Cayo Santa Maria is a small island located off the northern coast of Cuba. It is is linked to the mainland near Caibarién by a 48 km causeway (29.8 miles) constructed between 1989 and 1999. The beaches are beautiful with white sand and turquoise waters. All the land and hotels in Cayo Santa Maria are property of the Cuban government, just as all the hotels are in Cuba. Originally only meant for tourist use, the island has nine luxury hotels comprising over 6,100 rooms. My hotel, the Royalton Cayo Santa Maria, was a joint venture between the Cuban government and a Canadian firm.