8 Best Resorts in Cayo Guillermo [2024 Guide]
Among the white sand cays of Cuba that sit just offshore of the country’s main island, Cayo Guillermo stands out for its largely untouched feel and a world-renowned beach now immortalized in the works of Ernest Hemingway. The island is also home to some of Cuba’s best resorts – but which, of many to choose from – is the best for your vacation?
As locals, we always recommend these Cayo Guillermo resorts to travelers looking for a memorable destination in Cuba for a beach stay. Read on for our recommendations for the best resorts in Cayo Guillermo; while there are most resorts in Cayo Coco to choose from, Cayo Guillermo boasts some of the best resorts in Cuba for all types of travelers!
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Best Resorts in Cayo Guillermo
Tiny Cayo Guillermo is just a fraction of the size of its next-door neighbor, Cayo Coco, but the array of price points and levels of luxury at the best resorts in Cayo Guillermo makes it one of the best spots in Cuba for a beach vacation.
These are our quick recommendations for the best resorts in Cayo Guillermo for every kind of traveler:
- Best Resort in Cayo Guillermo: Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski
- Best Resort in Cayo Guillermo for Families: Iberostar Playa Pilar
- Best Resort in Cayo Guillermo for Couples: Grand Muthu Imperial Hotel
While we always love recommending Grand Muthu Imperial Hotel to guests, Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski is another popular choice for couples. This new resort is home to the only true overwater bungalows on the island and is also our number-one pick among the best resorts in Cuba.
Read on for all the details about these Cayo Guillermo resorts and more, plus tips for making the most out of your stay on Cayo Guillermo.
Cayo Guillermo Resorts
1. Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski
Best Resort in Cayo Guillermo
Home to the only true overwater bungalows in Cuba, Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski is one of the newest luxury resorts on the island and our top pick among the best resorts in Cuba. Perched directly above the shores of Playa Pilar, it’s a stunner both for its location and its incredible installations.
While the seven overwater bungalows at Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski are outstanding, the rest of the resort’s 222 rooms and suites are impressively luxurious as well, boasting ocean views and comfortable furnishings. The resort is home to four restaurants, bars, and lounges, as well as a beautiful spa and wellness center with an impressive menu of services, and is complete with a sauna and steam room.
Reviews and Bookings: Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski
2. Iberostar Playa Pilar
Best Resort in Cayo Guillermo for Families
As its name implies, Iberostar Playa Pilar is located directly on the beachfront of Cayo Guillermo’s famous Playa Pilar. Its beachfront won’t disappoint, offering everything from watersports and snorkeling to plenty of space to relax on these legendary sands.
Besides its incredible location, Iberostar Playa Pilar is easily the best resort for families in Cayo Guillermo. Not only are the calm, clear waters perfect for kids to enjoy, but the resort’s kids club, family-friendly entertainment options, and extensive dining options make it easy to work around the preferences of every family member.
Reviews and Bookings: Iberostar Playa Pilar
Travel Essential
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3. Grand Muthu Imperial Hotel
Best Resort in Cayo Guillermo for Couples
Set across a large beachfront property on one of the most stunning shorelines on the island, Grand Muthu Imperial Hotel is considered one of the best resorts in Cayo Guillermo. Modern furnishings, updated spaces, and excellent dining options make it one of the most popular resorts on the island.
Grand Muthu Imperial Hotel used to be an adults-only hotel but has recently transformed into a family-friendly destination. Despite that recent change, we still consider the resort to be the best in Cayo Guillermo for couples (though Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski is another undeniably attractive option, too). Because the change is so recent, the resort still feels very much adults-only in style and amenities, despite now welcome multi-generational travelers.
Reviews and Bookings: Grand Muthu Imperial Hotel
4. Iberostar Daiquiri
Iberostar Daiquiri is something of a goldilocks among Cuba resorts, with a cult-like following of return visitors that rave about its near perfect combination of amenities and affordability. Perched at the end of Cayo Guillermo along one of the island’s better beaches, it’s a winner in our book.
Iberostar Daiquiri is a smaller, friendly resort for those looking for a family-like feel and feel more at home without a sprawling resort property to explore and trek across on the way to the beach. The expansive beachfront, however, is one you’ll want to make the most of; we recommend the snorkeling and diving excursions the resort offers.
Reviews and Bookings: Iberostar Daiquiri
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.
5. Grand Muthu Rainbow Hotel
In terms of amenities, dining options, and modern, updated spaces, Grand Muthu Rainbow Hotel is one of the nicest resorts in Cayo Guillermo. Grand Muthu Rainbow Hotel is LGBTQ+ oriented, the first resort specifically of its kind in Cuba, but inclusive of adult travelers just headed here for the great amenities and stunning beachfront.
Visitors at Grand Muthu Rainbow Hotel rave about the resort’s incredible entertainment program and an excellent array of things to see and do both on the resort grounds and nearby. A great fitness center, sports courts, and activities are highlights.
Reviews and Bookings: Grand Muthu Rainbow Hotel
6. Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo Hotel
Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo Hotel is quite large, home to 500 rooms and suites spread across twelve different buildings, but its large size and larger-than-life amenities make this family-friendly resort incredibly popular. Childrens spaces like the kids club, dedicated kids pool, sports courts, and kid-friendly dining options make it one of the best family-friendly resorts in Cayo Guillermo.
Rooms and suites at Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo Hotel are comfortable, clean, and spacious. Design is a little simple, but perfectly welcoming and modern.
Reviews and Bookings: Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo Hotel
Cuba Accommodation Guides
7. Starfish Cayo Guillermo
Starfish Cayo Guillermo is one of the more popular budget-friendly resorts on the island and is a great way to experience the natural beauty of Cuba’s pristine northern cays. This family-friendly all inclusive resort has a variety of room styles, including private bungalows with outdoor space and oceanfront views that make it appealing to all kinds of travelers.
The resort is known for its great outdoor pool spaces and entertainment, and is popular with kite surfers. Despite all it has to offer, Starfish Cayo Guillermo‘s number one shining feature is its beachfront, which is as perfectly pristine as you could imagine from one of the best beaches in Cuba.
Reviews and Bookings: Starfish Cayo Guillermo
8. Hotel Camino del Mar
Formerly a Melia property, the Hotel Camino del Mar is a relatively large yet manageably-sized all-inclusive resort on the famously beautiful sands of Cayo Guillermo. Family-friendly amenities like a kids club and a stunning beachfront with watersports and plenty of places to relax have long made it a popular option on the island.
The resort’s good range of dining options and nice activity options, such as evening entertainment, a spa and fitness center, sports courts, and much more, are pleasant surprises for a resort of this size. The affordable price point at Hotel Camino del Mar is also a highlight, and makes it one of the more popular budget-friendly options on the island.
Reviews and Bookings: Hotel Camino del Mar
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.