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« Gibara is a true gem. It is one of two forted cities in all of Cuba, boasting more artists per capita than any other. There is a Museo de Historia natural, a Museo del Arte colonial, a Galeria de Arte, a Casa de la Cultura that offers traditional Cuban music on weekends, the beautiful Iglesia de San Fulgencio, three small beaches (Bavado, El Faro, la Concha) daily ferry service for 1cuc across the bay to a deserted beach called Playa Blanca, killer 5-cent pizzas from four different pizzerias, a second-to-none view from the top of the el Mirador, a malecon seaside promenade, even scuba diving on calm days just steps from your casa door, cave tours at Caverna de Panadero, the Cine Pobre international film festival every second year, and a laid-back, friendly atmosphere not found in bigger Cuban cities. » Candy Lee, Canadian traveller 12.03.12
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| OUR CASA LIST BEGINS HERE | REGIONAL MAP HERE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Today, it would be great to see the authorities ressuscitate the train service from here to Holguin, thereby having a double effect of creating a lot of local traffic for residents and workers as well as supporting Holguin and getting revenues from tourists. Along the coast, there is a project of running a tourist train to Gibara from the beach resorts in Guardalavaca, one of the Caribbean's largest tourist areas. A program to rejuvenate the colonial buildings (as was done succesfully in Old Havana), is timidly starting with the ongoing renovation of the lovely Teatro. In April 2014, Gibara will hold the 11th edition of its annual Festival Internacional del Cine Pobre, a project of one of Cuba's premier directors, Humberto Solas who passed away in September 2008.
POPULATION 72,056 (2007) SEE.KNOW.DO (photos here) • Copa del Amor (legendary site in cemetery) • Fortaleza (office of the Historian : say hello to architect Alberto Mora) • Fuerte El Cuartelón • Fuerte Fernando VII • Iglesia de San Fulgencio (Parque Calixto Garcia) • Mirador, the lookout above town : restaurant, bar, snack • Museo del Arte Colonial (reopened after total rebuild as only ground floor remained after hurricaned Ike destroyed the edificio) • Museo de Historia Natural (largest collection of stuffed birds in Cuba, whale : enjoy practicing your Spanish with young Conservador Ernesto Moreno Garcia) • Museo Municipal (meet Mary, its charming director) • Parks : Calixto Garcia, Colon and Las Madres, all along main street, calle Independencia. RESTAURANTS • Must do : eat at La Culinaria on tiny terrace overlooking the bay - with a fabulous view of La Silla, a mountain shaped like a saddle (silla). 'Tis here that Alberto Ronda (a member of national Artechef association — he has done clips for TV) and his apprentices are trying to renovate local regional cuisine with seafood and other delights payable in moneda nacional or the equivalent inCUC (we suppose) : an investment in the future and a tasty bargain • La Concha (dining room of the 4-bedroom Hotel Buenavista, nestled right above the crescent-shaped beach 5 meters below) a vast indoor terrace overlooking the nested beach below, looking west • Mirador de Gibara overlooking the town and bay - a bar mainly with snacks on the edge and a lookout restaurant above • Casa Colonial PALADARES Since Fall 2010, numerous would be restaurateurs here and elsewhere on the island have tried to go paladar. At first, the offer much exceeded the demand; one may surmise that only the cream will rise EVENINGS • Eddy Suñol Teatro re-opened, live • Artex, live music on weekends, 5cuc • Casa de la Cultura, exhibitions and more • Ciné Jiba, main venue of the film festival • Outdoor stage on the Malecon (the seaside sidewalk). Fond memories of a 29 Dec. night along with 800 young spectators, enjoying on stage, a group of young rappers, Tecno Caribe. LOCAL PLAYAS These are deserted in winter (Oct to May). • Playa Bavado • Playacita El Faro (great summer photo-op) • Playa La Concha PLAYAS IN THE AREA • Playa de Gibara, entrance of town, at the foot of Aguilera and Gomez streets • Playa Blanca, (across the bay, by barca, the ferry, Gray 4 on map) or by car, around the bay, about 28 k's • Playa Los Bajos, 30 km by car, past Playa Blanca : busy in summer, its casas are deserted (and unrentable) in winter • Playa Caletones, 18 (3 small beaches in this village of 268) • Playa Pesquero Nueva (in Guardalavaca, largest resort complex in the country), 53 km. SERVICES A little-known secret re-visited in March 2011, Hotel Buenavista with its La Concha dining room and restaurant is located on the seaside; upstairs, four renovated bedrooms for 15cuc single or 25cuc double with breakfasts; 20cuc pp with dinners : a nice bargain [@] • $$$ Note : although there are two banks in town, neither offers advance cash funds debited from a credit card. Better get enough convertible pesos when going through Holguin • There is still no publicly-available Internet connection here • Cellular phones work. • In Holguin : Aeropuerto Frank País 43-93-40, Cubana Office 42-57-07, Airport 46-25-12, Havanautos 48-14-15, Medical 42-53-02, Micar 48-16-52, Transautos 48-10-11, Transtur 42-41-87, Turistaxi 42-41-87 TRANSPORT • Lancha/Ferry - see Gray 4 on Map - (roofed, 18-passager capacity, 1cuc). Leaves the port at least twice a day. Returns one hour later. Two stops : across the bay in front of town at fishing port of San Antonio and then over at Caliche. • Bus Two daily from Holguin, the first leaving Valiares Terminal at 7, arrives here at 9:30. Another leaves here around 3:30 p.m. from Fulgencio Park. • Taxi particular to and from Holguin for 20cuc : 30 mins. |
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| EXCURSIONS • Playa Blanca, small deserted beach located across the bay (barely visible from atop the Mirador overlooking the town) : it's west of the old boat workshop :normally, one gets there using the ferry; San Antonio a tiny fishing village both across the bay and some 3 km further (by foot : no cars around) : Los Bajos a tiny summer village with a few casas on the sea : access these spots by riding the lancha, a small 15-passenger ferry from Gibara port • La Represa a disaffected dam (presa) which still holds water and forms a small lake and a waterfall where Gibarans love to spend the day...in summer. Less water and action in winter but travellers have the place to themselves. Some 5k's away, turn right before the Campismo La Caridad (42 cabañas, pool, horses) after a left turn on the way to Holguin. Ask around, everyone knows • Cavernas de Panaderos : grottos or caves, 19 galeries, 11km-long underground trail. Go up the hill on Independencia, ask around as they're not marked. At the Fortaleza, staff organises tours with equipment • Natural bassins (swimming in crystal-clear water) and underground marine caves, including Tanque Azul 3km on foot from Caletones. German experts say it could be the world's second longest • Sillas and other mogotes (hills similar to those near Viñales) ; climb La Silla de Gibara on foot (or on horseback from the campismo La Caridad, 8km bike ride away : superb views. (Silla = saddle) • Cueva Fructuoso, a large cave with stalagtites and stalagmites and natural swing branches. Swimming. Quite a job and about one hour to get to, as only high-clearance trucks or 4x4's can manage the road. From town, calle Independencia up the hill and straight on dirt road. Best to go around noon as sunlight will warm and light the natural pond inside. Organize this through friends or casa owners in Gibara • Guardalavaca by the dirt road (4x4 required in summer only) passing the Silla and campismo which lead to it, crossing lovely village of Fray Benito, then Rafael Freyre (village of sugar mill now museum with tourist train reserved for hotel groups), 120 km there and back • Parque Monumento Nacional de Bariay, 88 km east in Rafael Freyre (landing of Colombus, ruins, sculptures, horsedrawn coach ride, restaurant) • In Velasco, 41 km west, Casa Felix Varona Cecilia founded in 1964 by architect Walter Betancourt (1932-1978), protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright to mark his support for the Revolución  |
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| HEED THE HINTS IN THIS FINE PRINT ::: Make sure that in your first email or phone call you specify that you want to book a room in that particular casa and that you will reconfirm your booking on arrival in Cuba. Unless you only want a room in any house which may be of the same quality, not the specific casa you booked through photos on these websites ::: So as to not abandon expecting owners with empty rooms, reconfirm (or call ahead to cancel) your booking by phone as soon as you can after arriving in Cuba ::: Please write or phone a casa owner to cancel a booking. As late as it may seem, it allows them a chance to rebook. ::: Children under the age of 16 may share a bedroom with adults for free. Specify the child's age when booking. ::: Since October 2010, maximum bedroom capacity is not limited to two adults ::: Also, large casas are not limited to renting only two bedrooms per night. ::: At the end of the casa name, the V signals the casa was suggested by travelers or owners but not verified by the website staff. If you try it and like it, write us about it. ::: Unless otherwise mentioned, the average room rates and service prices are : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night [up to 40+ for 4 in a room]; breakfasts 3-5cuc, dinners 7-10cuc. ::: Any casa particular anywhere in Cuba must have a hot water shower, otherwise it cannot have a permit to rent ::: Please share your Complaints, comments & suggestions webmaster [@]cubacasas.net  |
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BOOK BY PHONE • From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by 24 for Gibara) • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by 24 for Gibara) HOW TO DIAL A CUBAN PHONE NUMBER HERE ••• CELL PHONE NUMBERS on our town lists and casa pages are preceded by 05 for calls originating Havana; from anywhere else in Cuba, dial 015 + the 7 digits of the cell. BOOK BY EMAIL :  Click on logo to open a message addressed to that casa in your email application; or right-click to copy address. Spanish vocabulary here. |
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| Click pictures to open page and details. Locate casas on our very own map here. |
See casas in sequence.
 Move to next casa by clicking logo. |
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HOSTAL VITRAL
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Independencia # 36, e/ Calixto Garcia y J. Peralta, a minute from the Malecon. Tel. (24) 84-44-69  |
LOS HERMANOS
Four ac bedrooms each with ensuites, patio Céspedes #13, entre L. Caballero y J. Peralta, 50m from the sea. Tel. (24) 84-45-42  |
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VILLA BOQUERON
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Avenida Rabi 53, right on the Malecon road, e/ J. Peralta y Luz Caballero Tel. (24) 84-44-03 or 84-45-59  |
VILLA CANEY
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Sartorio No 36, entre J. Peralta y Luz Caballero, 200m from small playa Tel (24) 84-45-52  |
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HOSTAL DOBLE ROBLE
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Francisco Vicente Aguilera #18, entre Maceo y Bernabé Varona, 150m from the town's main beach. Tel. (24) 84-47-47  |
LA MURALLA
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Joaquin Aguero 77 A, entre Marti y Lopez, 100m from Plaza de la Cultura. Tél. (24) 84-48-48  |
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VILLA BETINA
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Donato Marmol 51, e/Calixto Garcia y Joaquin Aguero, one block from Parque Colon. Cell (5) 269-5263  |
EL HORIZONTE
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Independencia No. 107, e/Agramonte y Cavada, up the hill with sea view. Tel. (24) 84-44-95  |
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HOSTAL EL CORAL
One independent aircon bedroom, ensuite bath Calle J. Mora 2e e/ Calixto Garcia y J. Aguero, 30m from the sea. Tél. (24) 84-44-04  |
EL PATIO
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle J. Mora 19, e/Cuba y J. Aguero, 50m from the sea. Tel. (24) 84-42-69  |
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| HOSTAL LAS BRISAS Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle J. Peralta 61 (Malecon), entre J. Mora y M. Grajales, facing the sea Tel. (24) 84-51-34  |
HOSTAL RONDA LA MARINA One independent aircon bedroom, ensuite bath Calle Ronda de la marina # 15 Cell. (5) 223-4132  |
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Content & photos © sogestour Updated |
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