Cayo Saetía Explained

Official Name:Cayo Saetía
Settlement Type:Resort island and village
Pushpin Map:Cuba
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Label Position:none
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Cayo Saetía in Cuba
Pushpin Mapsize:280
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Cuba
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Holguín
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Mayarí
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:-5
Coordinates:20.7594°N -75.5208°W
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Elevation M:4
Area Code:+53-24

Cayo Saetía (also spelled Sae-Tía) is a 42km2 cay (island) in Holguín Province, Cuba. It belongs to the municipality of Mayarí.[2]

Overview

It is located 120km (80miles) southeast of Holguín between the Bay of Nipe & the Atlantic Ocean. The landmass is connected to the mainland by an animal control bridge. Once a private government game reserve, it now houses a resort managed by the Grupo de Turismo Gaviota, S.A. and a Cuban Youth camp. The closest major town is Mayarí, located 20km (10miles) south-east. The environment is mixed open plains and forest with swamp in the northwest sector. It has been stocked with zebra, water buffalo, boar and various antelope and deer species which roam freely on the cay. Horses and cattle also share some of the grazing area. A camel, several ostriches and parrots live near the resort compound.[3]

The resort is a Three Star rated premises with a restaurant. Self-exploration is prohibited but Jeep tours of the reserve are available. Resorts in the Guardalavaca tourist area offer helicopter and boat tours to the cayo for safaris and its white sand beaches. The island used to be the private holiday home of Fidel Castro and family, until 1994 when they stopped coming. The grass plain is still visible on the island from where the family would arrive and depart by helicopter.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Google maps
  2. News: Cayo Saetia, Loguin, Cuba. Havana Times. April 15, 2019. September 23, 2021.
  3. Web site: Parque Cayo Saetía. https://web.archive.org/web/20070614175035/http://www.gaviota-grupo.com/parquesnaturales.asp?idparque=12. September 23, 2021. 2007-06-14.