Discover Playa Pilar!

Playa Pilar is one of the prettiest beaches in Cuba, located about seven kilometers west of the resort's area of Cayo Guillermo. The sand is white, fine and dense enough to facilitate walking. Playa Pilar is a small beach (facing north) extending over 500 meters.

At Playa Pilar, you find a bar, restaurant (not included) that offers drinks and meals at reasonable prices such as a succulent lobster lunch for 15 CUC or 18 CUC with extra shrimp. There is a toilet. You can rent chairs (2 CUC), and there are many palapas and beach shelters for those wishing to stay in the shade.

If you prefer to get away from the restaurant, it is advisable to bring an umbrella or a small beach tent. There is no natural shade in Playa Pilar.

The site has been improved a lot since our last visit in 2004. From the road, there is now an elevated walkway that leads from 130 meters to Playa Pilar services. A tower was constructed to have a nice look of the area. A little further west, we find a nautical club « Marlin » to the west of the restaurant.

Catamaran excursionists come to spend few hours on the most beautiful beach of Cayo Guillermo, Playa Pilar!

To go to Playa Pilar ...

1. By bike or scooter. Playa Pilar is located 10 minutes by scooter from the furthest hotel or Cayo Guillermo, Club Villa Cojimar. If you want to get there on foot, allow about 1-1 ½ hours. In this case, bring a good supply of water and sunscreen! By the beach, Playa Pilar is 5.7 km west of the nearest hotel is the Sol Cayo Guillermo. As this is not a continuous beach, but rather several small beaches (including the longest is 700 meters), so wear appropriate shoes or sandals.
2. By coach (or minibus). Like in Varadero, there are a transit system buses for Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo islands, for only 5 CUC per day (children free). You can visit the two islands as you see fit, it is a « hop on / hop off » bus. Click HERE for more information about transportation in Cayo Guillermo.
3. In taxi. You ask a taxi at the hotel lobby and fix an hour to return with the driver. The price is 5 CUC payable in cash only.
4. Excursion « Pilar Plus ». A tour in the Jungle Boat to visit Cayo Media Luna, snorkeling, lunch and free time to Playa Pilar. Click HERE for info on tours offered at hotels in Cayo Coco.

Click to see our photoalbum, a video in Flash format and satellite images with Google Earth (kml).

For many years, the western sector of Playa Pilar has been a great place to enjoy an « Au Natural » experience. The area has never been « officially » designated to be clothing optional. Many Cuban families go there now to spend the day on this great beach.

It seems that the CO facility of this beach is getting less and less possible. Of course, you can still enjoy that beach, but not when there are Cubans.

It is always sad to see a great asset of this beach disappear!

The clothing optional beach of Playa Pilar is located at the west end of the island.

There are few places in Cuba where you can find a clothing optional beach. Cayo Largo with its 20-km of pristine beaches. Almost each hotel hotel has a CO beach section. Also in Cayo Santa Maria, where the only CO beach is located from the west side of hotel Sol Cayo Santa Maria down to the hotel Meliá Buenavista.