Beaches - Pinar del Rio

Playa Bailen

This beach is near Sábalo (12 kilometers east of Isabel Rubio, a small agricultural town growing citrus groves. Another turn off leads south eight kilometers to Playa Bailen, you pass Estación Biológica Zoocriadero, a crocodile farm open daily 8 am-5 pm.

Playa Boca de Galafre

This beach is about 15 kilometers southwest of San Juan y Martinez town. This beach is known to be very muddy and is very popular with the local people. It is a quiet spot where you can enjoy the beach, the country lifestyle and the friendly people.

Playa María la Gorda

María la Gorda Beach, listed as a reserve of the biosphere by UNESCO, is located on the southern coast of the western end of Cuba, in the inlet of Corrientes, Guanahacabibes Peninsula, 300 kilometers west of Havana. It is a beautiful white sand beach bathed by the Caribbean Sea and with extensive areas of coastal vegetation.

It derived its name from a pirate story with many legendary versions. María is said to have been a Portugese pirate around 1820. She was captured and handed over to another pirate that had made his headquarters in this area. She never returned to Europe and when she was old and fat, she became the owner of some establishments which were built there to meet the needs of filibusters, buccaneers and merchants.

Maria la Gorda beach is known for its amazing beauty of its coral reefs, which makes it a perfect destination for divers and ecotourists.

One of the most special attractions of this place is that at only 14 meters under the surface you can find black coral formations inhabited by many kinds of fish, such as barracudas and red snappers. These coral formations are known as Black Coral Valley. Among its many attractions there is a hundred meter coral wall and a cave at 18 meters under the surface, called Salón de María, where small feather coral can be found.

Maria la Gorda has been ranked to be one of the most beautiful in Latin America, because of its rich fauna and the amazing coral reefs.