Architecture & Map Guide of City Centre : 43 sites


Club Cienfuegos on Punta Gorda ! Good food, swimming pool for a fee, lovely views from its terrace. Was the site (up to the 1980's) of Formula 1 speedboat races, close to the rowing school and the marina which rents kayaks. © Wanda Bendik •|• The other side of the building opens on calle 37, continuation of the wide avenue crossing the town center, el Prado. The two carriages are caballo-powered taxis ; ) © sogestour


Blowin' in the wind at Jardin Botanico © asielgustavo, panoramio •|• Mini map of the bay © sogestour


Asemblea Provincial building and city hall [Ayuntamiento] on Parque Marti; its members are duly elected every 5 years. In Jan 08 election, 70% of elected candidates for the province were women — none had to be a member of the Communist Party © Ricardo, picasaweb •|• Palacio del Valle on Punta Gorda : music and meals in a so-so atmosphere © Blair Bessette


Ferry leaving the dock at El Perché below Castillo de Jagua — the antique fort recently restaured — and crossing to Pasacaballo © sogestour •|• Parque de la Punta with a tiny water access for dipping off a micro beach, steps from the last casas at the tip of Punta Gorda on calle 35 © sogestour


Teatro Tomas Terry, one of most stunning in the country entirely restored © Jorge Tutor •|• The ferry plies the bay waters and the sea-leading channel going from the port to Castillo de Jagua (El Perché), Pasacaballo (and its only building, the namesake hotel here in background). On the way back to town, it sometimes makes a stop at Cayo Carena © sogestour


Caballo (horse) on calle Lamar on the big point, Punta Gorda © asielgustavo, flickr •|• This yet-to-be-woman is already taking the stance by (seemingly) teaching (something) to seven yet-to-be-men © partwish, picasa — Enlarge


The big point — Punta Gorda — advancing in the bay has always been a cherished spot for Cuban bigwigs as well as visitors. In the Thirties on this postcard.


On the big point, the main property is Hotel Jagua's Palacio del Valle, once a casino project by (and for the sole benefit of) dictator Batista © pdv_zamorano, flickr, com


The narrow channel for cruise ships, sailboats or kayaks passes in front of Pasacaballo Hotel and Castillo de Jagua © bertaycortes.com


Mercado municipal (ave 58, corner 31), with meat, fruits and vegetable in apparent abundance; bonus : everything's pretty much (95%) all organic © terry fein, vimeo
 

YOUR CONECTANDO BUS 2-DAY The Conectando Cuba daily Transtur bus leaves most Havana hotels from 7 to 7:40 am, stops for lunch, gets in Cienfuegos at local hotels Union at 14h00, Jagua at 14h15 and Rancho Luna 14h45 for 20€/$US. Other arrivals on same service from Trinidad at 08h05-08h50 and Varadero at 11h-11h45. Click for PDF.

VIAZUL TO THE NORTH CAYOS The very popular Circuito Norte Viazul bus circuit leaving daily from Trinidad at 07:30 goes through Cienfuegos at 08h50, then on to Santa Clara, Camajuani, Remedios and Caibarien also goes to cayos Las Brujas, Ensenachos and all the way to Santa Maria on the Cayeria del Norte, about 185km north of Trinidad; returns here daily at 18h30. Sked here Twice a day in both directions, a Viazul bus stops here at the local guagua terminal located Calle Gloria e/ 56 y 58, Tel. (43) 51-81-14

The almost mythical Cayo Carena still shows some standing buildings, some full of stories to tell and a nice playita surely among the less used in the whole of the Caribbean. From the Marlin marina, daily trips (catamaran or boat) are made to Cayo Carena including a 45-min stop to allow a dip in the bay from the beach. Duration : two hours there and back, 16€/$USpp. Other boat rides on this page. © Gustavo Rumbaut, panoramio

CRUISIN' ALONG, THERE & BACK The cross-bay ferry leaves daily from the city port at 13h00 and goes to the channel at the dock below the little town of El Perché under the Castillo de Jagua (the Fortaleza de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, work of French Engineer Sébastien Le Pestre), facing the Hotel Pasacaballo, near Milpas across the narrow but deep canal. This ferry returns to town passing by Cayo Carena (photos at left) a small island which was a refuge for the rich with second homes. DAILY RIDES ON THE C-BAY Cayo Carena 2 hours 16€/$US; El Castillo, el Perché, 3 hours 16€/$US; Bar Abierto (open bar), 2 hours 16€/$US; Puesta del Sol (sunset cruise), 2 hours 16€/$US; Paseo por la Bahia, 1 hour 12€/$US. All excursions leave by boat or catamaran from Marina Marlin in Punta Gorda, by the sculpture park - Parque de las Esculturas. Click photo for details. Tel (43) 55-1699

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ::: Since January 2021, the CUC (Cuban Convertible) currency no longer is valid; all tourist services are payable only in foreign currency, cash or credit card. ::: Bring cash Euros or US dollar$, etc because Cuban banks and Foreign Exchange Bureaus (CADECA) will only exchange your currency (CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, JPY, MXN, USD) for the local currency - the CUP (US$1 = 24 CUP) which might be useful for local stuff; get other details here. ::: Make sure that in your first email or phone call you specify that you want to book a room in that particular casa and that you will reconfirm your booking on arrival in Cuba.  ::: So as to not abandon expecting owners with empty rooms, reconfirm (or call ahead to cancel) your booking by phone as soon as you can after arriving in Cuba ::: Please write or phone a casa owner to cancel a booking. As late as it may seem, it allows them a chance to rebook. ::: Children under the age of 16 may share a bedroom with adults for free. Specify the child's age when booking. ::: At the end of the casa name, the V signals the casa was suggested by travelers or owners but not verified by us in person. If you try it and like it, write us about it. ::: Unless otherwise mentioned, the average room rates and service prices are : 25-30€/US$ per bedroom per night [up to 40€/US$+ for 4 in a room]; breakfasts 3-5€/US$, dinners 8-15€/US$. ::: 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

Locate casas - Maps here.
Click thumbnail for casa's details.

AMISTAD - FRIENDSHIP HOUSE
Two upstairs ac br's, ensuites, roof terrace
Avenida 56 (San Carlos) # 2927 altos (upstairs), e/ calles 29 y 31, back of Hotel Union almost on Parque Marti. Tel. (43) 51-61-43

HOSTAL COLONIAL D+D
Two ac bedrooms, ensuites, patio
Avenida 62, # 4513 e/ 45 y 47, near Parque Villuendas and Taberna Bucanero. Tel (43) 59-7425 cel 53 66 88 68

VILLA ALONDRA
Upstairs, three ac br's, ensuites, terrace
Avenida 42 (5 de Septiembre) 5503, e/55 y 57, steps from IMAGO (wifi, grocery), 8 blocks from bayside Malecon and 6 from Viazul bus station. Tel. (43) 52-4052 cel 54 34 67 25

CIENFUEGOS SUNRISE
Three ac br's (two upstairs), ensuites, terraces
Calle 41 #5005, e/ 50 (Santa Clara) y 52 (Argüelles), in historical center, one block from main street, the Prado and 300m from the Malecon. Tél. (43) 55-0247  cel 53 42 15 43

LAGARTO CIUDAD V
Upstairs, seven ac br's, ensuites, terraces
Calle 35 (Gacel) 5503, e/ avenidas 56 (San Carlos) y 58 (Santa Cruz), three blocks from central parque Marti and one block from Prado. Tel. (43) 52-2309 or (43) 52-3164 Cel 52 90 17 06

PALACIO BARON y BALBIN  V
Two floors, five ac br's, ensuites, terraces
Calle 52 #2706, e/ 27 (San Luis) y 29 (Santa Isabel), about 100 m from parque Marti and 300 m from the Malecon. Tél. (43) 52-0837 or (43) 59-6076 cels 52 47 20 74 or 56 22 08 46

Along the Punta Gorda : the Marina (above), a public swimming pool, Hotel Jagua, Palacio del Valle and casas particulares all the way to Parque de la Punta.

Locate casas on Punta Gorda map here.
Click pictures to open page with details.

GARCIA HOUSE
Upstairs, two ac br's, ensuites, large terrace
Avenida 38 #3901, e/ 39 y 41, one block from bayside Malecon. Map here. Tel. (43) 52 2682 cell 52 82 68 69

MI CASA EN CUBA
Whole casa two ac br's, kitchen, great rates
Calle 45, #4201, e/ 42 y 44, two blocks from bayside Malecon and the Prado. Tél. (43) 51-63-65 cell 52 90 89 24

Because of the exclusivity of these bayside casas with their unique access to the water or views of the bay, rental rates are higher than in town center : 30-35€/$US (some 45€\$US, up to 80€/$US) per bedroom per night; normal checkout time — salida : 11h; normal check-in time — llegada : 13h; reconfirm rates and prices (drinks, meals, room, parking) by phone on arrival in Cuba + 24 hours before checking in.

Left, the flowered entrance, by casas Almar and Las Estancias, leading to casas Padron's, Los Delfines and Villa Lagarto. © sogestour

CASAS ARE LISTED IN THE ORDER THEY APPEAR ON DEAD-END STREET 35 LEADING TO PARQUE DE LA PUNTA :

HOTEL RANCHO LUNA — Page here

HOTEL PASACABALLOS — Page here

CLUB AMIGO FARO LUNA HOTEL — Link here

VIDEO OF DELFINARIO (Dolphin expl.) — here

HOTEL PUNTA LA CUEVA — Page here

FARO LUNA DIVING ~ Facebook page here

VILLA SALMAR
Two ac bedrooms, ensuites, sea view
Avenida del Golfo 11, Rancho Luna, near Hotel America and about 100 meters from Playa Rancho Luna. Tel (43) 54-8148

Sra Martha Soto
 

CASA DE TERESITA V
One ac bedroom, private bathroom
Avenida del Golfo, Rancho Luna, before Hotel America to the right when arriving from Cienfuegos. Tél. (42) 51-81-32

"Very, very, nice casa and absolutely delicious food. Nice bedroom, veranda, garden." @ Stefan Loose
 

VILLA D'LIRIOS V
Whole house, three br's, two baths, bayside
At the end of carretera de Faro Luna in Punta La Milpa (or Milpas), near and passed Pasacaballo and its hotel; get there from town by taking the ferry which stops at Castillo de Jagua; see mini-map up here. Tel. (43) 60-5143, cel. 53 12 59 88

 

 

Updated 14.04.2023



Content & photos © sogestour