A quiet seaside village surviving with small-time fishing and a beautiful blonde beach, Playa La Herradura offers its almost-on-the-water casas to the citizens of Las Tunas, Holguin and Velasco.
Without stores or telephone, it attracts travellers looking for a total getaway : one can rent a room in legal casas and enjoy only the skies, the sea, the quiet and the seafood. In summer, forget it : it is packed, shoulder-to-shoulder with smoldering heat-avoiding Cubans.
Although modest, its handful of casas are clean and well-equipped. Bring books, sun lotion and wine.
Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
A safe bet ? This place will be swarming with all-inclusive resorts by 2018 ... if the planet lasts that long ;(
LOCATION
On the road between Velasco and Puerto Padre : from Lora (a train track passes), go north towards the coast for about 8km. Jesus Menendez (called Chaparra when this was a huge sugar town) is the city that serves it for food and services.
If your itin includes Gibara or Holguin, it's easy to get here going through Velasco. From the country's central highway and Las Tunas, you'll go by Puerto Padre, Delicias, then Chaparra and turn left at Lora close to the train track.
MAPS & LINKS
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| Regional road map |
Map of provincia Las Tunas.
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Las Tunas Weather Forecast (Wunderground),
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| Island-wide bus connections (horariodebuses.com/) |
| All that's natural in Las Tunas province |
Daily currency exchange rates
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DISTANCES
Bayamo, 168
Camaguey, 200
Delicias, 39
Gibara, via Velasco, 100
Holguin, 73
Jesus Menendez (Chaparra), 31
Las Tunas, 112
Puerto Padre, via Chaparra and Lora, 43
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POPULATION 400 (est.)
SEE
Swim, eat, drink and dream. A few k's away, on a flat seaside road (easy by bike), there's Punto Uvero, Las Llanitas and at the end of this dead-end road, Las Bocas and its playa.
SERVICES
They are all in Jesus Menendez, commonly called Chaparra. A visit should be called for : there are architectural finds (bungalows and cottages dating from the US colonial period) and a cultural community (musicians, writers, artists) which seems effervescent. Radio Victoria 1050AM, 94,5FM
PLAYAS
It's here ! Almost deserted in winter because Holguineros prefer their beaches in summer (verano) . Some 3 or 4 km away, playa Las Llanitas and then Las Bocas. A charming excursion and on your return, fill up with langostas for your casa owner to prepare.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Most casas have no phone, no address, just numbers for the casas : everyone knows them... They've had their permit since 98 or 99 and all offer seafood dinners with salad, banana frita and rice for approx. 5-6 cuc. All-inclusive breakfasts, 4-5 cuc. Rate for a double room for two per night : 20cuc, less for longer. Make an offer. HOW TO DIAL A CUBAN PHONE NUMBER HERE
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 lower than elsewhere, off-season (in winter) : 15-20cuc per bedroom per night; breakfasts 3-5cuc, dinners 7-10cuc. ::: Note : monthly taxes have increased 15-50% for owners; this may be reflected on the aforementioned rates. ::: Any casa particular anywhere in Cuba must have a hot water shower, otherwise it cannot have a permit to rent.
::: On certain occasions in the past year, overbooking may have inadvertently hurt some travellers, some casa owners and some webmasters more than would appear and this prompted this webmaster to overreact by generalizing about individual realities; having hurt most casa owners, this webmaestro's self-righteous attitude [all action, no talk] was uncalled for. Lo siento mucho I am truly sorry and apologies given, Marcos 070112 ::: Please share your Complaints, comments & suggestions webmaster [@]cubacasas.net
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