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Cuba🇨🇺 | beachesCayo SaetíaSafari trucks, zebras and ostriches, calm bay, beach grill | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Cayo Saetía
👀 For curious travelersbeach ranked #24
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Sand squeaked under my sandals while a safari truck rattled past, and I realized I had paid for the beach but skipped the island. Cayo Saetía beach sits on a small cay off the northeast coast of Cuba, near Mayarí. The sand is clean, the water calm and shallow, and crowds are thin. Skip the pricey package if you only want to swim. Go for the animals and quiet. Unlike busy Guardalavaca, it is almost empty.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #24 beach in CubaWhat sets this place apart

Cayo Saetía beach draws backpackers who want a pause from Cuba’s crowded resort strip. The cay was once a private hunting reserve, so zebras, antelope and ostriches still roam its dry scrub, and you reach the sand by open safari truck rides across the island. The water is shallow and quiet, good for floating rather than surfing. Because the causeway bridge is the only road in, the place stays calm and small, with a handful of cabins and a beach restaurant. Come for a slow, odd side trip, not nightlife.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Safari truck ride across the cay: The island’s signature. Open trucks bump through scrub where zebras, antelope, buffalo and ostriches graze, a strange sight in eastern Cuba.
  2. Swimming at the main beach: Pale sand and calm, shallow water with little wave action. Ideal for long, lazy floats.
  3. Shoreline walk: Wander quieter stretches of shoreline where you can often be alone. Shells and driftwood line the tideline.
  4. Snorkeling the shallows: Visibility varies, but the calm bay lets you spot small reef fish near rocks close to shore.
  5. Beach grill lunch: Simple grilled fish or lobster at the beach restaurant, eaten with your feet in the sand. Sunsets here are peaceful, with no club scene afterward.
Cayo Saetía beach itself is free to walk and swim, so the shoreline stroll costs the least.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Cayo Saetía

  • Dry Season (November to April): Skies are mostly clear, highs run 27 to 30°C (81 to 86°F), and seas stay calm for swimming. Daylight lasts roughly 11 to 13 hours.
  • Peak Weeks (December to February, Easter): Cuban families fill the nearby cabins and prices climb.
  • Wet Season (May to October): Expect 30 to 33°C (86 to 91°F), heavy humidity, afternoon downpours, and mosquitoes. Hurricane risk peaks August to October.
Book the safari and cabin well ahead for February, then come in March for the best balance.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: below average for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
cuba-beach-cayo-saetia
© Google | Delia Reyes

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Holguín city or the Guardalavaca resort strip are your realistic bases for Cayo Saetía beach. Cayo Saetía itself has only a small state-run cluster of cabins near the beach and little social life. Guardalavaca, about 2.5 to 3 hours away by road, has the most casas particulares (US$25 to 40 for a double) and the easiest chance to meet other travelers. Holguín suits budget travelers who want a livelier city evening and cheaper rooms, usually US$20 to 35. Most backpackers stay in one of those and book a day trip.
Best hostels in Cuba


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🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Cayo Saetía beach is quiet, uncrowded, and low-risk. The water is shallow and calm on the sheltered bay side, with no notable rips or surf. Sun is the main issue, as shade is limited, so bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, and water. Sandflies and mosquitoes bite hard around dusk, so pack repellent. Rays and sea urchins occasionally sit on the seabed, so shuffle your feet entering the water. Theft is rare, though keep valuables with you rather than leaving them on the sand.
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FAQTraveler FAQ

Reaching Cayo Saetía beach takes a full day trip or a hired car from Holguín or Guardalavaca, since there is no public bus onto the cay. From Holguín it is roughly 3 hours by road, via Mayarí and a causeway at the end. Many travelers book a tour or a taxi for around US$100 to 150 round trip shared by the car. Rent a car if you want flexibility, as signage is poor.
Cayo Saetía beach is best for swimming, with calm, clear, shallow water and fine white sand. Surfing is not possible because there is almost no wave energy. Snorkeling is possible just offshore, though visibility and marine life are modest compared with Cayo Largo or Guardalavaca's reefs. Bring your own mask and snorkel, as rentals are limited.
Cayo Saetía beach itself has no entrance charge, but reaching it usually involves costs. The cay is a state-run area with safari-style tours and visitors often pay around US$10 to 30 for access or activities, plus lunch at about US$10 to 20. Bring cash, since cards are unreliable.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Cuban beaches near Cayo Saetía

Explore more nearby:

  • Guardalavaca—Public crescent, near-shore coral, Taíno burial museum, paladar lobster| 49 km away
  • Playa Esmeralda—Emerald shallows, raked sand, sunset shore| 51 km away
  • Playa Yuraguanal—Resort-backed arc, sea grape shade, nearshore reef, Holguín coast| 53 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Cayo Saetía beach trips go wrong when travelers arrive without cash or food and assume they can improvise. Bring enough cash and snacks, and book the safari truck early in the day. Skip rushing back, because the quiet afternoon is the point.

✈️ When did I visit Cuba?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Cuba for 6 weeks in February, March 2016, being extremely lucky that that coincided with the free concert of The Rolling Stones.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Cuba, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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