand, brings together several keys with tourist potential in the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago, and such baptism is due to the Spanish explorer Diego Velázquez who between 1513 and 1514 wanted to pay honors to King Ferdinand the Catholic.
Therefore, that name was the official name of those places until the beginning of the 20th century. Abandoned place, only frequented at the time by charcoal burners and fishermen with temporary settlements, it became ideal for a perfect vacation.
Cayo Coco is the main axis of the area, whose name is due to the Coco or Ibis bird of the forest, white and with a curved beak. But the Guillermo and Paredón Grande keys also appear in the area, included in the tourism development plans with a potential of up to 22 thousand rooms.
This Cayo Coco is the fourth largest island in the Cuban archipelago, with 370 square kilometers and 22 kilometers of beach. Cayo Guillermo has 13 square kilometers and almost six square kilometers of beaches, including Pilar with the largest sand dune in the Caribbean (15 meters high), say the official reports.
Paredón Grande, the other key in the area, has eight kilometers of beaches in its six square kilometers and the fourth most important is Antón Chico.
In these places there are more than 200 species of birds, symbolic of the Pink Flamingo, and a flora with around 385 species, including 28 endemic.
The beaches are the main attraction of the place with a total of 38 kilometers in length, and despite being narrow, its waters are crystal clear and the seabed is low.
This hub is operated in conjunction with the main province named Ciego de Ávila, on the mainland.
Beach ranches complete the offer with gastronomic proposals for all tastes, taking into account the origin of its tourists, it began operations in November 1993.
The charms of the keys are enhanced by the possibility of reaching the place, especially through a modern airport inaugurated in September 2002 with three thousand meters of runway, capable of receiving all types of aircraft and a terminal for 600 passengers per hour, with a lounge. VIP, souvenir shops and various lounges, as well as adequate tourist information.
Another access route is through a land junction called pedraplén in Cuba, 17 kilometers long.
The keys have recreational places such as Sitio La Güira, Cueva del Jabalí, Cayo Mortero, La Silla, Air Club, Tourist Train in Cayo Coco and Guillermo and motorcycles, among many more charms, diving and excursions, several of them in boats, catamarans and other vessels, or land by bus and mini-trains or horse-drawn carriages.
