Casa Museo | Cayo Largo, Cuba

Casa Museo (museum)

Casa Museo, Cayo Largo, Cuba

Although modest, this little museum is worth a visit. It is located in the Pueblo Isla del Sol (aka the village), behind hotel Villa Marinera. See here a map of the pueblo. Entrance fee: 1 USD per person.

Founded in May 2000, the museum features artifacts, pieces and photographs that are testimonies of local history. The main themes of the museum include: the aboriginal history, the presence of pirates, the natural history, as well as the most important aspects related to its commercial history. Christopher Columbus visited Cayo Largo del Sur during his second voyage in 1494. The islet's history goes back to the aboriginal period (more than 3000 years ago), since many archeological artifacts belonging to the Siboney civilization have been found on Cayo Largo.

Collections and exhibits:

Outside the entrance to the museum is a life-sized sculpture of the Cuban pirate Diego Grillo depicting the legends and stories of pirates and corsairs who used to sail and loot the Caribbean region. In the entrance hall, a beautiful mural depicts the Aboriginal presence, the passage of Christopher Columbus, the visit of pirates and corsairs, and the most important elements of the local flora and fauna.

The second room is dedicated to the natural history of Cayo Largo (its fauna, flora, and seabed), including a small exhibition dedicated to Hurricane Michelle (November 4, 2001), the strongest to have hit Cayo Largo.

The third room features objects and photographs bearing witness to the human presence through the centuries: aboriginal artefacts, objects representing the era of piracy, and finally a photo exhibition on tourism development that has made Cayo Largo a resort-island since the early 80's.

A small protocol room completes the museum; foreign customers are received there. Exhibited in this room are photographs of tourists who received the title of distinguished guests (Huesped Distinguido), because of their loyalty, their notoriety, their help, or their contribution to the tourist success of the island.