Quote — Joseph Campbell
Cienaga_Zapata
Also in the region

CIENAGA JAGUEY
PLAYAGIRON PLAYALARGA

CIENAGA DE ZAPATA
The municipality which bears this name covers a large territory on the southern end of the provincia de Matanzas and includes Parque Montemar (previously named Parque Nacional Ciénaga de Zapata (70,277 ha), Gran Parque natural de Montemar (70 km of caves), and the fauna reserves of Santo Tomas and La Salina, the latter with a marsh populated by some 165 species of migrant and endemic birds. Villages and towns include La Boca (with its crocodile farm), Guama, Playa Larga / El Caleton and of course, Playa Girón.

Just north of the area, lies its access junction, a barrio built around the once busy sugar mill, Australia and across the national highway (Autopista nacional), the quiet and mosquito-less town of Jaguey Grande (pop. 57,000).

The
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve also bears the name Ciénaga de Zapata. It covers 628,171 hectares and its fauna includes 160 species of birds, 31 types of reptiles and 12 varieties of mammals. Lest we forget the bats which nightly swallow some of the (what must be) billions of mosquitoes buzzing over the swampland, one bordering the road between Australia and Playa Larga ; ) Fear having to change a flat tire at 2 a.m. : your body will be the freshest Zapata all-you-can-bite buffet !

On the bay, the mosquitos (called
jejenes hay-hay-ness) are present like clockwork at sunset, every second day, when the wind blows from the south.

Last but not least, this area is famous because of its bay of Pigs, the Bahia de Cochinos where a CIA-sponsored invasion by Cuban exiles was promptly thwarted in 1961.

MAPS & LINKS
Tourist & Road Maps of the Peninsula
Large map of the Peninsula
Map of region to Cienfuegos
Twice-daily Viazul bus from La Habana to Entronque (turnoff) at Jaguey Grande
Island-wide bus connections (horariodebuses.com/)
5-day Wunderground weather forecast
Daily exchange rates
All that's natural in Matanzas province

DISTANCES from Playa Larga/Caleton
Australia & main highway, 29
Caleta Buena, 36
Cárdenas, 114
Cienfuegos, 99
Jaguey Grande, 28
La Boca/Guama, 11
La Habana, 178
Matanzas, 150
Playa Giron, 32
Trinidad, 171
Varadero, 185
Bay of Pigs Invasion-era poster © ICAIC

Mapa prov matanzas

The beach in Caleton  © sogestour
The
long beach in Playa Larga is named Playa Maquina and is located in Caleton (where casas particulares are), the northernmost place on the bay of Pigs or bahia de Cochinos © sogestour |Buick and chicas from Belgica © sogestour
Zapata - Ze Mapa
Click :
Park map | Regional road map
Playita near Punta Perdiz
Caleta Buena diving © sogestour | Around Villa Guama, there's water and birds and all of it to thoroughly enjoy © sogestour
Estacion Ecologica © 2003 David Barbour
Grandiose
treasure lake — Laguna del Tesoro — measures 92 sq km : crossing it takes 45 mins ! Named by Tainos, one of Cuba's aboriginal tribes © unk_flickr •|• Villa Guama sits on the other side of the lake and is well-worth a day trip but a couple of nights in that hotel would allow the unforgettable enjoyment of the early morning with a bird concert

EXCURSIONS
Bird watching in the swamps of Zapata with Angel Martinez or his brother Orestes El Chino, the doyen of guides. Tel. (45) 98-7354 or 91-5539. Rate : 10cuc per person for half-day. E-mail : chino @ zapata.atenas.inf.cu
Observe birds and crocos at Boca de Guama (Info 98-2979, 98-4131)
Navigate or walk between the 12 small islands of Laguna (Lake) del Tesoro and its park (Taino casas and statues of Cuban aboriginals) the Aldea Taina in Guama
Admire some 10,000 pink flamingos on the lake Laguna de las Salinas
Hike with a guide in the woods of Corral de Santo Tomás (Info 98-7249 or 7128)
Scuba dive in the tectonic fault at Cueva de Los Peces or at Caleta Buena from the center at Villa Playa Larga (Info 98-7225) or at the well-equiped and well-managed El Cocodrilito

OUTDOORS
Cycling, trekking, horseback riding, sailing, cave exploration, bird watching, scuba diving, in the bay or in caves.


Zapata Pier © Bissingerbooks, flickr.com
WORTH THE VISIT IN THE CIENAGA
Conjunto Esculturico (Sculpture park at Laguna de Tesoro), Criadero de Cocodrilos, home for some 8,000 crocodiles (Boca de Guama), Finca Fiesta Campesina and local museum of the dismantled sugar mill, both in Australia, Museo de la Comandancia (Cuban HQ during Bay of Pigs invasion), in Australia's old sugar mill office) Museo de Playa Girón (Playa Giron) : exhibits of some of the arms used in fighting off the invasion attempt; biographies of 156 Cubans who died defending the sovereignty of their country; Villa Guama, the hotel reachable only by boat (45-min ride, 10cuc) on the Laguna del Tesoro, the 92 sq km lake : well worth a couple of nights; mornings and sunsets are glorious in the epicentre of nature, water, a bird sanctuary.
Stamps from 1965, Victoria de Giron The contra-revolucionarios were parachuted on April 17, 1961 over the Bay of Pigs backed by the CIA and the US Navy during John F. Kennedy's presidency.

Its air and sea support decimated by Cubans,
the group of mercenaries were overpowered by soldiers and civilian volunteers within 72 hours. More than 200 died in the battle.

Some 1,290 were emprisoned during one year and returned to Florida in exchange for food and medication.

The so-called Miami gusanos (worms) and the CIA-funded terrorist organization Alfa 66 never "got a life" even after 50 years : in October 2009,
the USA released from jail assassin and terrorist Santiago Alvarez, member of Brigade 2506 which attacked Cuba in the Bay of Pigs; Alvarez also attacked a Villa Clara village in 2001; stockpiled arms in his Miami apartment.
1966, the Houston in flames
| Stamps from 1965, Victoria de Giron and 1966, the Houston in flames.

SIGNATURE


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Playa Larga logo
Pink flamingos picking for food in Las Salinas
Also in the region
CIENAGA JAGUEY
PLAYAGIRON PLAYALARGA

This calm bayside village, 29 km from the national highway is the gateway to Parque Montemar (previously named Nacional Ciénaga de Zapata), then the road goes south to Playa Giron and Caleta Buena.

From here, excursions back up the road to
Boca, Guama and its Laguna del Tesoro.

In town, also called El Caleton, or Barrio Caleton, there's a bank, a post office, a bakery, a pizzeria and not much else. Otherwise, the lone hotel, Villa Horizontes has the only activity in town.

DISTANCES
Australia & main highway, 29
Caleta Buena, 36
Cárdenas, 114
Cienfuegos, 99
Jaguey Grande, 30
La Boca/Guama, 11
La Habana, 178
Matanzas, 150
Playa Giron, 32
Trinidad, 171
Varadero, 214
El Bohio poster © ICAIC

Mapa prov matanzas

RESTAURANTS
Villa Horizontes, Laguna del Tesoro, La Boca

HOTEL
Villa Horizontes, 144 rooms, 50 cabinas (45) 98-7294 Link - Its Club Octopus for scuba diving.

GUAGUAS
Local minibus (guaguas) services cover the Cienaga from Playa Larga to Jaguey Grande at 8h and 16h30 from Playa Larga to Giron at 8h, 11h30, 16h30 and 20h from Giron to Playa Larga 3 x day : am, p.m. and 19h30 Bus service ASTRO from La Habana to Playa Girón fri, sat, sun and mondays Route (ruta) #18 by VIAZUL to Cienfuegos and Trinidad stops at "Entronque de Jaguey (fork)" 4 times per day but in June 2010 the service was still suspended due to bad road conditions. See here.



Barcas on the bahia de Cochinos (Giron) © Robin Thom, flickr.com

Voleibol Terry Fox in Caleton © sogestour
Voleibol Terry Fox in Caleton © sogestour

Small bay in Caleton © sogestour
Small bay with some of our recommended casas in Caleton © sogestour


This is the northern limit of the bay of Pigs (bahia de Cochinos); beyond, in back is local beach, Maquina © Antonio Ruiz

Playa Maquina at sunrise : lovely long and deserted and truly empty from October to April. In Summer (verano) it fills daylong with workers and families from Jaguey Grande on vacation. Click to enlarge.
SEE.KNOW.DO — IN THE CIENAGA
Hotel Cubanacan Villa Playa Larga (45) 98-7218, 60 bungalows (40-50cuc double), for its bar, beach and excursions to Parque La Cienaga.

Bird watching with Angel Martinez or his brother Orestes El Chino, the doyen of guides. Tel. (45) 98-7354 or 91-5539. 10cuc pp half-day. chino @zapata.atenas.inf.cu

Fly fishing - Lazaro Viñota works for the Parque national de Cienaga de Zapata and is an official fly fishing guide (Snook, Tarpon, Bonefish, Black Bass). pnacionalcz @enet.cu) Tel. (45) 91-3555

CITMA's Estacion Ecologica in Palpite once offered free board to travelers to help research bats, birds, batrachians, crocodiles and all. Tel (45) 98-7119

WORTH THE VISIT — IN THE CIENAGA
Conjunto Esculturico (Sculpture park at Laguna de Tesoro), Criadero de Cocodrilos, home for some 8,000 crocodiles (Boca de Guama), Finca Fiesta Campesina and local museum of the dismantled sugar mill, both in Australia, Museo de la Comandancia (Cuban HQ during Bay of Pigs invasion), in Australia's old sugar mill office) Museo de Playa Girón (Playa Giron) : exhibits of some of the arms used in fighting off the invasion attempt; biographies of 156 Cubans who died defending the sovereignty of their country; Villa Guama, the hotel reachable only by boat (45-min ride, 10cuc) on the Laguna del Tesoro, the 92 sq km lake : well worth a couple of nights; mornings and sunsets are glorious in the epicentre of nature, water, a bird sanctuary.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
V = suggested by webbies, owners and travellers. Check by phone or in person. 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. Suggestions and comments webmaster @cubacasas.net
BOOK BY PHONE
• From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by Playa Larga's area code, 45).

• From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by Playa Larga's area code, 45).

Cliquez sur ce symbole pour afficher un message adressé à la casa
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.
Cliquez sur ce symbole pour afficher un message adressé à la casa
Click photos to open page,
read description and see more pictures.
Locate town in region on this map.
See Playa Larga - Caleton casas in sequence.

Click logo to see next.

DAYAMI RODRIGUEZ DIAZ
Located in a part of Playa Larga named Bahia Caleton a small secluded bay off the main bay of Pigs (Cochinos); neighbour of Enrique (below). Playa Maquina is one-minute walk away. Tel. (45) 98-7145


Dayami offers an independent-access mini apartment including a living room with small stereo unit and a mini fridge stocked with beer, water and soft drinks payable on departure.

The one a/c bedroom with ensuite bathroom has a fan and one single and one double bed.

Rates : 25cuc for mini apt per night (2 adults max.) Dinners 10cuc, breakfasts 4cuc


Click to see more. © sogestour


ENRIQUE RIVAS FENTE
Located in a part of of Playa Larga named Caleton on a small secluded bay of its own; neighbour of Dayami (above). Public beach Playa Maquina is one-min walk away. Tel. (45) 98-7178 or (45) 98-7354

Enrique and his spouse are a charming couple and their hospitality lies with a view of the bay in their friendly casa.

Air con bedroom with ensuite bath. Meals served, large portions, varied menu based on availability.

Rates : 20-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.)


Click to see more. © sogestour


VILLA MARIETA
Marieta Gómez Borges
Located in Caleton, right on the bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) itself. Public beach Playa Maquina is 20 steps away. Tel. (45) 98-7124 cellular (5) 225-1034

One large aircon bedroom with private bathroom, large bar and ranchon in back, living room in front.

Large terrace with a view of the Bay of Pigs, the beach and the barcas of neighbour fishermen.

Rates : 25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

VILLA MARIETA © sogestour
Click to see more. © sogestour


CASA FEFA
Josefa y Osnedy
Located on the small bay in Caleton. Public beach Playa Maquina is one-min walk away. Tel. (45) 98-7133

Young couple offers strategically-located on the water of Caleton bay, a one-minute walk to the Caleton beach : one aircon bedroom with a private bathroom and a sunny terraza with lovely nature views.

Osnedy can find you a guide for trekking or bird-watching. Excellent and copious cuisine.

Rates : 20-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

CASA FEFA © sogestour
Click to see more. © sogestour


EDENIS y ERNESTO
Located in Caleton facing casa Osnedy (Fefa). Public beach Playa Maquina is one-min walk away. Tel. (45) 98-7278

The hospitable couple rents out two aircon bedrooms with a shared bathroom; the dining room has a nice view, as do the zen-like seats by the water under the tree.

Around the corner on the lot, one can see the great bahia de Cochinos.

Meals served. Kitchenette with well-stocked fridge.

Rates : 20-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

Edenis_comedor © sogestour
Click to see more. © sogestour


MRS. MIRTA NAVARRO GONZÁLEZ
Located in Caleton, in front of the Panaderia. Public beach Playa Maquina is 2-min walk away. Tel. (45) 98-7315

Mirta rents one aircon bedroom with private bathroom in her centrally-located casa, all nice and modernized.

She cooks her meals in her nice and well-equiped cocina and serves them in her comedor, right by the sala.

Rates : 20-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

MIRTA NAVARRO GONZÁLEZ © sogestour
Click to see more. © sogestour


AMERIS y FELIX
Ameris Oliva Arzeaga & Felix Alfonso Martinez
Located in Caleton, in the neighbourhood called Batey Mario López. Public beach Maquina is 2-min walk away. Tel. (45) 99-7131

With his wife Ameris, experienced scuba diver Felix rents one only air-conditioned bedroom with private bathroom (with its new and unusually modern shower head) with a large combination dining room and living room.

Rates : 20-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

Ameris y Felix © sogestour
Click to see more. © sogestour

CASA taken off our lists in February 2010 : VILLA JUANA — Juana Padron Rodriguez and spouse Lazaro : exiled


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PlayaGiron
Also in the region
Locate town in region on this map.
CIENAGA JAGUEY
PLAYAGIRON PLAYALARGA

The road to here from Playa Larga is dull : you don't see the bay most of the time, just rows of bushes and trees right and left. A nice stop along the way is El Galeon with its restaurant (low-priced veggy buffet for lunch), lookout and dive center — El Cocodrilito. Scuba dubas hang around Giron if only to marvel at the undersea world off Caleta Buena, a few k's past.

Little
Museo Municipal Playa Giron tells the step by step lost battle of the exiles in 1961.

Laid-back and mostly deserted
Hotel Horizontes Playa Giron is mid-range, stretched along a man-made barrier which protects the beach.

Its swimming pool and bar are about the only action in this sleepy town.


DISTANCES
Australia & main highway, 60
Caleta Buena, 4
Cárdenas, 114
Cienfuegos, 131 (81 via Covadonga)
Jaguey Grande, 61
La Boca/Guama, 11
La Habana, 210
Matanzas, 150
Playa Larga/Caleton, 32
Trinidad, 171
Varadero, 214
Bay of Pigs Invasion-era poster © ICAIC

Mapa prov matanzas

RESTAURANTS
Casa del Mar, El Galeon, El Pirata, Victoria; Pio Cuá, Rancho Benito, in Caleta Buena.

El Galeon © sogestour
View from restaurant
El Galeon, on way to Giron © sogestour

El Cocodrilito © sogestour
El Cocodrilito, well-equiped dive site © sogestour

Click for Playa Giron, Cuba Forecast
The temperature today in Playa Giron

GUAGUAS
Local minibus (guaguas) services cover the Cienaga from Playa Larga to Jaguey Grande at 8h and 16h30 from Playa Larga to Giron at 8h, 11h30, 16h30 and 20h from Giron to Playa Larga 3 x day : am, p.m. and 19h30 Bus service ASTRO from La Habana to Playa Girón fri, sat, sun and mondays Route (ruta) #18 by VIAZUL to Cienfuegos and Trinidad stops at "Entronque de Jaguey (fork)" 4 times per day but in June 2010 the service was still suspended due to bad road conditions. See here.
SEE.KNOW.DO — IN THE CIENAGA
Hotel Cubanacan Playa Giron (45) 98-4110, 282 rooms (45cuc double) mostly in bungalows, for its bar, food and scuba diving centre (14 dive sites : minimum 25cuc per dive, 5 for 100). Link here.

Museo Municipal Playa Giron (45) 98-4122 is worth the ride here with its salas of artefacts from the famous Bay of Pigs invasion; nice to watch the short documentary named First defeat of US imperialism in the Americas which 50 years later is still stuck in the throat of the CIA-backed gusanos breathing their last gasps on calle Ocho in My, Am Me.

Bird watching with Angel Martinez or his brother Orestes El Chino, the doyen of guides. Tel. (45) 98-7354 or 91-5539. 10cuc pp half-day. chino @zapata.atenas.inf.cu

Scuba diving with Felix, master of his water domain with over 3.000 dives; has met Commandant Cousteau; knows every single site on the tip of his fins. Tel. (45) 99-7131

Fly fishing - Lazaro Viñota works for the Parque national de Cienaga de Zapata and is an official fly fishing guide (Snook, Tarpon, Bonefish, Black Bass). pnacionalcz @enet.cu) Tel. (45) 91-3555

CITMA's Estacion Ecologica in Palpite once offered free board to travelers to help research bats, birds, batrachians, crocodiles and all. Tel (45) 98-7119

WORTH THE VISIT — IN THE CIENAGA
Conjunto Esculturico (Sculpture park at Laguna de Tesoro), Criadero de Cocodrilos, home for some 8,000 crocodiles (Boca de Guama), Finca Fiesta Campesina and local museum of the dismantled sugar mill, both in Australia, Museo de la Comandancia (Cuban HQ during Bay of Pigs invasion), in Australia's old sugar mill office) Museo de Playa Girón (Playa Giron) : exhibits of some of the arms used in fighting off the invasion attempt; biographies of 156 Cubans who died defending the sovereignty of their country; Villa Guama, the hotel reachable only by boat (45-min ride, 10cuc) on the Laguna del Tesoro, the 92 sq km lake : well worth a couple of nights; mornings and sunsets are glorious in the epicentre of nature, water, a bird sanctuary.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
V = suggested by webbies, owners and travellers. Check by phone or in person. 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. Suggestions and comments webmaster @cubacasas.net

BOOK BY PHONE
• From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by Jaguey Grande's area code, 45).

• From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by Jaguey Grande's area code, 45).

Cliquez sur ce symbole pour afficher un message adressé à la casa
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.
Cliquez sur ce symbole pour afficher un message adressé à la casa

HOSTAL LUIS
Luis A. Garcia Padron
On main seaside street / road leading to Caleta Buena, steps from Hotel Playa Giron and its beach.
Tel. (45) 98-4258 or 99-4258 When full, they send guests to cousin Miguel Padron y Odalys.

A modern casa on a large lot : travellers will find, in the back, apart from the main house, two aircon cabinas each with tiny shaded balcony with chairs and table, two beds and its own private ensuite bathroom. Both are clean, well laid-out.

The main casa is where meals are served, if so wished. Horseback riding, scuba diving and tour guide services available through owners.

Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) according to season.

HOSTAL LUIS © sogestour
Click to enter © sogestour

LORENZO y ZOILA
Lorenzo Reitor Bacallao & spouse Zoila
Playa Giron, 50 meters from camino principal. Coming from the beach intersection, left after the high edificios. Tel. (45) 98-4296

On the floor reserved for visitors, one double aircon bedroom with private bathroom.

Laundry. Other services you ask for. Aircon and fans. Hospitable hosts.

Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

LORENZO Y ZOILA © sogestour
Mouseover for bedroom; click-hold for terraza © sogestour

GERALDO ACOSTA
Playa Giron, 50 meters from camino principal Tel. (45) 98-4288

One aircon bedroom with private bathroom.

Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

GERALDO ACOSTA © sogestour
Geraldo Acosta casa © sogestour

K. S. ABELLA
Ricardo Abella Hernandez
Playa Giron, corner of the camino principal Tel. (45) 98-4383

Card says rent a room, seafood specialist.

Actually, Ricardo used to work as chef in the kitchen at Villa Playa Giron. Now he's on his own and guests like what they taste.

Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

K. S. ABELLA © sogestour
K.S. Abella casa © sogestour

CARLOS RIZO V
Casa # 39 Tel. (45) 98-4341

Carlos and Ana rent out one bedroom, air con, full bathroom.

• Meals served.
• Quiet site.
• Divers like the place.

Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.)

Casa_Incono2 © sogestour
Casa Carlos Rizo © sogestour

MERCEDES y MARIO V
Mercedes Sierra y Mario Garcia Rodriguez
Behind Giron's main buildings, beach at 500m. Tel (45) 98-4138

He's a geography teacher; she, of physics. They own this large independent and comfortable casa and rent one aircon bedroom with fan, air con and screen windows; private bathroom.

Rates : 15-20cuc per night (2 adults max.)
o Full breakfast, 3cuc, dinner 8
o Terrace, parking, tour counseling.
Casa_Inconocida © sogestour
Casa Mercedes © sogestour

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Jaguey Grande
Also in the region
CIENAGA JAGUEY
PLAYAGIRON PLAYALARGA

Some 500 meters from the trans-island autopista, on the way to Cienfuegos and Trinidad, gateway to Zapata Peninsula, this city of 57,000 grew in the golden era of sugar exports as the human resources supplier of Central Australia, the sugar mill by the highway.

The local sugar mill was dismantled in 2003 and its office building turned into a museum, the
Museo de la Comandancia.

The area is still quite active but the sugar mill staff has been recycled into teachers, instructors and other jobs since 2002, when the dismantling of most of the sugar mill network began.

Before the Revolucion, the area numbered 877 privately-owned farms growing over some 30,000 acres; before the dismantling of the Russian empire, the local grove was said to cover 115,000 acres and was probably
the largest in the world under one management. Most harvests were the work of students and overall, about 27,000 workers were caring and picking full-time. Some 80% of citrus were red grapefruits (Henderson, Rio Red and Star Ruby varieties), the rest is limes and a few tangerines, mostly for export.

Today, joint ventures, with most notably
Israel takes up a fourth of the total Cuban production and limes are on the way up as demand from the US is increasing; also, local processing facilities are capable of producing the juice qualities demanded by U.S. consumers.

Hurricane
damages hit the citrus industry very hard in 2001 and 2005. Overall the government reported a 2007 citrus crop of 469,000 tonnes, compared with more than 800,000 tonnes in 2004.

In 2008, 35,000 tonnes of grapefruit and around 3,500 tonnes of oranges
were lost after hurricane Ike ravaged the area.

DISTANCES
Caleta Buena, 66
Cárdenas, 114
Cienfuegos, 94
Colon, 43
Criadero de Cocodrilos, 15
La Boca/Guama, 72
La Habana, 150
Matanzas, 90
Playa Giron, 62
Playa Larga/Caleton, 30
La Habana, 146
Trinidad, 141
Trans-island highway (autopista), 1
Varadero, 90
Bay of Pigs Invasion-era poster © ICAIC

Mapa prov matanzas

kingdom of the citricos industry © Azerefu, panoramio
Peaceful kingdom of the
citricos industry © Azerefu, panoramio

Palacio del Pueblo + Chevrolet Naranjo © Cubanos 2112
Palacio del Pueblo + Chevrolet Naranjo © Cubanos 2112

Finca Fiesta Campesina, the Finquita restaurant © Lordcafe, panoramio
Finca Fiesta Campesina, the
Finquita restaurant © Lordcafe, panoramio


"Death to the invador",
the rallying cry was not heeded : Fidel sent the failing 1,290 CIA-supported exiles to prison for one year and then returned them to Florida in exchange for food and medication. ©

SEE.KNOW.DO
Hotel Batey Don Pedro (45) 91-2825, 10 cottages (35cuc double), for its green surroundings and the neighbouring Finca (Farm) Fiesta Campesina. Link

Direccion Municipal de Cultura of Jaguey Grande can point to some monuments and other noteworthy sites, such as

Boca de Guama is a tourist complex purportedly showing a aboriginal culture including snacks and restaurant, gift shop, a tiny croc show but mainly the dockfrom where to cruise or cross Laguna del Tesoro and reach Villa Guama, the lakeside hotel.

Finca Fiesta Campesina, nearby : typical Cuban cuisine feasts in a typical campesina farm.

Museo de la Comandancia, (Tue-Sun), the building used by Fidel to oversee the fight for the island's sovereignty, attacked by US-backed exiles in what was called the Bay of Pigs; the spot was the office of the Central Australia sugar mill, 500 meters from the autopista.

Criadero de Crocodilos (8-5pm), a breeding farm and Cuba's first environmental protection scheme, launched in 1962; a tiny zoo and ceramic shop — Taller de Ceramica —are on premises or nearby.
GUAGUAS
Local minibus (guaguas) services cover the Cienaga from Playa Larga to Jaguey Grande at 8h and 16h30 from Playa Larga to Giron at 8h, 11h30, 16h30 and 20h from Giron to Playa Larga 3 x day : am, p.m. and 19h30 Bus service ASTRO from La Habana to Playa Girón fri, sat, sun and mondays Route (ruta) #18 by VIAZUL to Cienfuegos and Trinidad stops at "Entronque de Jaguey (fork)" 4 times per day but in June 2010 the service was still suspended due to bad road conditions. See here.

BOOK BY PHONE
• From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by Jaguey Grande's area code, 45).

• From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by Jaguey Grande's area code, 45).

Cliquez sur ce symbole pour afficher un message adressé à la casa
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.
Cliquez sur ce symbole pour afficher un message adressé à la casa
Click photos to open page, read description and see more pictures. Locate town in region on this map.
See Jaguey Grande casas in sequence.

Click logo to see next.

CASA DE ZULEIDA
Zuleida y Lazaro Viñola
Calle 15 A #7211, entre 72 y 74, in front of a large community fruit & vegetable garden. Tel. (45) 91-3674 or cellular (5) 290-9402 (replace the 5 by 015 in Cuba)


Two large air-conditioned bedrooms with private bathrooms. Garage. Excellent and welcoming couple, great food, lovely decoration.

A great choice away from the mosquitoes which appear en masse every second day in the Cienaga de Zapata.

Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.).

CASA DE ZULEIDA © sogestour
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LAZARO y MARIA
Ing. Lazaro Antonio Alayon Gonzalez y Dra. Maria Isabel Echenique Dìaz
Calle 17 n°74C02 entre 74C y 76, close to the city's hospital. Tel. (45) 91-3555


The casa of this charming couple (Biologist Lazaro and Doctora Echenique) offer two air-conditioned bedrooms each with a private bathroom and fridge.

Guests can enjoy breakfast or dinner and a refresher in the small swimming pool in the backyard.

Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.).


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LAS DELICIAS DE NERI
José Antonio Acosta Ramos (Neri and Toni)
Calle 1c No. 3804 B, entre 38 y 40, Reparto Las Delicias Tel. (45) 91-2021 Cell (5) 277-5067

The couple offers an independent apartment with its private entrance, kitchenette with fridge, aircon bedrooms with private bath; a small bedroom is also available separately. Terrace, patio, meals served, parking, fans, tv.

Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.).

Source : cubaradiso, 261009



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CASA BERTHA
Calle 52 # 1727 entre 17 y 19, further into town, blocks from bars and commercial activity.
Tel. (45) 91-2116 or 91-2310.

Two aircon bedrooms sharing one bathroom. Good meals served. Garage for your rented car.

Rates : 25-30cuc per bedroom per night.

Source : tripadvisor, 190106




CASA CARI
Calle 52 # 1739 entre 17 y 19, close to preceding - No phone

She has two separate rooms. One with a separate bathroom and the second shared with Cari. She is an excellent cook.

Cari can arrange for someone to watch a vehicle for you for a cuc or dos.

Rate :
25-30cuc per bedroom per night. Meals range from $3 to $12 CUC depending on choice.

Source : tripadvisor, 190106




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Updated 21.06.2010