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 Some 19 km east of Santiago, at the foot of the Sierra Maestra, Siboney boasts quite a few casas particulares allowing travellers a beach base from which to explore interesting sites nearby — especially those in the huge Baconao UNESCO Biosphere Reserve —and discover even more and better beaches along the coast which goes all the way to the city of Guantanamo and the infamous US military base on Guantanamo Bay. This place is actually the city of Santiago's closest beach but it is hugely populated mainly from June to September. One gets here by the Carretera de Baconao from Santiago through the small towns of Sevilla and Las Guasimas, the turnoff to La Gran Piedra. To peruse the coast east of here, it's back up to the carretera which goes all the way to lovely Baconao lake. This route is the one tour busses use to carry tourists to the package-hotels along the coast : Bucanero, Daiquiri, El Indio, Costa Morena, Carisol, Los Corales, etc. Recent history was made nearby in Granjita de Siboney where native Siboneyers Marcos Marti and Ciro Redondo joined Fidel to plan the attack on La Moncada in 1953. Native-born Compay Segundo (1907-2003) was almost as famous as the Revolución when he toured the world as a 90-year old member of the Buena Vista Social Club. POPULATION 1,500 (est.)
OTHER PLAYAS ALONG THE COAST Separated by the main road — Carretera de Baconao —with its numerous turnoffs going down to the sea (see coast map) • Playa Arroyo and Playa Bucanero, via Playa Juragua • Playa Daiquiri (sugar cane railroad), large hotel of same name, only 400m of gray sand : in front of the car museum via Moya and El Oasis. Leads to Playa Bacajagua. • Playa Juragua, very linda, via Moya, El Oasis and Arroyo La Costa. About 22km from Santiago. • Playa Larga (gravel, hotel Delta Balneario, 125 rooms) and Playa Verraco (Los Manoncillos, Hotel Sierramar, 200 rooms), one hour from Siboney via Moya, El Oasis, Demjayabo, El Cupey and El Verraco. • Playa Cazonal, 29km from here and barely one km from the Acuario Baconao in Carisol (Hotel Los Corales, 310 rooms) RESTAURANTS Restaurante La Rueda (22) 39-9325 occupies the spot of Buena Vista Social Club's Compay Segundo's birth place in 1907. In Playa Siboney itself. Also in the area : • La Punta on the Carretera de Baconao (main road from Santiago), 5 km from here towards Santiago • Finca El Porvenir (22) 62-9064 with its nice swimming pool 5km east on the Carretera de Baconao • El Rodeo nearby in barrio Oasis • Pedro el Cojo in Parque Baconao • Casa de Rolando by Baconao lake at the end of the coast road, TRANSPORTATION Bus 214 will get you here from downtown Santiago at Avenida de los Libertadores 245 or Calle Cespedes 110 close to Pekin Restaurante • Cubataxi in Santiago (22) 65-1038 : ask for Che (Osvaldo Bez), a super guy — like his namesake — and part-time beekeeper or his buddies Daniel "Italiano" or Eugenio Borrero, best taxistas in town. Estimated fare : 12-15cuc for the cab one way. |
 The Baconao coast from Santiago to Guantanamo : enlarge.  Playa Siboney •|• Playa Juragua  Baconao Acuario : swim with the dolphins •|• Mountain coffee plantation in the area  Sierra Maestra, Gran Piedra •|• Valle de la Prehistoria in Parque Baconao : one of 242 man-made dinosaurs. Eat your heart out, Señor Spielberg ! |
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| PARQUE BACONAO is a 92,000-hectare sea and mountain park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1987 which is visited every year by some 375,000 visitors — two-thirds from abroad. Its major habitats include coastal and sub-coastal bush forest with tree and column cactii; coastal rocky and sandy habitats; mangroves; rainforest; cloud forest; evergreen forest; gallery and pine forest; agroecosystems with coffee, fruits and other crops.; forestry systems and cave ecosystems. Located some 20km from Santiago, it encompasses various attractions : Reserva de la Biosfera de Baconao, (1,800 floral species and many threatened endemic species like bats, spiders and insects’ species living in natural caves), Museo de Historia Natural "Valle de la Prehistoria" (22) 63-9197 with some 242 real-size dinosaurs, elephants et al : no shade, bring lotion), 6km east of Siboney as well as Museo de Ciencias Naturales (stuffed animals), Museo del Transporte Terrestre por Carretera (22) 63-9239 with "metal dinosaurs", ie old cars including a surprising collection of 2,500 toy cars and Fidel's mother's 1929 Ford Roadster and some 18 km further east, the Delfinario y Acuario (two shows daily, 5cuc; swim with dolphins : 39cuc.) Furthermore within park territory, Granjita de Siboney (museum : where attackers of the Moncada gathered in 1953) and its most popular spot La Gran Piedra (1 234 meters high, superb views, 450 steps to climb). Some photos of previous attractions here. To get there from here, one has to back up to Moya, then take the Carretera de Baconao which goes to Sigua, the Criadero de Cocodrilos and Baconao. Last on the coast road (maybe 30km from here) and most quiet spot in pristine surroundings is Laguna Baconao (large lake, tour by boat, nice views from Casa de Rolando, a restaurant) and its Criadero de Cocodrilos (croc farm in Baconao). ALSO IN SURROUNDINGS Jardines de la Siberia (botanical garden 2km before La Gran Piedra), Museo la Isabelica (14km from Santiago, 1,226m high — Victor Constantín's coffee plantation built in 1795 and dedicated to his woman slave), Finca El Porvenir (before Juragua : swimming pool, restaurant, bar, tel. (22) 39-9325), Finca Guajira El Oasis Rodeo 4km east for horseback riding, rodeos 4 days/week., restaurant), Casa El Indio (pre-colombian site, deer hunting). |
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| CASAS RECOMMENDED in PLAYA SIBONEY V = suggested by webbies and travelers. Check in person or by phone. Some casas don't have any address or phone, but they're easy to find. There were about 40 renting when we passed by in 2007. Out of luck for casas ? Try Villa Siboney in one of its 7 independent, rustic and very modest cabañas on the beach. Photo. Comments and 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, 22). • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by the town's area code, 22). |
 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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MARIA ELENA GONZALEZ GOMEZ V Calle Obelisco No. 10 Tel. (22) 39-9200 Rather modern casas with cut stones on facade and private quarters for the clientele. Grand comfort, terrace and swimming pool. Maria Elena is simpatica. She prepares great meals for guests of her two air-conditioned and ventilated bedrooms — each with its own private bathroom — one without tv; the other with one double bed and a tv. Private parking by the beach access. Rates : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night (max. 2 adults). 300908 |
 Click for more photos © maria elena |
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ERNESTO SALMON TASET V Avenida Serrano No. 43-A, entre 5ta y 6ta. Tel. (22) 39-9435 Cellular (5) 290-9118 In this large independent house, Ernesto offers meals on demand and rents two air-conditioned bedroms. Each has a double bed, fan, closet; one has blacony, each has its own private bathroom. Garage on premises. Rates : 15-25cuc per bedroom per night (max. 2 adults). 300908 |
 Click for more photos © ernesto taset |
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CASA MARLENE y EDUARDO V Eduardo Franco Fidalgo Calle Malecón S/N (Sin Número - no street number), entre 4ta y 5ta Tel. (22) 39-9219 On the sea with stupendous views. Intimacy and comfort in its two air-conditioned bedrooms. One has a double, the other a single and a double; both also have a fan, closet, balcony and private bathrooms. Close to beach, La Rueda restaurant, night clubs and beach games area. Rates : 15-25cuc per bedroom per night (max. 2 adults). 300908 |
 Click for more photos © eduardo franco |
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LUIS MANUEL ROBERT PEREZ V Avenida Serrano # 8, about 200m from the sea. Tel. (22) 39-9503 Large independent chalet-type casa in colonial style with high ceilings. Patio, flowered garden and terraza with view of the Caribbean sea. Living room, one large aircon bedroom with private bathroom. Enclosed parking. Rates : 15cuc for bedroom (max. 2 pers.). Breakfast 2, dinners 6cuc. Ref. Alain Labrosse, Valleyfield, QC |
 © luis manuel |
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GUILLERMO GONZALEZ SOTO V Malecon entre 4ta y 5ta Tel. (22) 39-9518 Two aircon bedrooms each with private bathroom, mini fridge, fan and a terrace with a view upstairs. Sea a few steps away, beach some 5 mins. walk. Parking. Rates : 15cuc for bedroom (max. 2 pers.). Breakfast 1,50cuc, dinners 8. Ref. Teresita, Milano, March 2003 |
 Facade •]• Guillermo and his cotorra |
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NEREIDA PIÑA PALLISER y DANIEL CARBENATE V Calle Quinta # 1, upstairs. Tel. (22) 39-9303 Enjoyable house on the seaside with a lovely, well-decorated and comfortable bedroom. Terrace overlooking the water, solarium. Rates : 15cuc for bedroom (max. 2 pers.). Breakfast 2-3, dinners 5-6cuc. Ref. Segolène Corain, terresdumonde. |
 Seaview •]• Bedroom |
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DEYSI CAMPISTRO QUESADA V Calle Quinta, no 1. Tel. (22) 39-9524 With its veranda under the palm trees, this blue and white bungalow welcomes travellers to its aircon bedroom with a double bed, a private and modern shower room, a fridge and fan. The sea is almost right by and the beach about a thousand steps away. Neighbor of Nereida y Daniel (see below). Rates : 15cuc for bedroom (max. 2 pers.) Ref. Gustav Schoenfeld, Berkeley, Calif. |
 Facade •]• Bedroom |
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CASA FLORAIDA y BRITO DUANI V Calle Obelisco # 2, entre Camino del Oasis y calle 1ra. Tel (22) 39-4409 Some 100 meters from the sea, a full and independent apartment with an aircon bedroom, private bathroom. Terrace with seaview, patio, secure parking. Rate s: 15cuc for bedroom (max. 2 pers.). Breakfast 2, dinners 6cuc. Ref. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Milano |
RAUL LARREA SANCHEZ V Avenida Serrano 61, last house Tel. (22) 39-9460 This large bungalow with its terrace and parasols belongs to an architect. In the off-season, Raul forfeits his permit and only rents in pesos to Cubans. He has enlarged his property so he can rent out two aircon bedrooms each with its private bathroom. Nice patio, second shaded terrace-veranda. Sea is right by, beach some 8 mins. walk away. Rates : 20cuc per bedroom (max. 2 pers.) |
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