Playa Pesquero Hotel, Holguín: A Five-Star All-Inclusive on Cuba’s Northern Coast
Playa Pesquero is one of Cuba’s largest and most complete all-inclusive resorts, set on 29.4 hectares of tropical grounds along a protected beach in Holguín province. With 1,000 rooms, multiple pools, nine restaurants, a full spa, and an activities programme that runs from dawn to midnight, it is built for guests who want everything on site and nothing left to organise. The beach alone — fine white sand, crystal-clear shallow water, and a coral reef close enough to snorkel from the shore — justifies the journey to this corner of eastern Cuba.
The resort’s design is unusual and worth noting: the layout recreates elements of Holguín and Santiago de Cuba’s urban heritage, with streets named after local landmarks, a historic locomotive integrated into the grounds, and architectural details drawn from the region’s cultural identity.
Location
Playa Pesquero sits on a protected bay on Cuba’s northern coast, around 60 km from Frank País International Airport in Holguín. The surrounding area is purely resort territory — the hotel is the destination rather than a base for local exploration. The beach is sheltered, the water is warm and shallow, and the coral reef runs close enough to the shoreline to reach without a boat.
Rooms
The resort offers six room categories across its 1,000 units: Standard, Standard Upper Floor, Superior, Superior Upper Floor, Superior Plus, Luxury Family, and Luxury Adults. All rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen television, minibar, safe, private bathroom, and a terrace or balcony. Standard rooms overlook the garden; upper-floor categories offer better outlooks and additional perks.
The Luxury Family rooms, located in dedicated buildings close to the beach, deliver the most complete package: early check-in and late check-out, exclusive concierge and butler service, private pools with reserved sun loungers, dedicated beach areas, and in-room selections of snacks and refreshments. The Luxury Adults section operates as a quieter, more refined enclave within the resort, with a higher staff-to-guest ratio, premium butler service, and an atmosphere designed for relaxation rather than activity.
Rooms across all categories are generally spacious and clean. Some units show their age in the furnishings, though the overall standard is well-maintained.
Food and Drink
The dining offer is extensive: two buffet restaurants (one international, one focused on Cuban cuisine), six à la carte restaurants covering Cuban, Italian, and gourmet international menus, a poolside restaurant, a beach pizzeria, a piano bar, a lobster restaurant by the sea, and a Cuban barbecue grill. Reservations are required for à la carte dining and are pre-allocated to Superior categories and above; Standard room guests should note that availability for seven-night stays includes four restaurant options.
The lobster dinner at Extravaganza carries an additional cost and is not included in the all-inclusive package — worth knowing before you budget. Food quality across the restaurants is genuinely above average for Cuban all-inclusive resorts, and the à la carte options in the Luxury section have been a consistent highlight.
Facilities
The main pool is spectacularly large. There are also a dedicated children’s pool and a Luxury pool, each with their own character and service levels. The beach club provides towels and snorkelling equipment. Sports facilities cover three tennis courts, volleyball, beach volleyball, badminton, football, basketball, and archery. Children’s programming runs across three age groups from toddlers to teenagers.
The spa is among the resort’s strongest assets: a full hydrothermal circuit, outdoor Jacuzzi, sauna, mud wrap, Balinese shower, and a menu of massages from reflexology to four-hand treatments. Evening entertainment — live music, professional shows, dance classes, and a disco open until 2am — gives the resort a genuine social energy after dark.
A conference room seating up to 500 theatre-style, wedding coordination services, and honeymoon packages make the property a capable venue for events and celebrations.
Service
Service is the resort’s most important differentiator, particularly on the Luxury side. The butler team — Joel, Junior, Lynn, and Hugo are among those who stand out — operate at a level that makes the premium room categories feel worth the additional cost. Housekeeping is attentive and creative. Bar staff and entertainers bring energy and personality that make the all-inclusive experience feel personal rather than conveyor-belt.
On the standard side, service is warm and willing, though pace can slow during peak periods.
Pros and Cons
✔ Stunning protected beach with snorkelling reef
✔ Spectacularly large main pool plus dedicated Luxury and children’s pools
✔ Exceptional Luxury Adults section with butler service and private facilities
✔ Extensive dining — nine restaurants covering Cuban, Italian, gourmet, and beach options
✔ Full spa with hydrothermal circuit and wide massage menu
✔ Outstanding evening entertainment — particularly the disco and dance programme
✔ Thoughtful resort design drawing on regional Cuban cultural heritage
✔ Strong children’s and family programming
✘ Some rooms dated in furnishings
✘ Lobster restaurant carries an additional cost not covered by all-inclusive
✘ À la carte reservations limited for Standard room guests
✘ Service pace can slow during busy periods on the standard side
✘ Fully remote location — not a base for exploring Cuba beyond the resort
✘ Bring clean, uncreased US dollars for tipping and any additional purchases
Overall
Playa Pesquero delivers on the all-inclusive promise more completely than most resorts in the Caribbean — the beach is exceptional, the facilities are extensive, and the staff, particularly on the Luxury side, set a standard that is difficult to find elsewhere in Cuba. The Luxury Adults category is the version to book if the budget allows; if not, the Standard and Superior rooms still put you on one of Cuba’s finest beaches with everything included. Reserve your à la carte dinners early, book the spa in advance, and make it to the disco at least once.