 |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
 The playa, the mountains of the Escambray and the mouth (La Boca) of Rio Guaurabo as seen from Manolo's veranda. |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Small seaside village 5 km from Trinidad in the province of Sancti Spiritus, here's La Boca. Boasts a beach, a small restaurant and bar, a couple of snack counters, a hotel exclusively for government workers, fishing boats and fishermen. Most of all, the sea in front of your eyes.
Its little beach is at the mouth of a narrow river, the Guarabo, where the barcas are parked. When we went by here annually since 01, we saw a beach that was in mala estado, eaten up by the undercurrents and covered in pebbles. In 2005, casa owner Manolo Menendez and his neighbors transported sand and started planting trees : it's almost in its original state. Choose from our suggested casas as they're close to the beach, but most important, they're away from the nightly loud music emanating from nearby the govt-run hotel, a few hundred meters away. GETTING HERE Map from Trinidad here. Map of surroundings here. TRANSPORTS • Rent a bike to ride to Playa Aguilar or further Playa Ancon (seaside flat easy road but without shade) or all the way to Trinidad (gradual, gentle uphill to go; easy going down to return). • Localement : cocotaxis (yellow-cabined covered motorcycles), 3 pass. max. From here to Trinidad, 3 to 5cuc per person. • By minibus "Hop and Go" from Transtur got through Trinidad and a seaside circuit passing here in La Boca and the port of Casilda. • By taxi to Trinidad, from Havana, 3 hrs 30 minutes, (via autopista nationale and Cienfuegos) : figure 25cuc per person, minimum 4 passengers. • By Viazul a/c bus to Trinidad from La Habana : 4 heures, 25cuc. POPULATION 1,500 (mas o menos)
PLAYAS Right here, the small local beach; Aguilar, (4km), Ancon (6km). PALADARES AND RESTAURANTS In La Boca Small seaside terrazza, further down the road, another on Aguilar Beach and a couple k's further yet another at La Curva de Alfredo (where the road from Casilda stops). In Trinidad La Estela or the Sol y Son. Othersl : Colonial, Daniel, Don Antonio, El Jigue, El Meson del Regidor, La Cachancharra, La Coruña, Plaza Mayor. SEE IN LA BOCA • No cultural site (we know of). Actually, consider the whole small town as a cultural curiosity... EVENINGS IN TRINIDAD : MUSIC, DANCE, SHOWS • Artex (daily dance lessons) • Casa de la Trova (group and dancing the son) • Casa de la Musica Egrem (most popular with three stages near Iglesia Santisima) • Casa de la Musica (daily dance lessons) • Ciné Romelio Cornelio Parque Central • Disco Las Cuevas (extraordinary cave) • Las Ruinas (of Teatro Brunet) : open sky • Palenque de Congos Reales (afro-cuban rythms). |
 Calle Real follows the seaside, royally, and changes its name for avenida del Mar © sogestour  Calle D descends al mar in front of casa Valladares © sogestour  Calle Real is a one-way in front of Rosalinda's. Some 100 m further is the beach © sogestour  For just a handful of pesos, empty in hand, one can get a refill in this sea-view bar — mainly for Cubans and curious travellers © sogestour  These two are going down calle D which comes up from el mar all the way to Hostal Barrios © sogestour |
|||||||||
 |
BOOK BY PHONE • From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by the town's area code, 419). • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by the town's area code, 419).  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.  |
|||||||||
| OUR RECOMMENDATIONS Prefix for phone. La Boca - Trinidad is now 41 (was 419) Phone numbers have now 6 digits, starting with 99. Most owners in La Boca have taken the bad habit, when times are tough, to impose packages on their guests including meals and lodging, thereby trying to recoup their losses but bringing the total bill to more than what they advertise. As far as we were able to ascertain in Jan 09 — very few stick to their rates. 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. Share your discoveries webmaster @cubacasas.net |
||||||||||
HOSPEDAJE VISTA EL MAR Manolo Menéndez and spouse Sonia Calle Real (the seaside road) 47 with the best view in town, arguably the best front porch view in the country. Tel. (41) 99-37-16 or (41) 99-41-34 Besides offering a beautiful view of the sea and the beach where the Guaurabo river joins the sea, Manolo and his spouse rent two air conditioned bedrooms — including a brand new one —, each with private bath. Superb is the veranda with the dining table. The couple is always working on improvements and recently moved to the back, leaving the main house to their guests. Rates : 25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
HOSTAL BUENAVISTA Guillo Velazquez and Violeixis Perez Calle San José #3, e/ Real y Rio. facing the beach, 10m away. Tel. 41) 99-6634 c/o neighbour Guillo's own cell (5) 240-8012 This young lively couple opened their casa in 2004 in a large area shaded by mature trees. One very large bedroom with two double beds, private bathroom, right by a shaded veranda with rockers (photo, right). A sunny patio on beach side. Meals served facing the sea. Hosts are always improving and spending time renovating. Rates : 25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
VILLA RIO MAR Nestor Manresa and Odalys Abram Calle San Jose No. 65, entre Rio y Real, about 20m from the beach, almost by the river. Tel. (41) 99-3108 Cell (5) 277-0912 Nestor and Odalys have been renting two bedrooms in their lovely colonial villa for along while. Sided by a nicely-tiled veranda where their guests can enjoy breakfasts and dinners with an unobstructed view of the sea and sunset. Two superbly decorated bedrooms each with their own bathroom. The couple prepares meals in the kitchen in back. Rates : 30cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8.
|
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
CASA DE ROSALINDA Rosalinda Companioni Calle Real No. 73 — a narrow one-way — almost at corner of avenida del Mar, by a mini peso snack & bar. Tél. (41) 99-2306 While Rosalinda was away, Olga showed us the small rooms offered for rent : the entrance cum dining area, the bathroom with its shower and an a/c two-beds room. Along the outside wall behind the streetside grille, two rockers with a sea view. Rates : 25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
HOSTAL VILLA SONIA Sonia Santos and Luis Hernandez Calle Real No. 11, corner (esquina) calle D, facing the sea. Tel (41) 99-2923 Sonia rents two air-conditioned bedrooms, modernly furnished and well hotel-style decorated, each with its own private bathroom in this lovely casa facing the sea across the road. Large patio, balcony, veranda, terrace with chairs and rockers, a hammock and tables in the shade or the sun to read, write or relax. Meals served; parking on premises. Rates : 25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
HOSTAL IDEL V Avenida del Mar (Calle Real), nº 9 facing the sea, neighbor to Hostal Villa Sonia, corner of calle D. Tel. (41) 99- Surrounded by flowery spaces and ornemental plants, the place is caressed by the sea breeze. Its veranda is inviting with the view of the el mar. In the back, a small terrace in the shade where meals can be taken. Two aircon bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and large, queen-size type beds, Parking, meals served, laundry service. Rates : 25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts, 4cuc, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
VALLADARES GUESTHOUSE Sr. Segundo Ramona Calle D, no 1, entre avenida Sol y avenida Mar. Tel. (41) 99-6863 Framed by mature bougainvilliers, Segundo's casa features two long verandas — one to enjoy meals, the other stretching along the enclosed parking. Segundo rents one-only compact bedroom with two beds and its own ensuite bathroom. Parking, meals served, laundry service. Rates : 25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
HOSTAL BARRIOS Orlando Barrios Pérez Calle D, entre avenida del Sol y avenida del Mar Tél. (41) 99-3606 Since 2002, Orlando has been renting this whole casa. Him and his spouse, a retired couple, live next door. The rental has two full bedrooms, both aircon, two doubles and their own bathroom. Small living room with tv, kitchen; balcony and chairs on the street front; flowery patio in back with outdoor shower. Rates : 25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
HOSTAL SOL Y MAR V Joaquin and Olga Pomes Avenida del Mar #87, at the entrance to village coming from Playa Aguilar and Ancon. Tel./fax (41) 99-61-87 " In 2003, this was one of our favorite casas — there's something special about Joaquin and Olga that brought us back twice and makes it hard to leave. A Norwegian couple cancelled the rest of their travel plans elsewhere and stayed for a week!" Rates : 25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for more pix © hostalsolymar.tk |
|||||||||
HOSTAL EL CAPITAN Maikel Casanova and Yile Pérez Calle Real (seaside road) #82. One k from La Boca, 3 k's from Playa Aguilar. Tel. (41) 99-30-55 cellular (041) 38-386 Only casa we know that's truly on the sea on the south side of the island. Original owner Cuca Casanova died in 2004. Her nephew inherited and renovated from top to bottom with great taste. Two air-conditioned bedrooms with private bathrooms, seaside terrace with shower, Meals served. Rates : rooms 30cuc (max. 2 adults), breakfasts 5cuc, dinners 10cuc |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
HOSTAL JULIO Calle Real No. 17B, 100m from playa, almost at the fork of avenida Sol, offcenter in a group of casas at entrance to village coming from Trinidad. Tel. (41) 99-8106 Cellular (5) 240-8097 "Chachi", as he likes to be called is the organizer busy-body type who always has something to offer to tourists. In his casa, it's hospitality in both dwellings roadside. One has a bedroom in front, The other lodging is in the back on ground floor with a rooftop terrace and pool further back. Meals served, parking. Rates : 25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.), breakfasts 4, dinners 7-8 |
 Click for our pix. © sogestour |
|||||||||
 |
Content & photos © sogestour  Updated |
|||||||||
