www.cubacasas.net •|• Holguin [Holguin]

Also in the Oriente

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.

DISTANCES (km) Banes, 70 Baracoa, 245 Bayamo, 71 Biran, 75 Cacocum (railway), 17 Camaguey, 208 Cayo Saetía, 120 Ciego de Avila, 318 Estero Ciego Caletica, 53 Gibara, 33 Guantanamo, 232 Guardalavaca, 54 La Habana, 735 Las Tunas, 79 Matanzas, 673 Moa, 174 Playa Esmeralda, 60 Santiago de Cuba, 155

MAPS & LINKS

Map - City with casas

Map - City Centre

Map - Greater Holguin

Map - Holguin roadmap to Cayo Saetia

Map - Holguin, Gibara to Guardalavaca and Banes

Map - North coast from Puerto Padre to Banes

Map - Holguin to Biran and La Mensura via Julio A. Mella

Map - North Coast from Puerto Padre to Cayo Saetia

Bus schedule on Viazul web site (viazul.com/)

Island-wide bus skeds (horariodebuses.com/)

Train schedule to Cacocum (local station, 17km)

Weather forecast (Wunderground 5-Day)

Daily currency exchange rates

All that's natural in Holguin province

Who's playing at Casa de la Musica — Egrem

POPULATION 334,046 (2007)

SEE.KNOW.DO
The city parks : Parque Julio Grave de Peralta or Parque de las Flores, the renovated Plaza del Mercado or Plaza de la Marqueta, Parque San José or Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Parque Calixto García (the old Plaza de Armas) and the large Parque Central.

Historical sites : Catedral de San Isidoro, Fábrica de Muñecas, Iglesia de San Jose, La Loma de la Cruz, La Granjita, Mirador de Holguin, Mirador de Mayabe, Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Museo de Historia La Periquera, Museo de Historia Natural, Teatro Lírico.

PALADARS & RESTAURANTS
• 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 • Salon 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.

SERVICES
Aeropuerto Frank País 43-93-40, Cubana bur 42-57-07, apo 46-25-12, Havanautos 48-18-95, Medical 42-53-02, Micar 48-16-52, Transautos 48-10-11, Transtur 48-10-11, Turistaxi 42-41-87

TRANSPORTATION
Bus Astro Camaguey (2nd day, 9cuc), Ciego de Avila (2nd day, 13cuc), La Habana (Daily, 28), Santiago (2nd day 7.50) 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.

The long, very long staircase climbing the Loma de la Cruz is not a religious "Way of the Cross" but almost. The prize of that challenge is a lovely view of the valley; soft drinks (refrescos) are available on top ; ) •|• La Epoca was, during the pre-revolucion era a chain of department stores © perezmontejo, panoramio.com

Cuban cars in colour © Mikhail Malontov trekearth.com •|• Catedral de San Isidoro

Parque Central •|• Most streets point to the Loma (Hill) de la Cruz

Fishing off the end of a beach in Guardalavaca © Josefa Sester, trekearth.com •|• Guardalavaca (mouseover). © dtcuba.com

Natural parks La Mensura (100 endemic species) and Alejandro de Humboldt (59,000 hectares) as well as •|• Cayo Saetia (42 sq km) are in the area. © Gaviota

Les plus hautes chutes de l'île se nomment Gran Salto Guayabo

The highest waterfalls on the island (127 m, 416 ft) are named Gran Salto Guayabo and •|• are found in the middle of Cuba's largest pine forest — Pinares de Mayari — in national park La Mensura © radio baragua.cu - More photos here.

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 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 Map here • Sitio Historico in Biran about 75 km southesast of Holguin where visitors can walk around the settlement and land of Fidel Castro's father where the Comandante was born • Parque Nacional Pico Crystal • Parque Cayo Saetia in the Bay of Nipe.

EVENINGS
• 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 • Theater : Teatro Comandante Eddy Sunol

CASAS RECOMMENDED
V = suggested by webbies and travelers but not verified. Check in person or by phone. Children 16 and under may share parents' bedroom at no charge only if there is an additional bed available. Rates are pretty much the same for every casa : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night, breakfasts 3, dinners 5-6cuc Mention the age of your children when making the reservation. Comments and suggestions webmaster @cubacasas.net

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).

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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MIRIAM GRAVE DE PERALTA BERMUDEZ
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