Playa Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba - October 2019
The following is actually the verbatim transcript of the narration in case you don't have speakers/earphones or if you simply don't like the sound of my voice, haha).
Hello and welcome to my latest video featuring the Playa Cayo Santa Maria resort & Spa, or PCSM for short. I’ve made a few videos of this beautiful resort the last few years, but this is the first time I’m actually narrating.
Cayo Santa Maria is one of many small islands off the coast of Cuba, known as the Cayos or Keys, and is linked by what many believe is the world’s longest causeway… more on that in a little bit.
Once you land at Abel Santamaria Airport just outside of Santa Clara, the bus ride to the resort is about 90 minutes (so make sure to use the bathroom before you get on that bus). And if you’re fortunate enough to travel during daytime, it really is a beautiful ride.
You pass 3 towns on the way to the coast: The first is Camajuani. It was established in 1864 when people settled near the new train station which was used to ship sugarcane to the coastal town of Caibarien. Today it is still known for its sugarcane and high-quality tobacco production.
Next you pass by Remedios. Established in 1513, it is considered the second oldest Spanish settlement in Cuba (the oldest being Baracoa, established in 1510 near Guantanamo). A big attraction in Remedios is the church which dates back to 1550, although much of the current structure is the result of extensive renovations during the 1700s.
The last town you pass though is Caibarien. Many who live here work for the tourism industry and the resorts on the keys. This coastal town once served as a shipping point for agricultural commodities such as sugarcane, tobacco and fruits. It also served as a sponge-fishing center…but all that has long been abandoned and the main focus now is tourism.
The Pedraplen or Causeway that links the keys to the mainland is 48 km long and has 46 openings or bridges so as not to disrupt the flow of ocean currents and to minimize damage to the ecosystem of the archipelago. It took 10 years to complete, from 1989 to 1999, and it received international recognition, including an award in 2001 for its high economic effect with the least impact on the environment.
The first of the keys you pass is Las Brujas, a small island with newer hotels and a small regional airport.
Next you pass Ensenachos, and this small island is home to just one resort named Ensenachos, after the island.
Finally, you arrive onto Santa Maria, an island 16 klms long and up to 2 klms wide. With no permanent residents, Cayo Santa Maria is a charming island paradise with clean white sandy beaches, shallow clear water and stunning natural scenery.
The Playa Cayo Santa Maria Resort and Spa is located about at center of the island.
The staff at this resort are what truly make this an enjoyable destination, with their friendly smiles and eagerness to please… no wonder so many of us keep on returning! The level of service is top notch…
Many people consider the food at the Cuba resorts to be bland or just not tasty. This is not the case here at the PCSM. Besides, this is mostly our own fault because we in Canada and other ‘affluent’ countries over-saturate our foods with various flavoured sauces, spices, not to mention sodium…
So by all means, if you think you can’t do without your Heinz or French’s, if you think you need that Nutella or Jiffy's peanut butter for your breakfast, bring it with you!
Like I said, the food here is very good, with a great selection to choose from.
The bars are fully stocked, and if you’re a coffee enthusiast, try the specialty coffees at the lobby bar, cigar lounge and 24 hr Snack-bar between the 2 main pools.
The resort has a total of 8 pools, 9 bars, 8 restaurants. The rooms all have a mini fridge (stocked with water and beer or pop daily). You will also find in the rooms a Safe, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, satellite TV, coffee maker…and the rooms do get cleaned daily.
The cleaning staff throughout the resort, along with the gardeners and maintenance staff do an excellent job of keeping this property beautiful and to as high a standard as possible…
They all work tirelessly every day, so don’t forget to thank them, and tip them as well, when you see them.
The 'Animacion' team also work hard all day to keep us all engaged and entertained…there is never a dull moment here… and as they like to say: “don’t be lazy, let’s go crazy!”
The crowning jewel however is the beach! Stunning clear water, white sandy beach… you won’t be able to get enough of it!
Come here and enjoy the hospitality of the Playa Cayo Santa Maria Resort & Spa.
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Footage used captured by:
Fuji Finepix 120, Pentax X90, Elephone 80 cellphone, Asus Zenphone cellphone, and 3 images are borrowed from FB.
Edited with Pinnacle Studio Ultimate