Present Day
The causeway linking the cay to the mainland is 27 km long. The construction caused concern among environmentalists as it disturbed the tidal flow and thus life-cycle of waterlife. Despite fears, the wild flamingos still live in the shallow waters and can often be seen from the causeway although not as often as before the construction. A number of gaps were subsequently created in the causeway to restore water flow.
Still largely wild with swamps and scrubland populated by wild cattle, the islands boast about a dozen large international hotels spread out. Beaches are very good and the massive coral reef off the north coast attracts divers from around the world. Resorts in the area include NH Krystal Laguna Villas & Resort (formerly El Senador), Melia Cayo Coco, Gaviota Playa Coco, Blau Colonial Cayo Coco, Tryp Cayo Coco, Sol Cayo Coco and the new Blue Bay Cayo Coco.
Cayo Coco is linked by a short causeway to Cayo Guillermo to the west and by another short causeway to Cayo Romano to the east.
The island has its own international airport, the Jardines del Rey Airport (Aeropuerto Jardines del Rey) (IATA: CCC, ICAO: MUCC). Since 2005 tourists can fly directly in to the airport on Cayo Coco rather than to an airport on the mainland. An earlier airport, the Cayo Coco Airport has been reclaimed as a small natural park called Parque Natural El Baga.
Read more about this topic: Cayo Coco
Famous quotes containing the words present and/or day:
“One of the things that is most striking about the young generation is that they never talk about their own futures, there are no futures for this generation, not any of them and so naturally they never think of them. It is very striking, they do not live in the present they just live, as well as they can, and they do not plan. It is extraordinary that whole populations have no projects for a future, none at all.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)
“It might be that some day I shall be drowned by the sea, or die of pneumonia from sleeping out at night, or be robbed and strangled by strangers. These things happen. Even so, I shall be ahead because of trusting the beach, the night and strangers.”
—Janet Wood Reno (b. 1913)