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Banes is a town full of irony. The history of the region around the town is unique as it is by far the richest aboriginal area of Cuba, one part of the land of the Araucos, neighbours of the Tainos, who lived further east near Baracoa. From the 16th century, the waters offshore were plied by pirates, corsarios and their prey. In 1823, the township of Gibara (100km west) added the region to its authority. In 1887, Alfredo Dumois Gessé born in Saint-Domingue and already a major exporter of produce from Cuba, established the Banes Fruit Company. But it is better known as the place where Fidel Castro Ruz was married in 1948 and Fulgencio Batista Zaldivar was born in 1901. From 1898 to the late Fifties, Banes was considered as a "company town", (almost wholly-)owned and operated by the infamous United Fruit Company (Chiquita bananas) which ran a sugar mill nearby called Boston. Its colonial past is not Spanish as it is American. Stories say the cane cutters (cortadores), who worked for UFC only during the three months of the zafra would cut off a finger to collect insurance and thus receive a regular revenue. In 1910, the town administration split from Gibara with its own mayor and it built a large central park, Parque Domínguez with, around it the Teatro Heredia, the Club Banes social club and its art deco church Nuestra Señora de la Caridad (photo at right). The city dwellers started enjoying the beach at Guardalavaca from 1926 and so went the golden era of the sugar mills with the money the UFC and other authorities pumped for essential services like water mains and sewers. Banes became well-knwon through its institutions like the well-respected Los Amigos College run by Quakers, the Colonia Española (turned into a Casa de la Cultura in 1978), the Workers Union, the Sociedad Minerva, Flor de la Caridad the town hospital sponsored by a rich woman named Batista. The Rotary Club founded the town's Biblioteca Rafael María Mendive. Noteworthy establishments included Teatro Hernández, the Palacio Municipal and, in 1953 Radio Banes. In 2005, there were (very) long-term plans from Gaviota S.A. to build resorts on presently-deserted Peninsula de Ramon, (west of Cayo Saetia; see maps) something in the order of 5-7,000 rooms (in lots of 500), eventually including a horseback riding center, 6 golf courses and a port for cruise ships. You can drive from here to El Ramon to enjoy its pristine nature. It's about a 55km via the village of Antilla. POPULATION 80,610 (2007) 
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 Casa en madera in a quiet riverside setting © Bond0700 panoramio •|• The famous church, Art Deco styled, built in 1952, la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Caridad © Bond0700 panoramio  Larger regional map on click.  Calle Veguita © sogestour •|• Playa Puerto Rico  Rare gold statuette at Museo Indocubano Bani •|• Facade of said Museo located in the old Royal Bank of Canada building © Bond0700, panoramio  Playa Morales © Bond0700, panoramio •|• Zoom to the alturas © sogestour  Beach on Cayo Saetia •|• Cabin at Villa Cayo Saetia •|• hold-click : interior of cabin. © photobucket.com EXCURSIONS • Parque Nacional La Mensura (25 km southwest of Mayari) • Parque Natural Cayo Saetia (100 km, via Mayari). An isolated, green-covered, 42 sq km key with imported fauna (antelopes, aras, ostriches, buffalos, camels, iguanas, tapirs and zebras) for the all-day photo safaris sold in the Guardalavaca all-inclusive resorts. Clients arrive in helicopter or in jeeps. Some prefer staying at Villa Cayo Saetia, a Gaviota resort Tel. (24) 9-6900 with 12 bedrooms and 5 cabins (100cuc/day 3 meals) which lead to three lovely deserted playas : Gaviota, Almendra and Penon. RESTAURANTS & PALADARES El Paladar Familiar, Calle Bayamo 107, e/Ignacio Agramonte y general Moncado. SERVICES • Bus service from Holguin 6 times a day (no Viazul or Astro busses running). • If casas are all full, try the Motel Oasis (tel. 24-9-3447) : 28 bedrooms, bar and dining room. |
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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. Comments and suggestions webmaster @cubacasas.net |
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BOOK BY PHONE • From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by 24 for Banes). • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by 24 for Banes). |
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See the casas in sequence.
 Click logo to move to next recommendation. |
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| COLONIAL GUEST HOUSE One large ventilated bedroom, private bath Calle H #1526F, e/ Veguita y Francisco Franco, at the entrance to town center. Tel. (24) 8-2204  Rates : 25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
ING. SERGIO AGUILERO
Two aircon bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom Calle Iglesia 4089, a bit passed the center, in reparto Nicaragua. Tel. (24) 8-2472  Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
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| ODALIS y MANOLO Two aircon bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom Calle H #77, e/ avenida de Cardenas y Pisonero, on the street leading down to center. Tel. (24) 8-3120  Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
EVELIN FERIA DIEGUEZ
Two vented bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom Calle Bruno Merino 3401-A e/ Delfin Pupo y Jose Maria Heredia in town centre. Tel. (24) 8-3150 or 8-2561  Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
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| JULIO y OMAYDA DANTA Two aircon bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom Calle Roble #85 A, e/7ma y 8va in reparto Silva, near the hospital. Tel. (24) 8-3243 or 8-3648  Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
NANCY BACALLAO DRIGGS
One aircon bedroom, private bath Calle Roble #85 A, e/7ma y 8va in reparto Silva, at the entrance to the town from Guardalavaca. Tel. (24) 8-3243 or 8-3648  Rates : 20-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
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| MARCIA PUPO ZALDIPAR V Calle Thelmo Esperance No. 1119, e/ Bayamo y Maximo Gomez Tel. (24) 8-3329  Rates : 15-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
SR. ALFREDO SERRANO PROENZA V
Calle Delfin Pupo 1105, entre Bruno Meri y J.M. Gomez, reparto Cardenas Tel. (24) 8-2464 One of the nicest in Banes, so they say. Without meals, but there is a paladar nearby. Alfredo and his wife Esther are lovely folks. |
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Content & photos © sogestour Updated |
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