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| OUR CASA LIST BEGINS HERE | PROVINCE MAP HERE | ||||||||||||||||||
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This charming little village is nestled in the Sierra de los Organos, and was but a settlement during the Spanish colonial era. Although the village was founded in the 17th century, the mogotes, covered with vegetation were formed through erosion during the jurassic era. Cuban climbers have been joined by colleagues from around the world to tackle these weird mounts. The San Vicente region is spersed with underground caves : among others, Cueva del Indio, Cueva de San Miguel, El Palenque de los Cimarrones and world-renowned Caverna de Santo Tomás — with 50 km of tunnels, it is the largest in the country and second largest on the Continent. Recently discovered, the stupendous caves of nearby Sierra Guasasa where non-profit Pinar del Rio group Geda is pursuing its explorations. The quiet commercial activity — and large cultural — activity borders the main street, Cisneros, has a few colonial and columned edificios but the majority of dwellings are bungalows. There's a sense of environment protection here like nowhere else in the country. And, most important, little motor traffic. One of this webmaster's must-see places on the island. The hundreds of casas particulares here are most alike : we suggest some of the best below. 
POPULATION 27,579 (2007) PLAYAS Cayo Jutias (60km), Cayo Levisa (50km), Cabo San Antonio (197), Maria la Gorda RIVER SWIM In rio Resvaloso near Cueva de la Vaca (ask around, everyone knows, Cubans abound in summer). PALADARES Aguilina Rodriguez Martinez (Nodarse 24A), Valle-Bar Casa Dago RESTAURANTS Bar Las Brisas (Cisneros 96), La Casa de Don Tomás (Cisneros 140), El Palenque de los Cimarrones, La Casa del Veguero, Las Magnolias, La Terrazza of Hotel La Ermita (nice place, tempting pool), Rancho San Vicente (cabins for rent), Vera (Hotel Los Jazmines). EVENINGS • Centro Polo Montañez and • Casa de la Cultura (both on main square) • El Palenque de los Cimarrones (cave outside of town) and three neighboring bars on main street including • El Patio del Decimista : 3 live bands playing at the same time. Did U say cacofonico ? EXCURSIONS Las Terrazas, departs 7h30, Rancho Curujey, arr. Soroa 11h, returns 15h • Cayo Levisa, departs 8h, returns 19h; including 30 mins. in a very slow boat (at normal speed, should take 8 mins.) By 9-psgr minibus, 25cuc including lunch, 34cuc including fins & mask, 25 more for scuba. Or drive to Palma Rubia, 60km north on the coast and take the 10am or 6pm slow boat, 25cuc pp. including lunch; local private taxis will do it for 50-60cuc for the car, return. (48) 75-65-01 • Maria la Gorda, 25cuc. Book through Havanatur or Cubanacan, beside the libreria (some books in English), facing Parque Marti • Cayo Jutias beach on north coast, 60 km northwest via Minas de Matahambre and scenic mountain road. Access by pedraplen, entry fee 5cuc : just a beach, beer hut. (There used to be a two-storey restaurant, wiped by 2005 hurricane); local private taxis will do it for 50-60cuc for the car, return. (48) 77-8131 • Cabo San Antonio : its wooden villas (75$ per night, double), marina, lighthouse, all in a Biosphere Reserve at the extreme very, very end of Cuba, some 200 km from here. Our page TRANSPORT Scooters for rent right by the Don Tomas restaurant (see map) on main street. • Bus Viazul Ruta 10 La Habana (twice daily 3-hour trip); Pinar del Rio (daily, 40 mins.) see link at right. Salvador Cisnero No. 63 Tel. (48) 79-3195 • Trains from La Habana "El Lechero" (the Milk Run #225) leaves La Habana at 22h05 every 2nd day arriving Pinar del Rio at 03h50 then hitch (if u can find) a taxi ride to here or overnight; returns (#224) leaves Pinar del Rio at 09h45 arriving Havana at 15h30. • Local private taxis (now legal with new permits) can take you to Cayo Jutias or Cayo Levisa, wait for you and return here for 50-60cuc for the car : up to you to find other pax. |
 Twice per day, a Viazul bus goes from Havana and back - via Pinar del Rio. Call it Ruta 10 (Roota Diez) — Click for sked on Viazul site, Fred.  Cuban scientist Humberto Rios Labrada was awarded the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize ("the Ecology Nobel Prize") for his research on seeds. His work, initiated with 25 farmers from nearby La Palma convinced 50,000 Cuban farmers to use ecological methods to rid their crops of pesticides and grow more varieties of beans © Will Parrinello  The palm and the cross © sogestour •|• Same park in centre, otra vista © sogestour  Valle de Viñales © Giora Szabo •|• Campesinos walking a field © sogestour  Josue Millo is getting a buzz on a rock face (ruta) named « Wasp Factory » © cubaclimbing.com — Click ••• See this enlargement of Reiniel Sosa here •|• Halfway between here and Cayo Levisa, the village of La Palma where Humberto (top photo) and local farmers proved that they could farm without deadly pesticides © Robin Thom, Flickr  Three chicas with an irresistible smile : are country youngsters more luminous than city kids ? © clapat, Flickr  One of endless bucolic views © csongor - picasa •|• Mural de la Prehistoria © viaggiliberi  The Che's Cueva de la Comandancia © sogestour •|• View of the valley from legendary spot Los Acuaticos © sogestour Cuba Chapter 3_The Competition from renan ozturk on Vimeo. |
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| SERVICES A professional massage ? Yesss ! Ask Onasis Romero Vargas, university teacher and neurological massage specialist. Resides at calle Rafael Trejo #145. Low rates, 15 to 60 mins. Tel. (48) 77-8370 Will go to your casa. • If he's busy, call a colleague masajista : Jesus Ernesto Alfonso (cell) 015 270-6478 • Banco de Credito y Comercio (Cisneros 58) • Cadeca (money exchange, Cisneros 92 Tel 79-6334) • Havanatur (48) 79-6161 or 79-6262 • Cubanacan (48) 79-639 • Rumbos 79-6339  |
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SEE.KNOW.DO Valley of Viñales : admire parts of its 15,000 hectares (31km long, 2-8km wide) from Los Jazmines and La Ermita hotels. Discover it on foot : three daily 3-hr excursions (Coco Solo Palmarito, Maravillas de Viñales and San Vicente/Ancon) leaving at 9h and 16h). Book through Habanatur or Cubanacan offices (facing church on Parque Marti) or in local hotels. 8cuc per person with bilingual guide • Casa de la Cultura, plastic arts gallery and music shows daily; upstairs, catch a glimpse of a city council meeting • Cueva del Indio, 400m boat tour of this underground grotto; other caves in Santo Tomas (El Moncada) • Cueva de la Comandancia (San Miguel) where the Che was posted during Bay of Pigs attack in 1962 • Fabrica de Tabacos, cigar factory, demonstrations, sales • Jardin de las Hermanas Caridad, private and free botanical garden : ornemental, medicinal plants , orchids and fruit trees • Los Acuaticos, trekking to casas (high up). Best to leave around 4 p.m. Entrance some 500m after junction to Mural de la Prehistoria. No sign on road. Stupendous views guaranteed • Museo Municipal, local artists. Calle Salvador Cisneros 115 • Mural de la Prehistoria, 4 k west : rock facade painted by Leovigildo Gonzalez Morillo • Museo Paleontologico, at campismo Dos Hermanas • Cabo de San Antonio : its wooden villas (75$ per night, double), marina, lighthouse, all in a Biosphere Reserve at the extreme west end of Cuba, some 200 km from here. Site |
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| HEED THE HINTS IN THIS FINE PRINT ::: CAVEAT EMPTOR ::: BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED ::: 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 : 20-25cuc per bedroom per night [up to 40+ for 4 in a room]; breakfasts 3-5cuc, dinners 7-10cuc. ::: Any casa particular anywhere in Cuba must have a hot water shower, otherwise it cannot have a permit to rent ::: Please share your Complaints, comments & suggestions webmaster [@]cubacasas.net  |
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BOOK BY PHONE • from Canada and the USA : 011 53 (add phone # preceded by 48 for Viñales) • from Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Mexico : 00 53 (add phone # preceded by 48 for Viñales) ••• HOW TO DIAL A CUBAN PHONE NUMBER HERE ••• CELL PHONE NUMBERS on our town lists and casa pages are preceded by 05 for calls originating Havana; from anywhere else in Cuba, dial 015 + the 7 digits of the cell. BOOK BY EMAIL :  Click on logo to open a message addressed to that casa in your email application; or right-click to copy address. Spanish vocabulary here. Google translate here. |
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Click photos to get to the casa's page & description. Locate most casas on this map.
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See the casas in sequence.
 Click arrow to start visit. |
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| LA NENA Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Camilo Cienfuegos 56, up town, roof terrace entre Sergio Dopico y C. Maragoto Tel. (48) 69-69-38. Cell 05 248-7019  |
VILLA CRISTAL
One aircon independent bedroom, ensuite, pool Calle Rafael Trejo 99, up town entre Adela Azcuy y C. Maragoto, uptown. Cellular 05 270-1284  |
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| TOMAS y YOLANDA One aircon bedroom, ensuite bathroom Camilo Cienfuegos 52, up town, lovely patio entre Sergio Dopico y C. Maragoto. Tel. (48) 69-69-31  |
VILLA EL CAFETAL
One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Calle Adela Azcuy Norte Final s/n : sin numero, passed the estadio de beisbol, steps to walking path. Cell 05 223-9175  |
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| VILLA AQUILINA Three aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Calle Orlando Nodarse No. 31, up town with views, entre Sergio Dopico y Adela Azcuy. Tel. (48) 69-5402  |
MILEYDIS FEITO
One aircon bedroom, ensuite bath Calle Adela Azcuy Norte 11, past the estadio de beisbol, down the street out in the fields. Cellular 05 336-5402  |
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| EL PELOTERO One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Calle Adela Azcuy Norte 29, almost facing the estadio de beisbol and close to a walking path. Tel. (48) 79-3366  |
TOMASA
Two aircon bedrooms, 2 double beds, ensuite baths Calle Adela Azcuy 6 Norte, by the estadio de beisbol and close to a walking path..Cellular 05 223-8857  |
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| EL RELOJERO Two aircon bedrooms, ensuites, independent entry Calle Orlando Nodarse 7, up town with views, entre Sergio Dopico y Adela Azcuy. Tel. (48) 69-54-29  |
EL BALCON
Three aircon bedrooms, shared baths Calle Rafael Trejo Este 48, 2do Piso (upstairs) one block from Parque central. Tel. (48) 69-6725  |
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| CASA LEON LEON Two aircon bedrooms each with ensuite bath Calle Adela Azcuy 45, up town, lovely patio about 20 meters from corner of Orlando Nodarse. Tél. (48) 69 55 14  |
VILLA IRURE
One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Calle Rafael Trejo Este 10B al final de la calle (at the end of this dead-end street) up town, in-house patio Tél. (48) 69 69 05  |
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| VILLA DANIEL y ESTELA One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Carretera a Pinar, KM 25 #20, entry to town, incredible view of the valley Tél. (48) 79-60-45  |
NENITA
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms Salvador Cisneros Int. 61, like a mini-hotel, valley view behind the Policlinico. Tel. (48) 79-60-04  |
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| CASA COLONIAL MERCEDES One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Rafael Trejo Este 2, uptown, near the Servi-Cupet. Cell (5) 293-0923  |
VILLA REINIER
Independent a/c bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite Rafael Trejo Este 9 al final de la calle (at the end of this dead-end street), uptown. Tél. (48) 79 32 92  |
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| LA CUBANA Upstairs floor for rent, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Rafael Trejo 92, entre Adela Azcuy y C. Maragoto, uptown. Tel. (48) 79-61-34  |
ESTHER NODARSE
One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Rafael Trejo 94, entre Adela Azcuy y C. Maragoto, uptown. Tel (48) 79-61-35  |
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| BRUNILDA One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Rafael Trejo 107-A, entre Adela Azcuy y C. Maragoto, uptown. Tel. (48) 79-60-44  |
BARBI y OMAR
One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Adela Azcuy No 12, corner of Rafael Trejo, uptown. Tel. (48) 79-81-93  |
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| LUCILO y NIRMA V One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Pasaje Camilo Cienfuegos #52, uptown. Tel. (48) 69-6657  |
VILLA NILDA One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Calle Orlando Nodarse 39, entre Sergio Dopico y Adela Azcuy, uptown. Tel (48) 69-6891 Cell 05 331-1862  |
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| ORLANDO y JUANA V Calle Adela Azcuy Norte No. 34, passed the campo de beisbol and close to a walking path. Cell 05 223-8910  |
CLAUDINA V
One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Calle Camilo Cienfuegos #26, entre Adela Azcuy y Celso Maragoto, uptown. Tel. (48) 79 60 34  |
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| JOSÉ y DIANELYS V One independent aircon bedroom, ensuite bath Calle Salvador Cisneros # 23 (main street, uptown. Tel. (48) 79 60 26  |
PITIN y JUANA V
Aircon bedrooms (3), ensuite baths Kilométro 25 a Viñales, numero 2, about 100m from the village entrance. Tel. (48) 79 33 38  |
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| PAPO y NIULVYS V One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Calle Rafael Trejo 18 e/Mariana Grajales y Joaquin Perez, two blocks from the Viazul bus stop. Tel. (48) 69-6714  |
ROSENDO y LILA V
One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Km 25 carretera a viñales, # 6-B, entering village, about 100m from high school (Secundaria Básica) Tel. (48) 69-5155 cell 015 337-3831  |
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| MARILYN y ADEL V One aircon bedroom, 2 double beds, ensuite bath Calle Primera # 4b between a and b, in reparto La Carbonera. Cell. 05 337-3972  |
VILLA AMARILIS LEÓN V
Aircon bedrooms (2), ensuite baths Calle Salvador Cisneros 75 (main street, entre Adela Azcuy y Ceferino Fernández, 50 m from the Plaza principal. Tel (48) 79-6281  |
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| CASA CATALINA MIRANDO AL VALLE V One aircon bedroom, ensuite bath, valley view Calle Segunda pasaje 7 número 8, reparto El Bostezo, overlooking the valley. Tel (48) 69-5571 or (48) 64-6145  |
 Valley view from Catalina's casa |
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Content & photos © sogestour Updated |
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