7 Best Cayo Coco Resorts [2024 Guide]
There are few more dreamy beach destinations in the Caribbean than Cuba’s white-sand Cayo Coco. More than just untouched shores, this tiny islet off the northern coast of Cuba is one of the country’s best and most beloved resort destinations, home to some of the most impressive resorts in Cuba.
Planning your own beach escape to Cayo Coco? These are the best Cayo Coco resorts to choose from. With something for everyone (family-friendly and adults-only options included!), Cayo Coco quickly reveals why it has so long been one of the best beach destinations in Cuba.
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Best Resorts in Cayo Coco
Unlike other beach destinations on the mainland of Cuba, Cayo Coco is unique in that it doesn’t have the casa particular guest houses and villas for rent that you’ll find in other Cuban beach destinations like Varadero. Instead, Cayo Coco is populated exclusively with hotels and all inclusive resorts, some of the best in Cuba.
Looking for our top recommendations for the best resorts in Cayo Coco? These are our favorite Cayo Coco resorts for every style of travel:
- Best Resort in Cayo Coco: Gran Marena Cayo Coco
- Best Family-Friendly Resort in Cayo Coco: Melia Jardines del Rey
- Best Adults-Only Resort in Cayo Coco: Melia Cayo Coco
- Best Budget-Friendly Resort in Cayo Coco: Sol Cayo Coco
Cayo Coco has adults-only resorts if this is what you’re looking for. However, the island also has its own international airport, making it a particularly popular destination for families looking for the convenience of cutting the six-hour car ride from Havana down to just minutes.
Read on for more detailed guides to the best resorts in Cayo Coco, including tips for booking a stay and how to best enjoy the experience.
Cayo Coco Resorts
1. Gran Marena Cayo Coco ($$ – $$$)
Best Resort in Cayo Coco
Our top choice for the best resort in Cayo Coco (and one of the best resorts in Cuba!), Gran Marena Cayo Coco is a luxe all-inclusive resort with an almost boutique-like feel. Formerly known as the Pullman Cayo Coco Hotel, this resort doesn’t lack any of the desirable amenities of a larger resort – beachfront! watersports! dining options! a spa and fitness center! – while offering personalized attention and planning from staff and the seclusion you’re craving in a romantic beach getaway or family vacation.
Gran Marena Cayo Coco’s pools and the beachfront offer an abundance of beach chairs and plenty of cabanas for lazy days by the sea, and watersports and activities add some adventure to your stay.
Reviews and Bookings: Gran Marena Cayo Coco
Cuba Accommodation Guides
2. Melia Jardines del Rey ($$)
Best Family-Friendly Resort in Cayo Coco
The sprawling Melia Jardines del Rey offers pretty much everything you could ever want in a beach resort and more. Five swimming pools, a luxurious spa, a modern gym, nine different restaurants, six bars…. if you’re looking for a well-equipped resort on one of the most pristine beaches of Cayo Coco, look no further than this.
Melia Jardines del Rey is our pick for the best family-friendly resort for its kids’ club, play spaces, and excellent childcare program that gets rave reviews. Plus, plenty of tranquil oceanfront makes it the perfect spot for families to play. However, Melia Jardines del Rey also offers plenty for those visiting without the kids in tow, so don’t overlook it as you consider Cayo Coco resorts.
Reviews and Bookings: Melia Jardines del Rey
3. Melia Cayo Coco ($$)
Best Adults-Only Resort in Cayo Coco
One of Cayo Coco’s most beloved adults-only five-star resorts, Melia Cayo Coco is a favorite destination tucked away on the white sands of Playa Flamenco, arguably Cayo Coco’s most impressive beach. At just 250 beachfront and lagoon-facing rooms – which is tiny compared to most other Cayo Coco resorts! – it provides a more personalized and romantic feel that makes it popular with couples.
Melia Cayo Coco offers four restaurants and bars, and incredible installations like a lovely pool and beach area. It also offers overwater bungalows, though they’re lagoon-facing rather than ocean-facing. Overall, the resort shines and stands out from the pack for its stellar location, friendly service, and great food.
Reviews and Bookings: Melia Cayo Coco
4. Sol Cayo Coco ($ – $$)
Best Budget-Friendly Resort in Cayo Coco
Adjacent to Melia Cayo Coco, Sol Cayo Coco is yet another one of the island’s most beautiful and sought-after resorts, but at a much more affordable price point. While certain areas of the resort could use refurbishing, it offers solid amenities, great food options, and direct access to not just one but two of Cayo Coco’s most beautiful beaches: Playa Mojito and Playa Las Coloradas.
Sol Cayo Coco is another family-friendly resort in Cayo Coco that I would highly recommend to travelers with kids. The kids’ club and activity spaces for families make it an enjoyable trip for everyone, though adults-only areas also give space to those looking for a quiet escape.
Reviews and Bookings: Sol Cayo Coco
What to Pack for Cuba
Check out our Ultimate Cuba Packing List to help you pack for your trip – we’re sharing exactly what to bring to Cuba and what we never travel without.
5. Memories Flamenco Beach Resort ($$)
Located on the award-winning Playa Flamenco beach, Memories Flamenco Beach Resort is a stunning resort that puts its lovely beach front and center for guests. An expansive pool area with a swim-up bar and excellent entertainment are highlights here, and dining choices are quite impressive.
The resort has undergone a number of improvements and refurbishments in recent years to make it better than ever, though it’s still an affordable option for travelers looking to experience Cayo Coco on a budget. Great food, friendly staff, and plenty of opportunities for kicking back and relaxing by the pool or the ocean make Memories Flamenco Beach Resort a favorite.
Memories Flamenco Beach Resort also offers a kids club and plenty of family-friendly spaces, so it’s a good option for travelers with kids.
Reviews and Bookings: Memories Flamenco Beach Resort
Travel Insurance
Cuba requires that all travelers have proof of a comprehensive travel insurance policy in order to enter the country. Check out our guide to travel insurance for Cuba for more details. We recommend these brands for Cuba travel insurance:
- Visitors Coverage: Coverage for Cuba travel available to citizens of all countries, though not currently available to residents of New York and Maryland in the United States.
- Insubuy: Coverage for Cuba travel available to citizens of all countries and states of the United States.
6. Grand Aston Cayo Paredón Beach Resort ($$)
Opened just a few years ago along some of the region’s most beautiful shores, Grand Aston Cayo Paredón Beach Resort is one of the best resorts in the area. Gorgeous room design, impressive ocean views, and great amenities like a modern gym, plenty of dining options, and water sports and activities galore have made it incredibly popular.
Grand Aston Cayo Paredón Beach Resort isn’t technically located on Cayo Coco; as it’s name implies, it’s located on Cayo Paredón, which is a tiny cay connected via a causeway to Cayo Coco’s neighboring Cayo Romano. However, at less than 25 minutes from Cayo Coco’s international airport, it’s a resort destination worth considering for anyone looking into visiting Cayo Coco – it’s really something special.
Reviews and Bookings: Grand Aston Cayo Paredón Beach Resort
Travel Essential
Don’t think about traveling to Cuba without a good VPN (Virtual Private Network). Using a VPN while connecting to the internet is an easy way to keep your personal information safe from hackers and trackers. We’ve used NordVPN for years and couldn’t recommend it more – it’s a must for safety online, especially in Cuba.
7. Tryp Cayo Coco ($$)
A four-star resort that is part of the Melia family of brands, Tryp Cayo Coco has long been a beloved mainstay among resorts in Cayo Coco. With just over 500 rooms, it is quite a large resort and has the amenities and activities to support it, though it doesn’t feel overwhelming or overrun. It’s a popular all-inclusive option for both couples and families.
While some of the rooms and interior spaces at Tryp Cayo Coco are starting to show a bit of wear and tear with age, its amenities and beachfront location are nothing short of impressive and will be the highlight of a stay. Plus, its more affordable price point makes it a winner.
Reviews and Bookings: Tryp Cayo Coco
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Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual travel writer, editor, content marketer, and the founder of the digital travel publications Home to Havana and Explorers Away. She is a serial expat and traveler, having visited 40+ countries and counting. Carley has written for publications like Travel + Leisure, MSN, Associated Press, Weather Channel, Wealth of Geeks, and more. Find her front row at a Bad Bunny concert, befriending street cats, and taste-testing every pizza in Havana.