History of cayolargo.net — a travel through time!
 It is in March 1999, we discovered Cayo Largo, after we heard comments from people who had fallen in love with this small Cuban paradise. In fact, it is after our first « Au Naturel » experience at St-Martin in the French Caribbean during a cruise. Consequently, we sought a pretty beach where it was possible to tan in the « au natural » in a down-to-earth place which is not commercial.
 In 1999 it was different from now, because at that time it was the concept « todo incluido » the island all-inclusive! It was possible to eat and drink at all the hotels of the island (in 1999, there were Pelicano, Villa Lindamar, Villa Coral, Isla del Sur, Villa Iguana and the Villa Caprichio). You select the the hotel, and then you enjoy services throughout the island.
We fell in love with this small paradise of virgin beaches and the bohemian environment which reigned there. We went back in December 1999 with our first digital camera Kodak DC-210+ with an aim of taking photos of beaches, hotels, excursions, services, etc in the intent to build a website about this destination of Cuba. That was not our first website, but surely the most popular by far.
Many accustomed tourists saw with an evil eye our initiative to put on the web a site about this destination that they would have so much liked to remain secret! However, as the Internet was in full rise, one day or another, there would have been a site on the destination.
We judged that it was important to « WELL » informed people about what really is Cayo Largo and thus to avoid tourists searching for « party or ole ole » destination to go to Cayo Largo. We sincerely believed to have informed tourists about Cayo Largo thus to have contributed to the promotion of naturism in one of the few places where there exists a quietude, ideal for a first experiment. It is now up to you to judge!
What will be the future of Cayo Largo?
Quite hard to answer! Many factors are in stakes. There were few projects in past years like the « Bucanero I, II et III » hotels located in the east beaches (Playa Blanca), but never started except for the Barceló which took many years to complete. A Canadian consortium had (or have) a project for a luxury hotel with a golf course... Hard to imagine a golf course in such dry environment?????, we did not hear of this project for quite long time.
 For the last years, we heard of investors from Qatar for a 5-stars hotel located in the most stable beach of Cayo Largo, Punta mal Tiempo. This project of $70 millions dollars with Gran Caribe consists of a 200-bedroom hotel and 60 deluxe villas is quite real, according to these sources...
Havana Journal of October 7th, 2008: http://havanajournal.com
Granma of November 8th, 2008: http://www.granmai.cubasi.cu/
arabianbusiness.com of April 29th, 2009: http://www.arabianbusiness.com
Will Cayo Largo stay like it is now for long? Do the hurricanes will discourage investors to build new hotels? Many questions and unfortunately few answers.
However, only one conclusion... enjoy now, do not wait!
History of www.cayolargo.net
The original version (2000 @ 2002)
Click the image on left to visit this version of our cayolargo.net website
Summary: 78 webpages and 273 photos
On December 2000, we put online our first bulletin board. The adventure began!
The second version (2002 @ 2006)
Click the image on left to visit this version of our cayolargo.net website
Summary: 425 webpages and 1,523 photos
It is the time of the great disaster caused by Hurricane Michelle in November 2001. The Villa Caprichio is gone!
The third version (2006 @ 2008)
Click the image on left to visit this version of our cayolargo.net website
Summary: 122 webpages and 387 photos
We decided to create an external photo albums to make it easier to update and in the same time keep the old photos.
Souvenirs of Cayo Largo
Photos in 1982
Thanks to « Daniela » (Daniel Payette), the first representative of Champagne Tours at Cayo Largo. You may read her post in our first bulletin board. Thanks Danielle for your photos and info!
We dedicated a section of the photo albums for photos taken between 1980 to 1990. Users are invited to post their photos in this section. It is quite astonishing to see Cayo Largo at its debut : http://www.npsmicro.com/~album=341
Photos in 2001
An amazing course of Iguana 101 made by Denis and Francine (El Nino in the forum) - in French.
Photos in 2001
A classic from the « old » Cayo Largo... the party in the « trumpos » the buses uses in the island. People will easily remember Pedro, Enrique and other bus drivers!
Photos in 2002
Cayo Largo celebrated its 20th anniversary in February 2003. Unfortunately, we were not there for this occasion.
Photos in 2003
In June 29th 2003, Cuba celebrated its one million visitors in the year. We were at Villa Lindamar and were invited to cut the cake.
Photos in 2003
People from province of Quebec celebrated the St-Jean-Baptiste on June 24th, 2003 at the Gran Caribe Villa Lindamar.
 In August 2002, users of our discussion forum started a petition for the return of the « all-inclusive » package throughtout the Gran caribe resort. Click HERE to read the answer of the petition. It was after hurricane Michelle and Cayo Largo was in re-construction for the future of this destination
During the winter 2000-2001, Lily was invited to write an article in the travel magazine « cent pour cent vacances ». This magazine no longer exist but reading it triggers good memories.
Tragic event in May 2006
 For people who had the chance to meet Raydanel, a waiter at the ranchón of the Sol Pelicano will be sorry to hear he died in a car accident which unfortunately happened too often at Cuba in May 2006. Recently, Raydanel was the father of a lovely little girl. Click HERE to read the message in the bulletin board.
|
