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OUR CASA LIST BEGINS HERE
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REGIONAL MAP HERE
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| Although Holguin is mostly used by tourists as a drop-off point — through its international airport — for beach resorts 55 km north-east, such as Cayo Saetia, Caletica, Esmeralda and the very popular Guardalavaca all-inclusive resorts, it should not be taken lightly (literally). The so-called "City of Parks" is the 4th largest in population on the island and offers a lot to see : a fabulous view from its Mirador (Loma de la Cruz), a series of nice parks along the same avenue and fine nightlife and museums. The town is also a gateway toa great park, La Mensura national park with its huge pine forest between the villages of Julio A. Mella and Mayari Travellers should stay awhile in its great casas to visit its nearby national parks and the now famous Sitio Historico de Biran (the Castro family's original farm site and home) maybe on their way to Santiago de Cuba, 155 km southeast. In the center of town, an abandoned market has been turned into a large music centre with a hall, recording studio and bar. Oh, and it's a perfect flat city for cyclists : ask your casa owner to find you one.
POPULATION 334,046 (2007) SEE.KNOW.DO Its parks • Parque Julio Grave de Peralta as called by some Holguineros : Parque de las Flores with the Catedral de San Isidoro where a rendition of John Paul II welcomes the fervent and the curious • Parque Cespédes named after Carlos Manuel de Céspedes; locally named San José with its Iglesia de San José, the Galeria Holguin (old stuff and antiques for sale) and Museo Eduardo Garcia Feria; • Parque Calixto García (the old Plaza de Armas with the Casa natal de Calixto Garcia and the Museo de Historia Provincial (named by some La Periquera), the Centro provincial de artes plasticas and neighbouring Biblioteca Alex Urquiola and the great Parque Central; But wait, there's more ! :•: Fábrica de Muñecas (puppet shop) :•: Fábrica de Organos (organ makers) :•: La Loma de la Cruz (the imposing 275-meter high hill of the cross, erected in 1790 to ward off a dry spell :•: La Granjita :•: Mirador de Holguin and :•: Mirador de Mayabe :•: Museo de Ciencias Naturales :•: Museo de Historia Natural (calle Maceo 129 : huge stuffed animal collection) :•: Teatro Lírico. PALADARS & RESTAURANTS • Salon Restaurant 1720, calle Frexes 190 : in a large renovated colonial, one of the best in town with meat and seafood, 10-15cuc • Taberna Pancho, avenida Jorge Dimitrov, near Hotel Pernik : pork ribs, beef, sausage specialist, try the butifaras de Paneque, 4cuc and more • Dimar, calle Martires 133 : fish and seafood 4 to 20cuc • La Ternura, calle cardet 293 : cuisine criolla, 7-8cuc • Pico Cristal, calle Manduley : fish and seafood, 4cuc and more MARKETS & SHOPS • Two agropecuarios (veg+fruit) : calle 19 (Morales Lemus) and another on calle 3 in reparto Dagoberto Sanfield • Two boutiques of foodstuff & things : La Luz de Yara (Frexes corner Maceo) and the lovely and unavoidable La Epoca (Frexes 194). SERVICES • Internet Etecsa Telepunto on Parque Calixto Garcia • Havanatur for all your excursion needs, calle Frexes tel 46-8091 • Banco de Credito y Comercio on Parque Cespedes, BFI on Manduley 167, Cadeca on Manduley 105 • Ahora, the local paper is published Saturdays : it is often refreshingly critical of city or province administrations • Farmacia Turno Especial is best pharmacy 8h-22h Mon-Sat • Aeropuerto Frank País 43-93-40 • Cubana city 42-57-07, airport 46-25-12, Havanautos 48-18-95 • Medical 42-53-02 • Transautos 48-10-11 • Transtur 48-10-11 • Turistaxi 42-41-87 TRANSPORTATION • Bus Viazul (see link above) Bayamo 6, Ciego 17,La Habana 44, Las Tunas 6, Sancti Spiritus 21, Santa Clara 26, Santiago 11 • Trains (via junction at Cacocum) Camaguey 9, Ciego de Avila 13, Guayos 17, La Habana (Daily 31), Las Tunas (Daily 4), Matanzas 24, Santiago (Daily 5), Santa Clara 20. PROJECTED Plaza de la Marqueta, this roofed market was built in 1848 and renovated 60 years later. Si Dios le quiere (God willing), it may be re-opened another 100 years later (2018) should the project of making it the city's big attraction (shops and shows) ever becomes reality. EVENINGS • Teatro Eddy Suñol (opera, symphony orchestra, modern dance, music groups, theater) re-opened in July 2011 after a ten-year hiatus to restore the venue from bop to tottom. • Casa de la UNEAC (Libertad 148 in Casa Moyua) is one of 14 such casas run over the past 50 years by Union Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba present here in this lovely renovated colonial casa making this (day and) nightspot one of the best on the island. Located on pedestrian street Manduley between Caballero y Marti : theater, concerts, music, lectures • Casa de la Cultura, calle Maceo 72 : concerts, mostly classical, exhibitions • Casa de la Trova, calle Maceo 74 : son, boleros and musica local • Centro cultural Mona Lisa, calle Luz Caballero 120 : local singers and groups • Cabaret Nocturno, 4km off centre on the way to Las Tunas : Tropicana-style shows, local fauna, not as touristy as Havana's; entry fee 10cuc, Tue to Sunday, shows at 22h • Cabaret la Terraza, avenida Jorge Dimitov at Hotel Pernik : if you wanna see tourists • Club Siboney, calle Manduley 185 on Calixto Garcia park : hot, by the time it closes... • Disco Cristal, calle Manduley 199 : the local youngsters just beg to enter; 5cuc for tourists • La Bolera, calle Havana facing Parque Infantil : local fauna meets for bowling, billiards and karaoke; must-see • Cinemas : Baria, Encanto, Frexes, Martí |
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| EXCURSIONS • Parque Nacional La Mensura streches on 5,340 hectares (12.3 acres) on the high plain of Nipe partly overed by the largest pine forest in Cuba (Pinares de Mayari); more than 100 species of plants, trekking and interpretation paths, the highest waterfall in the land and a research centre of the Academia de Ciencias de Cuba : one night here at Villa Pinares de Mayari (30-40cuc) is strongly suggested Tel. (24) 53-308 Get there through the town of Julio A. Mella [very long and dusty road without much to look at, except note that nearby rock faces are being crushed for what seems a large quarry which will help build a new dam Map here • Sitio Historico in Biran about 75 km southeast of Holguin where visitors can walk around the settlement and land of Fidel Castro's father where the Comandante was born; some photos here • Parque Nacional de Bariay in Fray Benito : the bay and mini beach where Cristoforo Colombo stepped foot on 28 de octubre de 1492 : reproduction of Taino village with live characters; French and English-speaking guides • Museo Aborigen Chorro de Maita (on the way to Guardalavaca) for its collection of 60 skeletons of Spaniards (1490-1540) exhumed in 1986. Community life artefacts of the Taïno era. Villages and bohios of the regional township (municipio) are witness to the strong aboriginal presence in the province : Yaguajay, Macabí, Guayacanes, Babiney and even Banes • Parque Nacional Pico Cristal established in 1930 where one may try to climb its namesake peak 1,213 meters high • Parque Cayo Saetia in the Bay of Nipe : you have to show patte blanche at the gate and pay a fee : left to resort, ahead for the faraway beach on rough (but not that rough) roads See map here. |
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| EVENINGS • Teatro Eddy Suñol (opera, symphony orchestra, modern dance, music groups, theater) re-opened in July 2011 after a ten-year hiatus to restore the venue from bop to tottom. • Casa de la UNEAC (Libertad 148 in Casa Moyua) is one of 14 such casas run over the past 50 years by Union Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba present here in this lovely renovated colonial casa making this (day and) nightspot one of the best on the island. Located on pedestrian street Manduley between Caballero y Marti : theater, concerts, music, lectures • Casa de la Cultura, calle Maceo 72 : concerts, mostly classical, exhibitions • Casa de la Trova, calle Maceo 74 : son, boleros and musica local • Centro cultural Mona Lisa, calle Luz Caballero 120 : local singers and groups • Cabaret Nocturno, 4km off centre on the way to Las Tunas : Tropicana-style shows, local fauna, not as touristy as Havana's; entry fee 10cuc, Tue to Sunday, shows at 22h • Cabaret la Terraza, avenida Jorge Dimitov at Hotel Pernik : if you wanna see tourists • Club Siboney, calle Manduley 185 on Calixto Garcia park : hot, by the time it closes... • Disco Cristal, calle Manduley 199 : the local youngsters just beg to enter; 5cuc for tourists • La Bolera, calle Havana facing Parque Infantil : local fauna meets for bowling, billiards and karaoke; must-see • Cinemas : Baria, Encanto, Frexes, Martí |
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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 the town's area code, 24) • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by the town's area code, 24) 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 photos to see each casa's page and description. Locate most casas on this map.
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See most casas in sequence.
 Move to next casa by clicking this logo. |
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| MIRIAM One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Ave. de los Libertadores (calle Marti) 22, corner of Roosevelt, reparto Peralta, on the street leading to Mayari. Tél. (24) 42-74-25  |
ENRIQUE V
Two aircon bedrooms, private bathrooms Calle Maceo No. 52A entre 16 y 18 in reparto Zayas, near the Loma de la Cruz. Tel. (24) 42-46-83  |
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| FRANCISCO Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Ave. Los Alamos 41, e/ Independencia y 20 de Mayo, reparto Santiesteban, 8 mins from Parque Calixto Garcia, 2 mins. from Viazul Tel. (24) 42-34-66  |
CELIA V
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Pepe Torres No. 75 (Bajos), e/ Arias y Agramonte, one block west of Parque Central. Tel. (24) 42 45-81  |
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| CARIDAD One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Aricochea No. 133, upstairs entre Pepe Torres y Jose A. Cardet, three blocks from Parque Peralta. Tel. (24) 42-37-74  |
HOSTAL SALERMO V
Two aircon, ensuites + mini apt upstairs Calle Narciso Lopez 164, entre Frexes y Marti, in town centre two blocks from Parque Calixto Garcia. Tél. (24) 42-73-47  |
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| AIMÉE One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Cuba 145, e/Fomento y Progreso. Four blocks from Parque Central. Tel. (24) 42-28-42  |
LILITA V
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Agramonte 108, 2nd floor, e/ Fomento y Cervantes., 5 blocks from Parque Central Tel. (24) 42-26-49  |
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| ROBERTO Two aircon bedrooms, private bathrooms Calle Luz #32, e/19 y Paz, reparto Luz 15 blocks from centre. Tel. (24) 42-57-30  |
DAVID V
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Fomento No. 182-F, entre Cuba y Garayalde four blocks from Cine Baria in city center.Tel. (24) 42-66-91  |
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| RODOLFO V One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Luz Caballero # 71A e/ Morales Lemus y Narciso Lopez in center, one block from Parque Calixto Garcia. Tél. (24) 42-70-16  |
AURORA V
Upstairs, two aircon bedrooms, ensuites Calle Luz Caballero no. 132 altos, e/ Maximo Gomez y Pepe Torres, one block from Teatro Eddy Suñol. Tel. (24) 47-28-01  |
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| JORGE V Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, patio, 50's bungalow Calle Maceo 46, esquina (corner of) 18, three blocks north of Parque Calixto Garcia Tél. (24) 42-38-23  |
JORGE y NANCY Two aircon bedrooms, private bathrooms Calle Fomento # 63 (upstairs), entre Linea y Carretera de Gibara, in reparto Zayas, close to Loma de la Cruz. Tel. (24) 42-28-41  |
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| DANIEL y VIVIAN V Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, patio Calle 19, # 17, entre Luz y Rio, reparto Luz, à 15 mins. walk from center. Tél. (24) 42-23-08  |
JUAN y SONIA V Indep apt one aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Calle Narciso Lopez 81, entre Agramonte y Garayalde, three blocks from Hotel Santiago. Tel. (24) 42-45-85  |
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| MARIA ELENA V Upstairs apartment with one ac bedroom, ensuite Calle Martires No. 13 (upstairs) e/ Cuba y Garayalde Tel. (24)  |
LA CASONA V Whole casa to yourself Calle Maximo Gomez 270 e/ Frexes y Aguilera Tel. (24)  |
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Content & photos © sogestour  Updated |
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