Cayo Santa María lies off the north-central coast of Cuba, in Villa Clara Province, and forms part of the Jardines del Rey chain of keys. The name is also used for the wider resort destination that links Santa María with neighboring cays, especially Las Brujas and Ensenachos. Cuba Travel describes Santa María as the largest and northernmost of the keys along the road over Buenavista Bay. For visitors, the distinction matters: an itinerary advertised as Cayo Santa María may include services or excursions based on another island in the connected group.
The approach is an unusual part of the trip. A 48-kilometre causeway, known locally as a pedraplén, crosses the sea from the mainland near Caibarién to Cayo Santa María. Cuba Travel’s hotel information describes the road as the link between the mainland and the island; the provincial tourism office also identifies Cayo Las Brujas airport as an air connection for the Cayo Santa María tourism area. The causeway makes a road journey possible, but it does not mean the island is close to every Cuban city or that all transport runs on a fixed visitor schedule.