Enlarge to see map with some of local buildings with architectural, cultural and historical interest.

On a strip of calle Independencia, the bulevar (pedestrian street) starts at Parque Marti and covers three blocks of shops, culture centres and museums and more shops. Since 2009, it's still growing with new buildings and a restaured hotel - Hoteles E Rueda 1920 © sogestour •]• Dog watching (or barking, who knows) after pedestrians © robin thom photography

Parque Marti © panoramio •]• Other view of bulevar, a place for natural motion not chemical pollution since January 2009 © flickr.com

Catedral de San Eugenio de la Palma towers over Parque Marti on calle Independencia which becomes a pedestrian-only street © dentharthurdent, flickr.com •]• Cine Carmen site of Festival de Cine Erotico © northknight panoramio

Restaurant in a train car © Robin Thom Photography •]• Edificio UEB © OliWheatley flickr

Some of the best decorative art items in the land can be found here at the local MAD - Museo de Artes Decorativas - such as this luxurious bygone-era bedroom. Can't miss it, it's on Maceo, corner Independencia. © orlando gonzalez

These two happy go lucky compañeros or parqueadores will watch over your two-wheeler as bikes are not allowed on the town's main street which is pedestrian-only © sogestour

"Greetings in Chamba town” Ciego de Avila province, 2014 - Courtesy Annenberg Space for Photography © orlando garcia

The Conectando Cuba daily Transtur bus leaves most Habana hotels from 7 to 7:40 am, arrives at 14h55 at Hotel Ciego de Avila (27€/$US, 424km) near which it then stops for lunch (included in fare) at Parador Rio Azul, then arrives at 16h55 at Hotel Camaguey (33€/$US, 545km) and gets in Holguin at Hotel Pernik at 19:55 hrs, 739km later for 44€/$US. Then leaves for Hotel Melia in Santiago de Cuba where it arrives at 21h55 (51€/$US, 881km). Click for PDF. Return trip leaves Santiago daily at 0700, leaves Holguin at 9h00, Camaguey at Noon, stops for lunch at Parador Oasis (468km from Havana), leaves Ciego at 14h55 and gets to Miramar, Vedado and Vieja hotels between 20h55 and 21h35. Hotel Ciego de Avila, carretera a Ceballos, e/ Rotunda a Ceballos y Margarita, about 15 blocks by bicitaxi from central park José Marti on Marcial Gomez. Map.

Where the walking street begins, the polluting car stops — Parque Marti y Bulevar © sogestour •]• A beach on Cayo Coco about 100 k's away north © Sandrocan, panoramio

Catedral San Eugenio de la Palma	Casa de Cultura [Casino Español] Museo de Historia [Comandancia] Colegio Champagnat	Teatro Principal
DIY WALKING TOURS [MAP HERE] Parque Marti marks the center of the city. [Google Map here.] It was built in 1877 when it was named Plaza Alfonso XII; became Jose Marti in the XXth century. Since 1925, hosts a bust in memory of the patriot. On one side of the square, the catholic church of San Eugenio de la Palma. Built in 1947, declared a cathedral in 1996. Next to the church, the yellow building is the Poder Popular (Government House), built according to eclectic-style standards and inaugurated in 1911. Also on the square, the Museo de Artes decorativos, corner Marcial Gomez and Independencia with important collections of furniture, tableware, porcelain, gemstones and jewelry. Linked to this place, El Bulevar is pedestrian for three blocks, starting near Hotel Sevilla, then goes on with shops, cultural and music centers to its end where a new office complex and hotel are being built.
Poder Popular Masonic lodge	Hotel Sevilla	Casa Perez, Cruz verde Museo de Artes decorativas
Fine example of eclectic architecture, dating from 1927, the Teatro Principal is the work of Italian sculptor Giovanni Marcos and his son Giacomo. At the corner of Honorato Castillo and Maximo Gomez, the Museo de Historia in a magnificent building of the nineteenth century reshaped in the 70s: artifacts and exhibits on the history, culture and archeology of the province. Galeria de Arte Provincial Raul Martinez, calle Independencia offers four exhibit rooms with creations in contemporary art with pieces byt the Pauyet group, nationally known group of artisans; beautiful patio; cultural activities.
Hotel El Ariete Banco CyC [Banco Nuñez]	Farmacia La Fé	Casa Balbin Casa del agua y viviendas Restaurante La Fonda
Formerly the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Canada until 1959, the building of Banco Comercio y Credito corner Maceo and Independencia's eclectic style was built between 1925 and 1930. Another historic building, built in 1865, El Cabildo for the personal use Ramon Cortes Pimentel, appointed prefect, was seat of the prefecture (cabildo for Cubans) for the next eight years. Restored in 1999. The wall of the history of the city lies corner Marcial Gomez and Joaquin de Agüero. This large mural represents the plan of the first 25 blocks of the city including the headquarters of the Spanish colony. Photos by José Ramon (Junta de Andalucia) and René Silvera Toledo (Oficina del Historiador de Santiago de Cuba) from Guia de Architectura y Paisaje - Camaguey Ciego de Avila published by the city's Office of the Historiador and the Heritage conservation study centre of the Universitad de Camaguey under the direction of Lourdes Gomez Consuegra, 2009 - Full 238-page document (67 Mb) here.

JARDINES DE LA REINA Only 500 fishermen and 1000 divers allowed per year.
The most pristine marine spot on Earth, yet untouched by oil spills, consumer pollution or overfishing. This huge protected marine park established by Fidel in 1997 comprises 250 cayos and is frequented by scientists and (a few) water sports aficionados.	© Nicola Zingarelli
Dive report on undercurrent.org here.	Avalon Facebook page here.
Avalon (back to greeting foreigners in Spring 2021) boasts a large team of highly trained instructors (CMAS/SSI/PADI) on hand with full training in first aid and CPR. All have a lifetime of experience in the ocean and are wonderful guides, instructors, and stewards of the marine park.	Over 80 spectacular dive sites have been discovered thus far; all are well protected from wind and marine currents making the diving very easy and accessible for everyone. Avalon & Marlin run this operation as cubandivingcenters.com.
Jardines de la Reina park is around the Cayo de las Doce Leguas (map here) can be reached some 60-90 km south of the town of Jucaro - Avalon  suggests flying into Cayo Coco, Santa Clara or Camaguey airports for transfer to the Jucaro marina. Speedboats leave from there at 5 a.m., taking at least 2-3 hours (up to 5) to reach one of the floating platform hotel-ships, such as the Jardines Avalon F1 (8 cabins). The fortunate few will find huge groupers, pargos, jureles, robalos, barracudas and various species of sharks. Only "live-aboards" are offered as these diving and fishing areas are a long way off the Ciego de Avila province shores. Not rare, they say that lucky fishing fans catch (and release) the 20 or so species found in the archipelago — all in a few days. Advance bookings required, usually 10 months. The closest international airport is Cayo Coco off the northern coast. One has to cross the whole width of the island going by Moron, Ciego de Avila and the old sugar mill in the town of Venezuela.

VILLA JABON CANDADO
Two aircon bedrooms, ensuite baths, terrace
Calle Chicho Valdes (Carretera Central) # 51, corner Abraham Delgado, two blocks from Parque Marti, downtown. Tel. (33) 22-5854


 

SERGIO y AYLIN V
One aircon bedroom, ensuite, patio
Calle Republica No. 265, entre Soto y Quinta, some 9 blocks from Parque Marti in reparto Diaz Pardo. Tel. (33) 22-3764

RECOMMENDED BY PAPERBACK GUIDES
Footprint Handbooks (FH), Lonely Planet (LP), Moon Handbooks (MH), Rough Guides (RG), Stefan-Loose (SL) and web site Trip Advisor (TA)
::: FH : Yolanda La China, Iris Marrero Cano, Villa Jabon Condado ::: LP : Villa Jabon Condado, Maria Luisa Muñoz Alvarez ::: MH : Aleida Castro, Casa de Dr. Alberto de Armas, Villa O'Mari ::: RG : Casa Aleida, Villa Jabon Condado ::: SL : Maria Luisa Muñoz Alvarez, Yolanda Bed & Breakfast, Martha Corvea Martinez ::: TA : Villa Jabon Condado, Yolanda Bed & Breakfast, Casa Mari 21.02.18