Cayo Naranjo, a tourist beach resort in the eastern Cuban province of Holguín, forms part of an expanding strategy in the leisure industry and provides visitors with an incredibly beautiful setting and the surprise of finding an aquarium in the sea.
Situated in the bay of the same name, Cayo Naranjo is accessible from the nearby coast by speedboats that transport visitors interested in watching the most diverse marine life, and even enjoying a refreshing swim with some of the animals.
Trained dolphins show their abilities and share the sea with adventure lovers, amusing both children and adults with their dances, jumps and rapid movements.
The cove where the aquarium is located, which used to be an excellent refuge for corsairs and pirates, today receives tourist boats and protects them from the winds and the waves, while their occupants enjoy their stay on the islet.
Some 30 kilometers (19 miles) of coastline with five natural beaches, archeological sites, caves and pristine desert keys are combined in an offer that also includes a six-kilometer coral reef, an ideal place for scuba diving.
In that beautiful natural setting, the aquarium contributes its image of peculiarity and grace, where restless dolphins share the stage with sea lions, the latter as attractive as the former, and even pose besides visitors when they take their pictures.
The coastal setting of Naranjo Bay, or Bahía de Naranjo in Spanish, is full of numerous examples of the wealth of Cuba's plant life, with autochthonous species carefully protected from humans' destructive actions, turning the region into a must for nature lovers.
A bridge connects the key to an islet, where the Bungalow Birancito, located in a small two-bedroom house with all the equipment needed by those who love the sea, underwater expeditions and water sports in general, awaits visitors.
To complete the offer, Cuban cuisine is present with exquisite dishes made with marine species, mainly seafood, at a restaurant close to the dolphinarium.
In a setting where the smell, taste and air always remind you of your closeness to the sea, fish and mollusks go hand in hand to meet the needs of the most demanding customers, accompanied by that characteristic sonority of ports and navigation.
After enjoying the company of dolphins and sea lions, a boat excursion - especially on a sailboat - will be the colophon of a wonderful journey that combines nature with the movements of fish and animal life along the vegetation-covered coastline.
With that option, eastern Cuba once again shows that there are offers for everyone in the largest Antillean Island, where the kind nature of its people plays a major role in making you feel at ease.