When it opened in 2005, this huge and sprawling hotel was called the Barceló Cayo Largo Beach Resort. Shortly thereafter Hurricane Wilma whipped through, stripping the sands away entirely and leaving this hotel high and dry above a rocky shore. Fortunately, the trucks soon started arriving and the beach—albeit narrow—has been restored and is continuing to slowly replenish itself.

By far the nicest property on Cayo Largo, this Sol Meliá-managed hotel outshines the neighboring and similarly priced Sol Pelícano by a mile. The lovely aesthetic of pastel-toned Caribbean-style wooden structures with plantation rails is enhanced by thoughtful landscaping that makes clever use of the natural eroded limestone and foliage.

This fishing lodge overhangs mangrove lagoons at the Cuban workers village of El Pueblo at the north end of Cayo Largo, far from tourist facilities. Run by an Italian outfit, it primarily caters to anglers arriving as part of packaged fishing tours. The lodge is just yards away from the Cayo Largo Marina—handy for boat trips out to the boneflats.

Colloquially called Eden Village because of the high traffic generated by Italy´s Eden Viaggi tour company, this four-in-one hotel grouping also accepts other tourists. The four contiguous units differ in style, although they form a daisy chain along half a mile of gorgeous Playa Lindamar. Together they cater to the budget end of the spectrum and win no prizes for either decor or ambience.

At the west end of Playa Lindamar, this two-star hotel falls below its four-star billing by a wide margin. Although managed by Spain´s Sol Meliá chain, it offers little of the visual appeal of the neighboring and far more impressive Sol Cayo Largo. The colorful, breeze-swept lobby has lounge chairs and makes a good first impression. Beyond, the vaguely Mediterranean-style three-story buildings are arranged haphazardly around a freeform swimming pool.