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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.
OUTDOORS Cycling, trekking, horseback riding, sailing, cave exploration, bird watching, scuba diving, in the bay or in caves. VISIT 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 Boca de Guama) 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. The first military defeat of the USA, an everlasting chip on the shoulder of the warmongering Empire of Evil Bushit. 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 |
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 at Laguna de la Salina 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) |
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| This calm seaside 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, Villa Horizontes has the only activity in town. DISTANCES Caleta Buena, 36 Playa Girón, 32 Trans-island highway, 29 Varadero, 214 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. |
SEE.KNOW.DO
• 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 • Scuba diving with Lazaro, one of the area's foremost divers. Outings for 25cuc/hour Tel. (45) 98-7308 or (45) 98-7143 • 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 |
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![]() Small bay with rental casas in Caleton © sogestour |
![]() Voleibol Terry Fox in Caleton © sogestour |
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| 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). |
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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VILLA MARIETA Located in Caleton, right on the bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) itself. Public beach 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.) |
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VILLA JUANA Juana Padron Rodriguez and spouse Lazaro Located in Caleton, Batey Mario López. Public beach is 2-min walk away. Tel. (45) 98-7308 or (45) 98-7143 Nice, clean and air-conditioned bedroom, private bathroom, impeccable portico, nice terraza, warm welcome, terrace, great meals, garage. Spouse Lazaro is a scuba diving instructor.
Rates : 20-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
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CASA FEFA Josefa y Osnedy Located on the small bay in Caleton. Public beach 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.) |
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EDENIS y ERNESTO Located in Caleton facing casa Osnedy (Fefa). Public beach 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.) |
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ENRIQUE RIVAS FENTE Located in Caleton. Public beach 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 private bath. Meals served, large portions, varied menu based on availability. Rates : 20-25cuc for bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
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CASA AMERIS y FELIX Amerys Oliva Arzuaga y Felix Alfonso Martinez Located in Caleton, in the neighbourhood called Batey Mario López. Public beach is 2-min walk away. Tel. (45) 99-7131 With his wife Ameris, famous scuba diver Felix rents an air-conditioned bedroom with private bathroom (with its new and unusually modern shower head) with a large combination dining room and living room.
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MRS. MIRTA NAVARRO GONZÁLEZ Located in Caleton, in front of the Panaderia. Public beach 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.) |
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| 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. |
SEE.KNOW.DO
• Hotel Cubanacan Playa Giron (45) 98-4110, 287 rooms, for its bar, food and scuba diving centre (14 dive sites). Link here. • Museo Municipal Playa Giron (45) 98-4122 DISTANCES Caleta Buena, 4 Playa Larga/Caleton, 32 Cienfuegos, 131 (81 via Covadonga and Real Campiña) La Habana, 210 Trans-island highway, 61 RESTAURANTS Casa del Mar, El Pirata, Victoria; Pio Cuá, Rancho Benito, in Caleta Buena. |
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![]() View from El Galeon, on way to Giron © sogestour |
![]() El Cocodrilito, well-equiped dive site © sogestour |
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| BOOK BY PHONE • From Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by Playa Giron's area code, 45). • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by Playa Giron's area code, 45). |
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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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 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. |
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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.) |
![]() Mouseover for bedroom; click-hold for terraza © sogestour |
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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 casa © sogestour |
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K. S. ABELLA Ricardo Abella Hernandez Playa Giron, corner of the camino principal Tel. (45) 98-4383 Card says rent a room, seafood specialist. Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) |
![]() K.S. Abella casa © sogestour |
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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 Carlos Rizo © sogestour |
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MERCEDES SIERRA RODRIGUEZ y MARIO GARCIA RODRIGUEZ V Behind Giron's main buildings, beach at 500m. Tel (45) 98-4266 Large independent and comfortable casa. Bedroom with fan, air con and screen windows. o Shared bathroom o Full breakfast, 3cuc, dinner 8 o Terrace, parking, tour counseling. |
![]() Casa Mercedes © sogestour |
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| Some 500 meters from the autopista, on the way to Cienfuegos ans Trinidad, gateway to Zapata Peninsula, this city grew in the golden era of sugar exports as the human resources supplier of Central Australia, the sugar mill by the highway. Before the Revolucion, the area numbered 877 privately-owned farms. The mill was dismantled in 2004 and its office building turned into a Museo. DISTANCES Caleta Buena, 66 Playa Giron, 62 Playa Larga/Caleton, 33 La Habana, 146 Trans-island highway, 1 Varadero, 152 |
SEE.KNOW.DO • Direccion Municipal de Cultura, Calle 52 No. 5201 e/ 15 y 17 Tel. (45) 9-2139 • Finca Fiesta Campesina, nearby in Australia : typical Cuban cuisine feasts in a typical campesina farm. • In November 2001, hurricane Michelle hit this town of 57,000 causing wind and flood damage on 80% of its casas. In this region alone, over 700,000 had to move out of their homes. Because the Cuban government is much better equiped to help its people in time of need than the USA (ie, Louisiana 2004), the hurricane is not forgotten but the city was quickly back on its dry feet. |
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![]() © Jorge Blanco, earte.com |
![]() © Jorge Blanco, earte.com |
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| 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). |
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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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. |
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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. |
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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. Rate : 25-30cuc per bedroom per night. Source : tripadvisor, 190106 |
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CASA CARI Calle 52 # 1739 e/t 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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Content & photos © sogestour Updated |
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