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Hôtel Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo

Cayo Guillermo, Cuba
4(1,388 reviews)
Family

Reopening Date & Status

Hôtel Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo is temporarily closed — Temporarily Closed (Cuba energy crisis - MGM Muthu shut all but two Cuba hotels).

Email me when it reopens

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Hôtel Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Cayo Guillermo, Cuba with 500 rooms. Amenities include Beach. Travelers rate it 4/5 across 1,388 Google reviews.

What travelers said before it closed

Traveler Insights

Pros

  • +Some of the most photographically stunning turquoise water in Cuba — Cayo Guillermo sits on a protected shallow lagoon with color that rivals the Maldives in travel photography
  • +Playa Pilar, widely considered one of Cuba's finest beaches with its towering dunes (the highest in the Caribbean), is only a 10-minute excursion from the resort
  • +Three a la carte restaurants — Indian Spice, Italian, and International — with the Indian Spice using real imported spices making it genuinely unique in Cuba's resort landscape
  • +Animation and entertainment team is consistently praised as one of the most enthusiastic and guest-engaging in the Cuban all-inclusive market

Cons

  • −Room maintenance issues are a recurring theme — reported problems include continuously running toilets, mold in showers, stained furniture, and non-functioning safes that don't get repaired during stays
  • −Food shortages are a reality of Cuba's supply situation — guests have reported bread unavailable except at breakfast, bacon missing for multiple days, and cocktail mixers running out mid-stay
  • −Liquor variety is limited even by all-inclusive standards — rum and vodka are plentiful, but premium spirits and liqueurs are essentially absent
  • −Algae accumulates at the shoreline directly in front of the resort — staff clear it daily but the waterline area requires work before early-morning swims are comfortable

Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo earns its place through location first and foremost. Cayo Guillermo is a small coral island connected to Cuba's main island by a causeway, sitting on a protected lagoon where the water turns the kind of improbable turquoise that stops scrolling thumbs. The beach directly in front of the resort is solid, but the real prize is Playa Pilar — a 10-minute boat or bus ride away and considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Caribbean, with dunes that reach higher than any others in the region. That beach alone justifies a Cuba trip for many travelers. Pink flamingos appear near the causeway as a genuinely unexpected wildlife bonus.

The resort itself operates on Cuba's state-managed all-inclusive model, which means the experience comes with specific realities. The animation team and staff warmth are universally praised — Cuban hospitality is a real differentiator, and the Muthu property channels it well. The Indian Spice a la carte restaurant using real imported spices is notable because it's legitimately unusual in Cuba's resort landscape, where most international cuisine is approximated rather than sourced authentically. The entertainment program (theme parties, dance lessons, theater shows) is active and engaging. Against that, room maintenance is inconsistent, food shortages reflecting Cuba's supply chain realities are common, and internet access is limited.

Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo is best understood as an experience resort rather than a luxury resort. The water color, Playa Pilar, the flamingos, and the cultural immersion of a Cuba trip are the draws — guests who approach it as a conventional 'compare the amenity list' all-inclusive shopping exercise tend to be disappointed. Travelers who arrive knowing they're choosing Cuba specifically — for a destination that operates differently from Mexico or the Dominican Republic — consistently come back raving about the beauty and the people.

Common Questions

Is Playa Pilar really as beautiful as people say, and how do you get there?
Playa Pilar is not exaggerated — it's widely regarded as one of the top five beaches in the Caribbean for a reason. The sand is fine and white, the water is that impossible Caribbean turquoise, and the dunes that frame the western end of the beach are the highest in the Caribbean. The resort offers organized excursions to Playa Pilar that include transport and typically some beach time; you can also arrange a taxi independently. It's roughly 10 minutes from the resort. Go early in the morning before tour groups arrive from Cayo Coco.
What should I realistically expect from the food at a Cuban all-inclusive?
Cuba's all-inclusive food reflects the country's supply chain realities — shortages of specific items (bread at lunch, cocktail mixers, certain proteins) are common and genuinely unpredictable. What is reliably good: the a la carte restaurants when fully stocked, particularly the Indian Spice restaurant with its imported spices. Rum in every form is plentiful. Budget travelers from Mexico or Dominican Republic all-inclusives should adjust expectations on food consistency, but travelers who've experienced Cuban hospitality before know that warmth and effort from staff make up for gaps in supply.
Are there flamingos you can actually see, or is that just a marketing claim?
Flamingo sightings near Cayo Guillermo are genuine. The birds inhabit the salt flats and lagoons along and near the causeway connecting the cay to the Cuban mainland, and sightings en route between the resort and the airport or city are common. Some organized ecological tours take guests to areas with reliable flamingo concentrations. It's not a zoo encounter — the birds are wild and sightings vary — but this is one of the more accessible places in the Caribbean to see flamingos in their natural habitat.
How do I handle money and payments in Cuba?
Cuba has moved away from the two-currency system that confused travelers for years. Currently, USD is widely accepted at tourist facilities and at the resort, though exchange rates and what's accepted in cash versus cards varies. US credit and debit cards still do not work in Cuba due to US banking restrictions — American travelers must bring sufficient cash. Canadian and European cards generally work at the resort. Bring more cash than you think you'll need, exchange at the resort or a CADECA exchange house, and keep a reserve for tips, excursions, and any purchases off-property.
How does Grand Muthu compare to other resorts on Cayo Guillermo?
Cayo Guillermo has a small cluster of resorts, with the Meliá Cayo Guillermo and Iberostar Daiquiri as the most common alternatives. The Meliá property is generally considered slightly higher-end with a more polished service experience. Grand Muthu differentiates itself with the Indian Spice restaurant (genuinely unique in the area), an infinity pool with ocean frontage, and an entertainment team that draws specific praise. Travelers on a moderate budget often find Grand Muthu hits the right value point; those wanting a more polished luxury experience tend to look at the Meliá.
What time of year is best to visit Cayo Guillermo?
November through April is the peak dry season and offers the most reliable beach weather — sunny skies, low humidity, and minimal rain. This period is also high season for pricing. May through October brings more humidity and the possibility of tropical storms, particularly from August through October. The water temperature around Cayo Guillermo is warm year-round, and the protected lagoon location means waves are rarely an issue. The Christmas and spring break periods book out well in advance, so plan accordingly if those dates matter to you.

What's nearby

  • Playa Pilar
    Playa Pilar
    8 min drive · 3.0 mi
More things to do (6)
  • Flamingo viewpoint, Cayo Guillermo causeway · wildlife4 min drive · 2.2 mi
  • Marina Marlin Cayo Guillermo · marina6 min drive · 2.6 mi
  • Catamaran snorkel trip to Cayo Media Luna · excursion6 min drive · 2.6 mi
  • Playa Los Flamencos · beach35 min drive · 20 mi
  • Playa Prohibida · beach45 min drive · 23 mi
  • Marina Gaviota Cayo Coco (Bautista) · marina45 min drive · 27 mi

Amenities

Beach

Google Reviews★ 4 · 1,388 reviews

Stephanie W.
a week ago

“After reading the mixed reviews, we were a bit worried but depending on the time you go makes all the difference. It wasnt crazy busy when we went this past week and we had 1 overcast/rain day. Highly recommend, its definitely a family oriented resor...”

Former
3 months ago

“I am going to try to be as honest as possible. I was at this Hotel last year. The people were nice as much as they could. Minus some people I clearly could see did not want my black behind there but that was minute compared to overall workers. I made...”