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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 2009, Gibara held the 7th edition of its annual Festival Internacional del Cine Pobre, a No-Budget film fest, despite the unfinished rebuilding efforts following the passage of Huaracan Ike in 2008. A project of one of Cuba's premier directors, Humberto Solas deceased in September 2008.
POPULATION 72,056 (2007) SEE.KNOW.DO • 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 Casa Colonial, El Faro (La Concha), Mirador de Gibara EVENINGS • 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 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 (same as nearby Holguin) $$$ 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 was no publicly-available Internet connection here in March 09. • Cellular phones work. 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 (since 06, boasts a small snack and beer counter); 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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| SUGGESTED CASAS V = suggested by travelers or owners but not verified by the webmaestro. • Try to reserve at least one week ahead; you must reconfirm by phone 24 hours before arrival. Otherwise, your reservation may be cancelled. • Children 16 and under may share parents' bedroom at no charge only if there is an additional bed available. Mention the age of your children when making the reservation. Usual Gibara rates are 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) unless otherwise mentioned. Comments and suggestions webmaster @cubacasas.net |
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| BOOK BY PHONE In october 2007, all of Gibara's phone number go from 5 to 6 digits. (The first number 3 is replaced by 84) • 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). |
 BOOK BY EMAIL : Click on logo to open a message addressed to that casa in your email application; or right-click to copy address showing at bottom of browser window. Spanish vocabulary here.  |
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| Click pictures to open page and details. Locate casas on our very own map here. |
See our casas in sequence.
 Click this logo to see our next suggestion. |
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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  Regular rates, ie. 25cuc per night for a double-occupancy room. |
LOS HERMANOS
Two aircon bedrooms, shared bathroom Céspedes #13, entre L. Caballero y J. Peralta. Tel. (24) 84-45-42  Rates : 20cuc for the bedroom (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 3cuc, dinners 7-10cuc |
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HOSTAL LAS BRISAS
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle J. Peralta 61, entre J. Mora y M. Grajales Tel. (24) 84-51-34  Rates : 20cuc (summer) or 25cuc (2 adults max.) breakfasts, 3cuc; dinners 8cuc |
CASA DE LOS AMIGOS
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Cespedes #15, e/ J. Peralta y Luz Caballero. Tel. (24) 84-41-15  Rates : 20cuc for the bedroom (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 3cuc, dinners 7-10cuc |
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VILLA CANEY
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Sartorio No 36, entre J. Peralta y Luz Caballero Tel (24) 84-45-52  Rates : 20cuc for the bedroom (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 3cuc, dinners 7-10cuc |
EL HORIZONTE
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Independencia No. 107, e/Agramonte y Cavada Tel. (24) 84-44-95  Rates : 20cuc or 25cuc with kitchenette (2 adults max.) |
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EL PATIO
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle J. Mora No. 19, e/Cuba y J. Aguero Tel. (24) 84-42-49  Rates : 20cuc for the bedroom (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 3cuc, dinners 7-10cuc |
LA FORTUNA
Two aircon bedrooms, shared bathroom Calle Marti No 22, e/Sartorio y Independencia Tel. (24) 84-45-42  Rates : 20cuc for the bedroom (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 3cuc, dinners 7-10cuc |
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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  Rates : 20cuc or 25cuc (2 adults max.) |
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  Rates : 20cuc or 25cuc (2 adults max.) |
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CASA LEONCIO
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Joaquín Agüero #13, entre Callejon y Maximo Gomez. Tel. (24) 84-44-93  Rates : 20cuc for the bedroom (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 3cuc, dinners 7-10cuc |
HOSTAL DOBLE ROBLE
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Francisco Vicente Aguilera #18, entre Maceo y Bernabé Varona Tel. (24) 84-47-47  Rates : 20-25cuc, seasonal (2 adults max.) |
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HOSTAL EL CORAL
One independent aircon bedroom, ensuite bath Calle J. Mora 2e e/ Calixto Garcia y J. Aguero Tél. (24) 84-44-04  Rates : 20cuc for the bedroom (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 3cuc, dinners 7-10cuc |
HOSTAL RONDA LA MARINA
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Ronda de la marina # 15, about 100 feet (33 m) from the sea. Cell. (5) 223-4132  Rates : 20cuc for the bedroom (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 3cuc, dinners 7-10cuc |
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Content & photos © sogestour Updated |
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