Blau Colonial Hotel *****
Cayo Coco / Jardines del Rey
Ciego de Avila, Cuba
TEL. 533330 1311 FAX. 533330 1384
sales@blaucolonial.co.cu

Location: the hotel is located in Cayo Coco, surrounded by long beaches of fine sand and crystal clear water; it was opened in 1993 and after its total renovation during the summer of 2004 reopened as a 5 stars hotel on the 16 of December2004 offering new services as well as facilities.

The perfect hotel for all those who, with or without children, want to enjoy one of the bests beach areas of Cuba, combining relax and activities.

Intemational Airport Jarclines del Rey: 12km / Moron 65 Km/ La Habana 550 km

Hotel Facilities

Doubles: Doubles with fully equipped bathrooms, 220 V, hairdryer vanity mirrors, air conditioning, safe-deposit box, towel for the swimming pool, minibar, telephone, SAT-TV music channel on TV, terrace or balcony In addition the VIP package features: sea views, bathrobe, slippers, kettle service and room service.

Gastronomy: Buffet “Plaza” for breakfast and dinner, for lunch our guests can choose between Grill restaurant “Yarey” and Ranchon playa “Hemingway’ Moreover, our specialties restaurants for dinner are the following Gourmet “La Fontanella”, of fish and seafood “El Dorado” and Creole El Caribeho’ Our Bars are the followings: “Placita” (24 hours), Piano Bar “Fontanella”, Discotheque “Salsa Café”, Bar “Yarey”.

All Inclusive. - Breakfast and dinner buffet - National and international drinks (24 hours), alcoholic drinks (10 a.m - 02.00 am) -Wellness Buffet during breakfast and dinner - One dinner, per reservation and week, in our specialties’ restaurants (reservation required) - Safe-deposit box - Mm/bar daily replenished with local bottled water, soft drinks and beers
- Snacks in “La Placita”24 hours - Use of the Atelier - Library - Free entrance to the disco and the Piano bar, drinks included (from 22.00- 02.00 h.) Typical Cuban dinner once a week.

All Inclusive Sports: - 1 Swimming pool - Gym - Tennis - Windsurf/sail boats/catamarans/pedal boats/canoes - Snorkeling - Bicycles, 2 hours per room and day - One free initial lesson of scuba-diving in our swimming pool.

Aerobics/Volleyball/Waterpolo/Beach Volleyball - Multiple sports court

Entertainment: Daily sports and maintenance entertainment. The entertainment at nights, taking advantage of the special configuration of the hotel, will be organized in different places consisting of original activities like hand made activities, live music, etc….
Children’s Entertainment. All day long service including Mini Club, Re/az area, Teenager Club (during schools holidays), children’s area with gardens, pools, cots and babysitting.

BIau Arenal Hotel ****
Santa Maria Mar
LAGUNA DE BOCA CIEGA
SANTA MARIA DEL MAR
LA HABANA, CUBA
TEL. 53 77971 272
FAX. 53 77971 287
reservas@arenal.get.tur.cu

Location: Opened in 1985 and renovated in 1997, it is a warm resort of 3 buildings of 2 floors each, located in the area of Playas del Este, of a very fine sand and the most turquoise blue of the Cuban beaches.

Due to its proximity to La Habana it is the ideal Club for people who search for the combination of sun and see holidays together with the culture and fun that the city offers.
Airport 34 km/La Habana 27km

Doubles and Junior Suites: All units have fully equipped bathrooms, hairdryer, SAT-TV telephone, 110 V, individual air conditioning, minibar with water and safe-deposit box. Double Rooms have shower and balcony. Junior Suites have bathtub and a wide living room.
Gastronomy: Buffet “Oasis” - Bars: “La Glorieta’ and “Lobby Bar” - Restaurant a Ia Carte “El Pescador”

All Inclusive. -Breakfast, lunch and dinner Buffet - National and international drinks -Snacks in “La Glorieta” from 1200a.m. to 500p.m. - Typical Cuban dinner, once a week -shuttle bus service to the city and back, twice a day

All Inclusive Sports: - Outdoor pool and children’s pool -2 Tennis courts, floodlight without charge - Beach Volleyball - Gymnastics, water gymnastics and aerobics - Water Sports: Canoes/ Catamarans/Pedal boats! Windsurf

Entertainment: Daytime and evening wide entertainment programme with sport activities, shows, competitions, etc.
Meeting Rooms: With capacity for 100 people and technical equipment rental service.

Cuba’s sea bed has coral reefs running along the coastline of the entire Island. Cuba boasts over 300 beaches and keys, 20 cave formations and more than 150 species of fish from the Atlantic Ocean. Snorkeling in the waters of Cuba’s marine platform is a veritable paradise - with gorgonians (order Gorgonacea), sponges (Spongia spp., Euspongia spp., Hippospongia spp., Demospongia spp.) and a wide variety of colorful fish submerged in its corals. There are also many caves that serve as a refuge for multiple forms of sea life.

Cuban waters are warm and transparent, with temperatures that vary between 23 C and 30 C with a visibility of 20-30 meters. There are various seaports and places of great beauty where one can practice water sports in all its forms, including snorkeling.

Things you should about snorkeling in Cuba
• The best beach near Havana for snorkeling is Jibacoa Beach about 1 hour drive from Havana. You can stay at Breezes Jibacoa Hotel for around 60.00 CUC per person per night.
• If you are an avid snorkeling fan you should take your own equipment.
• Off the beach at Playa Pesquero there is a decent depth for shore snorkeling and variety of species. You can find schools of squid and the odd moray.
• Playa Pesquero near Guardalavaca is excellent to introduce your kids to the world of snorkel. Coral reefs are just meters off the shore.
• If you are staying in Guardalavaca you can book a picnic/snorkeling excursion to Pesquero.
• Playa Esmeralda near Guardalavaca is highly recommended for snorkeling.
• Playa Las Colorados in Cayo Coco has great snorkeling too. Right in front of Sol Club Cayo Coco you can find some nice big barracudas.
• No jewellery, bright colors or freaking out when that big barracuda comes in for a much closer look.

Possessing a wealth of history, culture and traditions, Havana is the most popular destination in Cuba and one of the most enchanting cities in the world. Ernest Hemingway, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, once said that, in terms of beauty, it was surpassed only by Venice and Paris.

Ever since the 16th century Havana has been Cuba’s Capital. It has many attractions: beautiful beaches, well-preserved colonial architecture, splendid recreation areas, grand hotels, renowned night clubs and cabarets and famous restaurants.

Havana is a cosmopolitan city where, over the centuries, Spaniards and blacks provided the main ingredients in its ethnic mixing. Now, conference tourism is increasing steadily, and there are tempting water sports and health tourism programs, as well. All of Cuba’s main hospitals and scientific research centers are in Havana, and around 21 health installations —including laboratories, optician’s and drugstores— guarantee that, if needed, you’ll get top-quality care. Enjoy peace, good health and safety.

Location

Havana is on the northwestern coast of the island of Cuba. It is bounded by the Straits of Florida to the North and by Havana Province to the South, East and West. It is both the largest city and the smallest province in Cuba and consists of 15 municipalities, nine of which are predominantly urban.

Climate

Warm an humid, but cooled by sea breezes by day and by land breezes by night.

How to get there

Most people come by air, through any of Havana’s airports that handle international flights. Or you can come by sea, arriving at the Hemingway or Tarara Marina.

Culture

Havana is the main cultural centre in Cub. Its offers include all manifestations of the arts, literature, science and sports. The head quarters of renowned cultural institutions are situated in Havana. The city hosts many important festivals such as International Ballet Festivals, Latin-American Film Festivals, International Guitar Festivals of Havana, International Festival of Latin Jazz and so much more.

What to See
Stroll through Havana to savor the beauty of its architecture and the treasures displayed in its museums.

In 1982 in recognition of the patrimonial values of its old city part and its system of fortifications protecting the entrance of Havana’s harbor, the colonial elegance of its mansions and its impressive churches; Unesco declared Havana a World Heritage Site.

Recommended

Old Havana, the Malecon seawall walk, La rampa, Plaza de La Revolucion, Cementerio de Colon, ExpoCuba, Jardin Botanico Nacional, East Havana 60 kilometer long sandy beaches, Morro Cabaña park, El Floridita Restaurant, La Bodeguita del Medio, El Patio Restaurant. Cathedral Square, Plaza de Armas, San Francisco Square, Marina Hemingway, Tropicana Show and Parisien Show.

Where to Stay

The city has the largest hotel infrastructure in the country. It is solidly supported by the professionalism of its personnel. There are many 5 star hotels such as The National Hotel de Cuba, Parque Central Hotel, Saratoga Hotel, Melia Cohiba and Melia Habana hotels. There is a wide range of 4 star hotels and the ones in the old town area stand out for its unique architecture and character. Raquel Hotel, Ambos Mundos, Palacio Ofarriil Hotel, Florida Hotel, Condes de Villanueva are just some of Havana’s best 4 star hotels. There are also a number of budget hotels such as Park View, Hostal Valencia, Caribbean Hotel, Lincoln Hotel, Lido and so many more.

Identified in atlases under the name of the Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago, Jardines del Rey tourist resort covers an area of 465 kilometres along the northern coastline of the central provinces of Cuba, from Matanzas to Camaguey. Sixty per cent 2517) of the total number of keys surrounding the island of Cuba belong to Jardines del Rey, including two of the largest, Cayo Romano (777 square kilometres) and Cayo Coco (370 square kilometres). The latter and the miniature Cayo Guillermo (13 square kilometres) today form the main nucleus of this tourist resort.

This outstanding area houses over 700 species of terrestrial flora (126 of them endemic), 958 species of terrestrial fauna and a further 900 species of fish. Over 450 kilometres of frontal reefs make its beaches exceptionally high quality.

How to get there:

Cayo Coco has a new international airport with flights from Europe, America and other tourist centres on the Island. It is also possible to get here over land, by means of a walkway built over the sea, or by mooring at Puertosol Cayo Guillermo har
bour.

Sun and sand:

Warm bluish-green waters characterise the nigh on 30 kilometres of beaches at the Coco and Guillermo keys, where the highest sand dunes in the Caribbean also rise. Particularly well known as a stunning, virgin beach is Playa Pilar, in Cayo Guillermo. It is also possible to swim in the sea at the secluded beaches of Paredón Grande key.

City:

Horse and carriage rides around the picturesque town of Moron, also known Culture:
Avila is a land of many traditions and multiple influences, which are reflected in its popular festivities. In the Majagua district the festivities linked to rural traditions originate from the Canary Islands. Meanwhile, in the districts of Baraguá, Venezuela, Ciro Redondo, Bolivia and 1 ro de Enero the cultural predominance of immigrants from the English- speaking Caribbean is evident. In Chambas and Punta Alegre lively parrandas are held, while in Ciego de Avila popular craftsman ship has a long-standing tradition.

Nature:

Around 90% of the vast territory of Cayo Coco is covered in vegetation, which makes it an ideal place for anyone who seeks direct contact with nature. Interesting excursions include a visit to El Bagá nature reserve, venturing into the low ridges of Cunagua or joining a tour of the hills of Florencia. The trip is undertaken on horse back and includes a visit to a tobacco plantation and takes in a rodeo show in the town of Florencia, finishing off on the banks of the river Jatibonico del Norte with a typical country lunch.

Active tourism:

A network of roads spanning over 200 kilometres Links the Coco, Paredén Grande, Guillermo and Romano keys and allows tourists to move in any direction in search of activity. Here visitors will find the perfect conditions for diving and snorkelling, yachting, trips in a catamaran and water sports. Particularly attractive are the trips along the channels of the south of the keys and trips on horseback or in a jeep around the low ridge of Florencia and the river Boquerón. Boat trips around La Redonda lagoon (an ideal setting for trout fishing), visits to La Mamita buffalo reserve, to La Rosa crocodile breeding ground, or to the Diego Velázquez light house, or a ride in a train pulled by a steam engine, give visitors a choice of activities to enjoy during their stay in Jardines del Rey.

Leisure and restaurants:

The majority of restaurants are to be found in the hotels themselves. A visit to Sitio La Guira, the cultural-culinary complex is a must. This is a reproduction of one of the many settlements of coal merchants that are known to have existed in Cayo Coco at the turn of the 20th century, and in particular the huts known as El Tio, a village which recounts the most unexpected tales of the key, as well as being a place to enjoy rural festivities and traditional Cuban cui sine. Other suggestions to bear in mind include sampling the cuisine at Rocarena restaurant, in Cayo Coco, the Bodeguita de Guillermo, in Cayo Guillermo, and the San Fernando parador, in Moron. For some more fun visit La Cueva del Jabali, a day time and evening recreational centre located in beautiful natural surroundings, which offers Cuban music and dance shows as well as games and entertainment.

Trinidad is Cuba’s museum city’ and the third of the seven towns founded by Diego Velázquez on the island (1514). The original splendour of Trinidad can clearly be seen in its magnificent residences and small, beautifully-preserved palaces, distinctly influenced by the Baroque and neo classical styles, as well as its ornately deco rated balconies, stunning main doors and tiles of an unusual red colour. Thanks to its treasures of historical heritage, Trinidad and the nearby Valle de Los Ingenios were both declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1988. On the outskirts of the town, which barely covers an area of 3 km, are places of major tourist, historical and cultural interest. These include Cayo Blanco, Playa Maria Aguilar, Topes de Collantes, the Valle de San Luis and the Los Ingenios, the Torre Manaca-Iznaga, and a little further away the city of Sancti Spiritus, the provincial capital.

How to get there:

The main route of access is by road through the cities of Cienfuegos (83 km), Santa Clara (88 km) and Sancti Spiritus (67 km). The city has an airport that can receive small and medium-sized aircraft. Pleasure cruisers and other vessels can dock at Casilda port.

Sun and sand:

Visitors to the Peninsula de Ancón, which is only a few minutes from the city centre and where the main hotel development in this tourist region is centred, enjoy a bathing area that stretches for over four kilometres at Ancón and Maria Aguilar beaches. Under their warm, shallow waters lies an unusual seabed with a lush world of different corals, gorgonians, sea derricks, sponges, small tropical reef fish and different species of turtle.

City:

The paved streets with their peaceful atmosphere invite visitors to wander through this vast open-air museum known as Trinidad. Any trip must begin in Plaza Mayor, the main square, where a group of buildings reveal, in their age-old splendour, a well-preserved example of the Creole- Baroque style. The small squares of Real del Jigue — where the first Catholic mass was said and which today is home to one of the town’s most symbolic venues, La Canchánchara tavern— and Segarte, as well as Plaza de Santa and Plaza de Las Tres Cruces, are all places not to be missed in this attractive city with over a hundred places of interest to tourists and a wealth of heritage.

No less exciting is a visit to the city of Sancti Spiritus, another of the first towns founded by the Spanish conquistadors on the Island (1512). Its historical centre, which was declared a National Monument, and the famous bridge over the Rio Yayabo are both worth a close look.

Culture:

The celebration of the carnival festivities (June) and the now traditional Jornada de La Cultura Trinitaria )day of Trinidad culture, held in November) are both excellent opportunities to join in the rich culture of Trinidad, featuring the traditional Trova (ballad), Trinidad songs, country folklore and Afro-Cuban shows. Trinidad also has an extensive and interesting selection of museums.

Nature:

A distance of barely 16 km separates Trinidad from Topes de Collantes, the vast nature reserve of outstanding natural beauty and major scientific value, which offers exceptional conditions for nature and adventure tourism, On the outskirts of the city, the Ma Dolores property, in the midst of cozy natural surroundings that serve as the backdrop for a magnificent show of country folklore, and EL Cubano plantation, on the banks of the river Guarabo, provide other opportunities for recreation. A little further away, Alturas de Banao is also an ideal way to enjoy contact with nature in the centre of the island.

Active tourism:

All visitors must be sure not to miss the excellent views afforded by the Valle de San Luis or the Valle de Los Ingenios which can be seen from above Manaca-Iznaga bell-tower, or the natural vantage points of Loma del Puerto and Cerro de La Vigia. At the Valle de Los Ingenios it is possible to take a trip to this heritage site in a train pulled by an old steam engine.

The more intrepid traveler may wish to tour part of the mountainous massif of Escambray; in a four-wheel drive jeep. Going on walks and bathing in natural pools and waterfalls can be as exciting as taking part in a trek, or going on a sea-safari in a catamaran to the Blanco and Machos de Afuera keys, where visitors can enjoy snorkelling and diving.

Other options available include a mad adventure at El Cubano park; following the Route of the Spanish Conquistadors going back up the river Guayabo; or spending a day hunting and fishing at Laguna del Taje or Zaza dam, In the coastal area of the Peninsula de Ancón visitors can enjoy diving, yachting and other motorized or non motorized water sports.

Health tourism:

Programmes for improving quality of life, treatments to combat stress, bal neotherapy, physical culture, ozone, traditional medicine, gym, massages and specialist medical care are on offer at the Kurhotel Escambray, situated 800 m above sea level in Topes de Collantes Nature Reserve.

Leisure and restaurants:

Trinidad offers a wide selection of restaurants quite apart from the hotels, while all of the hotels provide daytime and evening entertainment. Visitors will be sure to enjoy Casa de Artex and Casa de La Trova; the underground club run by Horizontes Las Cuevas hotel and the service complex situated in the old Royal Jail.

From San Juan de Los Remedios (1578), the eighth town built by the Spanish in Cuba, the settlers departed almost a century later in search of prosperity and to place themselves beyond the reach of corsairs and pirates, founding Santa Clara in 1689 in a valley in the centre of the island. In the end its prosperity and strategic position led to the city being declared the capital of the former province of Las Villas and, later, of Villa Clara, where the youngest Cuban destination is to be found, Las Brujas, Ensenachos and Santa Maria keys, to the north of the territory.

How to get there:

It takes no time to get to Santa Clara in the centre of the Island, along the Autopista Nacional (motorway) or the Carretera Central (central highway) from Havana (267 Km.), Cienfuegos (74 Km.), Varadero (207 Km.) and Trinidad (88 Km.). Another alternative is to arrive at Abet Santamaria International Airport, 12 kilometres from the city, which receives large capacity aircraft, or at Cayo Las Brujas airport, for small and medium-sized aircraft.

Sun and sand:

A road over the sea measuring 48.6 Km long joins the Villa Clara district of Caibarién with the Las Brujas, Ensenachos and Santa Maria keys, to the north of the province. The first is steeped in a popular legend of an impossible love affair involving another islet in the region, Borracho; the second has a permanently calm sea owing to its location; and the third is also interesting for archaeology enthusiasts. All three boast fine, white sandy beaches, a gentle slope and ultra transparent waters. Attractive surroundings for diving, fishing, water sports and boat trips along the canals that separate the keys.

City:

Santa Clara, the capital of the most central of Cubas provinces, was founded in 1689 by relations of San Juan de Los Remedios. This is one of the most important cities in the country owing to its scientific and industrial strength. It set the stage for the last battles that resulted in revolutionary triumph on 1 January 1959, Led by commander Ernesto Che” Guevara. It is also renowned for its strong culture and history.

Culture:

Some of the history and culture of Villa Clara is on display at the Provincial Museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts, whose collections reveal in chronological order the events that took place in the country, the life and work of top figures in the arts and furniture and decorative items from the 18th and 19th centuries, serving as examples of the influence in the province of the rococo, neoclassical and Cuban imperial styles.
Mausoleum to Ernesto ‘Che” Guevara. and his compatriots who fell in Bolivia: here lie the remains of the legendary Cuban- Argentine guerrilla and some of his compatriots who fell in Bolivia. On display are personal objects belonging to Che and to other combatants who participated in the war of liberation, which took place in Cuba from 1956 to 1959, and the Bolivian epic of 1967 In the way of theatre, dance, literature and music there is always something to see at the different night spots, cultural institutions and theatres in the city, among them La Caridad Theatre (built in 1885 and declared a National Monument), where the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso will be performing.

San Juan de Los Remedios was the eighth town founded in Cuba (1578). Its historical city centre, which was declared a National Monument in 1980, contains important heritage buildings that are extremely well pre served. The most valuable example of heritage in Remedios and one of the most important in the whole country is the Parroquial Mayor de Remedios 116th century). Its enormous Baroque altarpiece made from cedar and laminated in gold is considered one of the most beautiful in Latin America. Home where the famous musician Alejandro Garcia Caturla was born in Remedios (1906-1940). A revolutionary and independent composer who based his works on Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

Museum of the Parrandas Remedianas. Dedicated to this popular festival which has been held every year since 1820 and is a well-established tradition. On display are photos, models, changing rooms, street lamps and other objects used during these processions. One of the most important actions led by Che Guevara during the battle of Santa Clara was the armoured train. Parts of the convoy, one of the last resorts by the government of the period, remain in the place where the fighting took place and on display inside are photos and weapons. Famous all over the country are the traditional parrandas of Remedios and Camajuani, which are districts divided into Carmelitas and Sansarles and Chivos and Sapos, respectively. Once a year they show off with brotherly rivalry their carriages, squares, tricks and fireworks. At the end the two sides from each place declare themselves the winners.

Nature:

The Guamuahya mountain range (to the centre of southern Cuba) is a place of outstanding natural beauty and stunning scenery. Rain-forest mountain vegetation, with a vast number of trees, thrives here and a hundred or so endemic species have been identified. This is a great place to observe the landscape, flora and fauna. Hill walking, hiking, trips, cycling tours, caving and horse-riding all allow people to experience and become better acquainted with the local culture.

The keys to the north of Villa Clara house 248 species of plants, while the refuge for fauna (77 844 hectares) provides shelter for coruas (a type of cormorant), pink flamingos, seagulls, coral snakes, cantiles (a variety of snake found in Cuba), dog fish (exclusive), chivirica (a variety of goat), molluscs, iguanas, the jutia rat from Cayo Fragoso and the chipojo azul (the Cuban blue chameleon of Santa Maria), both of the latter being endemic.

Active tourism:

Towards the west of Cayo Santa Maria appears a rocky seabed (cabezos) combined with a corral reef that prevents surges of heavy waves on the beaches of the keys and provides refuge for dozens of underwater species which are extremely beautiful both to look at and for underwater photography. Other water sports can be practiced in this area as well as diving, such as sailing, deep-sea fishing, surfing, speed boat racing, water-skiing, etc.
Since 1933, a mile from Cayo Frances, the San Pascual boat, has lain aground. This relic of naval engineering was launched at sea in 1919 from the shipyards of San Francisco, California, to transport honey. It holds memories of the presence in these waters of North American writer Ernest Hemingway and the Cuban painter Leopoldo Romañach. It has been converted into a floating hotel.

Lake Hanabanilta and Alacranes dam, two of the most extensive dams in the country, are ideal for catching trout.

Health:

At the end of the 19th century, a slave discovered curative properties in the waters of the Elguea, on the north-western coastline of Villa Clara. A high level of sulphur and very hot temperatures encourage the recovery of people suffering from skin, bone, brain and respiratory disorders. Programmes to combat stress improve the quality of life.

Leisure and restaurants:

There are cultural and recreational centres in the province, where visitors have the opportunity to enjoy themselves while getting to know the traditions and identity of the province.
At various establishments, restaurants and country properties, Cubanacen Palmares and Rumbos give visitors the opportunity to have a pleasant time while sampling Villa Clara’s cuisine. There are also several fast food establishments such as the Ditu, Piropo and El Repido coffee bars.

French immigrants from Bordeaux and Louisiana founded the colony of Fernandina de Jagua on 22 April 1819, around a beautiful, wide bay on the central southern coast of Cuba. In 1830 it changed its name to Cienfuegos in honor of the general governor of the island, José Cienfuegos. Fifty years later it was declared a city and its outstanding beauty won it the title of “The Pearl of the South”. At the end of the 19th century its prosperity made it the fourth most important city in the country. Since 1976 it has been the capital of the province of the same name and one of the cities with the greatest industrial develop ment of the archipelago.

How to get there

The 256 kilometres separating Cienfuegos and Havana can be covered by car along the national motorway and the Aguada de Pasajeros road. Jaime Gonzalez airport receives medium and small cargo international flights while Puertosol, the yachting harbour company, on the Bahia de Jagua, opens its doors to pleasure boats.

Sun and sand:

As with all cities by the sea, Cienfuegos has always had very close ties with its coastline. Two of the places that contribute most to this bond, in addition to the bay, are Rancho Luna and Inglés beaches. The first offers a semicircle of fine sand and peaceful waters, while the second is one of the best places for swimming in the sea and practicing water sports. Near both beaches, the well-inhabited corral formations make SCUBA diving an attractive proposition.

City:

So beautiful that it is considered the jewel of Cuban architecture of the 19th century, Cienfuegos stands out for the perfect layout of its streets and the refinement and elegance of the buildings in the Historical Centre, which was declared a National Monument.

With an important collection of historical and cultural treasures, this part of the city contains some of its most outstanding buildings, such as the Casa del Fundador, Nuestra Señora de La Purisima Concepción Cathedral, the Tomás Terry Theatre and the Palacio Ferrer, as well as José Marti Park, wherein stands the only Arc de Triomf in Cuba.

Visitors won’t have far to walk to find the Paseo deL Prado, the longest avenue in the country, the Palaclo de Valle, the Naval and Provincial History Museum, the Cementerio de Reina and the Fronton Jai Alai. Situated a little further from the centre are the Fortaleza Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Jagua, the setting for the popular legend of the blue lady, the Cementerio Tomás Acea, where there is a replica of the Parthenon, and the Botanic Gardens, the second largest on the island.

Culture:

“The city I Like best” is precisely how Cienfuegos was defined by one of the famous representatives of this land and national culture, Bartolomé Maximiliano More, known to Cubans simply as Beny More or the Bárbaro del Ritmo (literally the Beat Barbarian). In honour of the great son performer, the festival that is named after him is held every year in Santa Isabel de Las Lajas However, the refinement of the people of Cienfuegos also stands out in their culture, in particular the plastic arts, the art and music, in which the name of the Aragón orchestra (which is over half a century old) and a solid movement of trios are well known,

Nature:

Cienfuegos has the second largest botanic garden in Cuba and one of the richest in the continent of America. It was founded at the turn of the 20th century under the auspices of Harvard University (USA). Approximately 10% of the province’s surface area of 4177.2 Km.2 is taken up with the Cordillera de Guamuhaya, which is brimming over with indigenous flora and fauna, springs, waterfalls, caves, pot holes, natural vantage-points and valleys between the mountains, where exciting adventures, country life and various mountain sports are there to await you. It would be unforgiv able to leave without visiting places such as El Nicho, the Valle de Yaguanabo, the Cueva de Martin Infierno (NationaL Monument) and the Pico San Juan.

An abundance of migratory ducks, rabiche and aliblancas pigeons, quails, Guinea fowl, pheasants and yaguasines make up the fauna of Yariguá.

Active tourism:

At 30 diving points near the coast it is possible to see grottoes, sunken ships, underwater valleys and reefs, inhabited by multicoloured fish, gorgonians, molluscs, turtles, crustaceans, sponges and sea snails. But the wonderful thing about the seabed here is Notre Dame, the largest column reef in America (4 metres), so called owing to its structure similar to that of the Paris cathedral.

The exceptional conditions of Bahia de Cienfuegos, well sheltered and covering an area of 88 Km have made it into an ideal place not only for commerce, but also for boat trips around the Carenas, Loco, Alcatraz and Ocampo keys and Perché fishing village, as well as fishing, regattas, kayak, wind-surfing, sailing and other water sports. It was declared the sailing capital of Cuba and each year the city holds one stage of the formula T-1 speedboat Grand Prix.

Health:

Anyone suffering from skin disorders, arthritis and circulatory problems may find the perfect remedy in the mineral and medicinal waters of Ciego Montero, 23 kilometres from Cienfuegos. From these springs rise one of the finest table waters that are most in demand on the national market.

The tourist authorities in the province are keen to encourage the congress and incentive trip industry and there fore, as well as creating the necessary conditions for holding such important events as the Fiesta de Los Amigos del Mar (Friends of the Sea Festival), they recently set up the Cuba Conventions Bureau secretary’s office for the island.

Leisure and restaurants

Caribesur Complex: restaurant, café, pool table, mini-golf, swimming pool, piano bar, grill, natural swimming pool, shops and berths for boats, with local culture also making a major appearance.

The Afro-Cuban Night in Palmira includes a visit to the museum and a cabildo (an ethnic gathering) to get to know the impressive Yoruba Pantheon and to witness a ritual ceremony of the Regla de Osha.

The Guanaroca Cabaret and the Club Beny More, one at the Jagua hotel and the other at the boulevard, are places to enjoy good Cuban music and dance till you drop.
Regularly making an appearance at the Tomás Terry Theatre are concert players, theatrical and dance groups, comedians and performers from right around the province and the country.

In this city by the sea the most popular restaurants specialize in seafood and fish dishes, such as La Cueva del Camarón, Casa Caribeña, Palacio de Valle and Covadonga. There are also restaurants serving international, Italian and Creole cuisine. Among the finest are Cubanacán Palniares, Pizza Nova, Pollo Ditu Rumbos, Piropo and El Rapido.

Varadero, a small natural wonder, is a health resort that enjoys well-earned international renown. It covers an area of just over 22 km around the Hicacos Peninsula, the northernmost point of the island of Cuba, situated in the western province of Matanzas. Varadero is considered the Mecca of tourism in the Cuban archipelago, for it offers an integral, diverse and extensive product, which enables it to meet the expectations of the widest range of customers. As welt as its first-class beach where visitors are given the opportunity to practice all kinds of water sports, it is set in beautiful natural surroundings and provides facilities for conducting all kinds of events, playing golf and parachuting, incentive travel, weddings and honeymoons, and even for long-stay tourism. On top of all that, the nearby cities of Matanzas and Cárdenas and Montemar Nature Reserve, in Peninsula de Zapata Biosphere Reserve, round off the opportunities available to tourists at this friendly and welcoming health resort, where visitors can enjoy all the shades of blue in the Caribbean.

How to get there:

A convenient road bordering the northern coast of Cuba leads from Havana to Varadero, 140 km to the east of the capital. Situated in the area surrounding the health resort is Juan Gualberto Gómez international airport, which facilitates direct access from other continents and multiple destinations with other regions in the country, Central America and the Caribbean. It is also a free port and its three international harbors offer all the technical requirements necessary to receive a large range of vessels.

Sun and sand:

The beach at Varadero, of an extraordinarily high standard and measuring a length of 22.6 km, with its gentle slope and clear, calm waters that encompass all the shades of blue imaginable, is undoubtedly the centre’s major attraction. Varadero is a tourist resort that currently offers over 55% of the total number of rooms built in areas of sun and sand on the Cuban archipelago. Virtually all of the hotels existing on the Hicacos Peninsula have areas in the sea where it is safe for visitors to enjoy wind-surfing, trips in a kayak, jet skiing and cycling, as well as other similar sports activities. On the southern coast of the province of Matanzas visitors can also enjoy Playa Larga and Girón beaches.

City:

A holiday in Varadero enables tourists to visit two towns with no end of different attractions: Matanzas (36 km away), the provincial capital founded in 1693, which became the most cultured and prosperous city in the country, and Cárdenas (12 km away), known as the Flag City as this was where the national standard flew for the first time (1850). In Matanzas it is well worth taking a trip to see Vigia and Libertad squares and witnessing at first-hand the magnificence of the buildings designed in the neo-classical style surrounding the square; or observing the peaceful bay and the imposing Valle de Yumuri from the Ermita de Monserrat; visiting the Castillo de San Severino, San Pedro Apóstol church, or taking a trip to see the Pharmaceutical Museum, where Doctor Ernest Triotet gathered a valuable collection of original porcelain bottles, beautiful wooden shelves and laboratory equipment from the second half of the 19th century, which remain exactly as they were originally designed and represent the most important example of their kind outside France. Major attractions in Cárdenas include Colon and Spriü squares, Rojas fort, the former Arrechabala distillery (1870), and the ruins of the first electricity plant in operation in the country (1889).

Culture:

The fact that Matanzas is considered the Athens of Cuba is clear testimony to the intense cultural life that has always charac tensed this city situated very close to Varadero. Today the Teatro Sauto (1863), a theatre that is an authentic jewel of architecture, and the Sala White (1854), where the danzón, the national Cuban dance, was first performed for the public, continue to be pop ular stages where prominent figures from the national and international arts often per form. Every two years, Matanzas also holds the International Puppet Festival and Danzan Dos International Choreography Competition for contemporary, folkloric and classical ballet dancing.

Nature:

Around 30% of the total area of the Hicacos Peninsula (on its eastern side) is occupied by Varahicacos ecology reserve, whose exceptional attributes include a well-preserved coastal ecosystem and the survival of rare examples of tree cacti (Dendrocerus Nudiflorus), in some cases estimated to date back over 500 years. Together with these vegetable formations there is a very special collection of fauna with abundant examples of reptiles and birds. Situated right in the centre of Varadero, Josone Park is a place for nature lovers to enjoy.

The nearby valleys of YumurI and the Canimar and Bacunayagua rivers are also outstanding areas for those who wish to enjoy nature. However, undoubtedly its largest outlet is Montemar Nature Reserve, in the Peninsula de Zapata Biosphere Reserve, where the largest wetland on the insular Caribbean is situated. Once here be sure to visit the Laguna del Tesoro, the Taino village of Guamá, La Boca crocodile breeding ground, and La Salina refuge for fauna, an outstanding place for bird-watching.

Active tourism:

The options for enjoying an active holiday in Varadero are varied and highly attractive, even right in the heart of the health resort, where Josone Park reserves a special place for nature lovers to spend some time. As well as being able to practice any water sport, the spa and its nearby keys provide an ideal place to go diving and snorkeling. Three international diving centres are in operation and over 30 immersion points have been identified, including those in the Cayo Piedras del Norte Sea Park—an exclusive attraction throughout the country and the Cueva de Saturno, a flooded underground passageway. Divers can also practice their sport in the waters of Bahia de Cochinos, Peninsula de Zapata, where there are a further 14 immersion points.
This health resort has the only professional golf course of the archipelago (18 holes 72 pan; it has a flying club for those who like parachuting (it is possible to jump with or without an instructor), or those who wish to fly in a balsa wood micro light aircraft. It is also possible to take a trip in a helicopter to the Valle de Yumuri; participate in a lorry safari along the banks of the river Canimar and journey back up its waters in sailing or rowing boat; join a tour of a sugar plantation and go on an old steam train; or travel around the navigable channels in the south of the peninsula on jet skis.
Other sound options for entertainment in Varadero include swimming with dolphins; trips on an underwater observation vessel; trips to the nearby keys on board sailing ships and catamarans; day and night-time pirate adventures on a galleon; processions to sites of archaeological digs; visits to the Cuevas de Bellamar, caves situated in Matanzas, or the Ambrosio and Musulmanes caves on Hicacos peninsula itself; or days of fishing with light tackle on the Zapata peninsula.

Events and conventions

1i The Centro de Corivenciones PLaza America is a modern and functional facility that enables any kind of event to be held in this health resort. For five years this modern facility equipped with the latest technology in each of its rooms has held the Tourism Convention, during the month of May each year and in September the Expo Varadero, the commercial showcase for the territory of Yumuri. In addition, a growing number of establishments are classed as Hotels for Events, vouched for by the Buró de Convenciones de Cuba (Cuba Conventions Bureau)

Health tourism and quality of life:

Programmes for improving quality of life are offered at the Clinica Internacional de Varadero and the Horizontes Casa del Valle hotel, set in the Valle de Yumuri. Adjoining the Centro de Convenciones Plaza America (the conference centre( is a SPA Club and many hotels have a Jacuzzi, modern gymnasiums and massage areas.

Leisure and restaurants:

The network of restaurants, clubs, dance halls, pubs and karaoke bars is extensive and is concentrated both inside and outside the hotels. Among the most famous nightspots are the Tropicana Matanzas; the cabaret Continental at the Internacional hotel; the Cueva del Pirata; the Palacio de La Rumba; the Bamba; the Mambo Club and the Habana Café.

Immigration Regulations: Every visitor should have a valid passport issued in his name and a visa or tourist card, except those who come from countries with which Cuba has visa-exemption agreements. Tourist cards both individual and group can be requested from Cuba’s consular representatives, travel agencies and airline offices.

Customs Regulations: Personal effects, jewelry, still or video cameras, fishing and other sports equipment, two bottles of alcoholic beverages, a carton of cigarettes and up to 22 pounds (10 kilograms) of medicines may be brought into Cuba duty free. In addition, you may bring in other articles up to a value of US $250.00; US $50.00 worth of them will be duty-free, and a 100-percent duty will be due on the remaining US $200 worth. The possession, trafficking, consumption and sale of drugs or narcotics is prohibited. Nor may you bring in pornography, blood derivatives, cordless microphones and telephones, household appliances and/or firearms, except for those duly authorized for hunting. You may bring as much cash as you wish.

On leaving Cuba, you may take up through 23 Habano cigars, either loose or packaged, without having to present any documents. If you want to take more than 23 cigars with you, on your departure you will have to give Customs the original and one copy of the bill of sale from the store where you purchased them. The cigars should be in their original packages that bear the official authorization, including the new holographic seal. If this prerequisite attesting to legal purchase is not met, the product will be seized by Customs.

If you want to take works of art or antiques with you, you must obtain permission to do so from the National Registry of Cultural Assets; in the case of a great quantity of gold and/or silver, you must obtain authorization from the National Bank of Cuba to take it out of the country.