SANTIAGO DE CUBA [Santiago] | cubacasas.net

Traveling makes one modest — you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.

Rebelde Ayer, Hospitalaria Hoy, Heroica Siempre

*SUGGESTED CASAS IN TOWN*
Center, near Parque Cespedes	34 casas
Vista Alegre including Terrazas	6 casas

Metropolis of the Oriente, second largest city in the country, mother of the Sierra Maestra, scene of an original, extroverted and mezclada culture, the ciudad where most uprisings took place (1868, 1895, 1898, 1953, 1957), Santiago de Cuba also boasts the largest afro-caribbean contingent in Cuba.

Having fled the Haitian revolution of 1791, some 18,000 coffee plantation owners (French families such as the Durand, Vidaux, Dallest, Lafite, Lombard, Bourzac, Manet, Préval and Lemoine) and their slaves settled here where they found an independent spanish colony, well-protected (El Morro fort built in the 16th century) and in dire need of cheap labor - the city only had 20,000 residents - which was not arriving fast enough from Africa.

Its geographical location, like that of Kingston, Jamaica which it likens — and with which it has more than cultural ties, makes it a veritable boiler in summer when humidity slows even the most hardy of visitors down. The city's reputation has nothing to envy any other Cuban large city...

Oh, yes : it was the country's original capital city for 135 years, until the mid sixteenth century.

Yesterday the Rebel, Hospitable Today, Heroic Forever [Rebelde Ayer, Hospitalaria Hoy, Heroica Siempre]

DISTANCES Baconao, 48 Baracoa, 193 Bayamo, 120 Camaguey, 331 Chivirico, 68 El Cobre, 20 El Salton, 80 Gibara, 185 Gran Piedra, 23 Guantanamo, 61 Holguin, 155 Jiguani, 88 La Habana, 858 Maffo, 68 Manzanillo (coast), 245 Mayari Arriba, 55 Palma Soriano, 40 Rio Cauto, Segundo Frente, 68 Siboney, 15 Trinidad, 588	"Without Women, there is no Revolucion" - Vilma Espin Guillois Presente! © Melanie Cervantes

MAPS & LINKS

Map - Palma Soriano to Guantanamo and the coast

Map - Bayamo to Santiago region

Supermap - Port & center up to La Moncada

Supermap - Repartos (burroughs) south of center

Map - The Centro of the Centro (4 x 4 blocks)

Map - The city : large street plan

Map - The city : detailed streets

Map - Repartos Sueño and Vista Alegre with casas

Map - Reparto Santa Barbara

Map - Region and small towns

Map - Bay area undetailed

Map - The coast, east of the city

Map - Region and west of the city

Schedule - Cuban trains

Schedule of rising and downward tides

Viazul Bus Routes Ruta 24 + Ruta 25 + Ruta 26

Schedule - Bus to/from Baracoa and Guantanamo

Island-wide bus connections

Currency - Daily exchange rates

WHAT'S ON - Casa de la Trova, Musica, etc

All that's natural in Santiago province

LIVE - arrivals & departures at Santiago airport

POPULATION 493,840 (2007)

PLAYAS
Beaches closest to Santiago are located 19 km east, along a 33-km stretch of coast between Siboney (see our page here) and Baconao, 48 km from here • La Poseta de Juan Gonzalez, 20km away along the coast : waterfall and lake for freshwater bathing.

WIFILANDIA
Wi-Fi Zones in town include : Parque Cespedes, Plaza del Marte, Parque de Ferreiro and Paseo Maritimo La Alameda; to use, one must buy a 2cuc per hour code at the following locations which offer Internet on desktop computers open Daily 8h30-19h30 Telepunto, (Hartman, corner of Callejón del Carmen), Centro Multiservicios de Céspedes (Heredia s/n, corner of Santo Tomás), Centro Multiservicios de Alameda (Ave. Jesús Menéndez No. 603 e/ José A. Saco y Callejón Cuba), Centro Multiservicios de Vista Alegre (calle M corner of Ampliación de Terrazas)

SERVICES
• Cubataxi 65-1038 : ask for Che (Osvaldo Bez), a super guy and part-time beekeeper or his buddies Daniel "Italiano" or Eugenio Borrero, best taxistas in town • Clinica internacional, Vista Alegre, 64-2589 • Cubana airline 69-1014 or 69-1865 : greet agent Wesme Pila Beltran at main airport counter : a fully-bilingual graduate of Youth Canada World. • Local Yoga Instructor : Salas at Parque Santamaria on Wed and Thu at 16h

SMALL HOTELS
• Hostal San Basilio E (San Basilio (Bartolomé Maso) 403, e/Calvario (Porfirio Valiente) y Carniceria; tel (22) 65-1702) : now a "boutique" hotel with doubles incl. breakfast from 54cuc; 8 rooms in restored colonial casa • Gran Hotel Santiago on Enramada (J. A. Saco), corner of San Félix : basic doubles for 30-40cuc; tel. (22) 65-3020 : part of the local hotel school with 15 rooms to rent. Both accept credit cards, offer in-room fridge and a/c. Review here.

EXCURSIONES
• Caletón Blanco 30 km west for a small rock-enclosed white sand beach. Lunch seaside at Villa Consuelo, cel 53 79 38 12 • Marina Marlin best for bay tour (min. 10 pax) for 12 cuc including drink • Paradiso Heredia 305, best for cultural tours; others offer pretty much the same, such as • Cubatur Heredia, corner Lacret : full day including Morro castle for 54 cuc pp • Cubanacan las Americas corner M

TRANSPORTATION
• Air Three daily 2h10 flights with Cubana and AeroCaribbean (Tel. 22-69-1014) from Havana ; fare 120cuc; taxi to town 8-10cuc, 8 km. • Rail (see sked link above) The Tren Especial to/from Havana leaves every 3rd evening (Tel. 62-2836 or 7759), leaving at 21h00, arr La Habana at 12h15 the next day • Bus Viazul tel. 62-3050 or 8484; see sked link above • Car rentals : Via Rentacar 68-7278 at Cubatur across from Casa Granda : ask for Rafael, honest and cool; also : Cubacar 65-3525, Havanautos 65-1056, Cubacar 68-7206 • Scooter rental : Hotel San Juan [av Siboney y Calle 13] • Santiago site with transport info here

TO/FRO BARACOA
• Viazul Daily at 08h00, arr 12h50; returns 14h00, arr Santiago 18h50, 15cuc pp. • Shared taxi Go ahead, you will totally regret it. Sure, the 1948 Jeep looks nice, parked; you are all smiles as you greet fellow sufferers one after another, taking at least one hour in noisy traffic waiting for the pack-strapping on the roof to be over. Once you take off, you realise your ribs and bum are going to be in pain while you breathe diesel fumes for 6 hours on end, barely able to hear fellow passengers shouting : "Never again !" Once there, even though he's promised to take you to the door of the casa, the chofer just dumps you anywhere, admitting it's his first time in Baracoa. Fuhgedaboudit. Nuff said.

VIAZUL BUS

Santiago 3 x day via Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin and Bayamo — Viazul Ruta 24 Others rutas to/from here Ruta 25 and Ruta 26

CONECTANDO BUS CROSSES CUBA

Daily, the Conectando Cuba Transtur bus leaves most Habana hotels between 7 and 7:40 am, arrives at 14h55 at Hotel Ciego de Avila (27cuc, 424km), then arrives Hotel Camaguey (33cuc, 545km) at 16h55, gets in Holguin at Hotel Pernik at 19:55 hrs, 739km later for 44cuc. Then leaves Holguin for Hotel Melia in Santiago de Cuba where it arrives at 21h55 (51cuc, 881km). Click for PDF .

Inaugurated in August 2018 Hotel Segundo Frente is located in the small namesake town, 70km northeast of here, exactly in Los Pinos, Mayari Arriba. The place was made famous by Raul Castro who formed the Segundo Frente Frank Pais which had a major part in the triumph of the Revolucion culminating in December 1958. For rent 49 rooms (30€ pp, double) and cabañas with the accent on nature and history. © cubanacan

REGIONAL MAP HERE

Not a traveler resting in a casa particular but rather some martyr or saint resting in a glass case in the Cathedral — with a capital see ;—) © sogestour

Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, some 10 km from centro dates back 390 years, 1637. In the back, the lighthouse is much younger, built in 1842 © Michael Runkel, robertharding.com

Catedral and bahia from Hotel Casa Granda rooftop © sogestour •]• Restaurant on Cayo Granma, tiny island in the bay © insay organic.hu

A DOZEN MUST-DO'S
... take a walk on Enramada (J. A. Saco) street for pedestrians only between 9 and 9 from Plaza de Marte to Corona : used to be filled with smoky cars
... look over the shoulder of one of dozens of Santiagueros hooked on wi-fi in parks Cespedes, de Marte, Alameda or Ferreiro
... ride a bike on the shaded streets of Vista Alegre ... check out the domino fanaticos of Padre Pico in Tivoli
... spy on pedestrians in Parque Cespedes from the roof of the Casa Granda Hotel ... take in the panorama from Balcon de Velazquez
... bite into a filet of fish on Cayo Granma smack in the middle of the bay : get there by a local bus or taxi (5cuc) to Punta Gorda and switch to the ferry
... find a rare book at Libreria La Escalera where the muy sympatico Eddy will introduce you to a music trio, calle Heredia 265
... marvel at the energy of dancing kids and aging singers in the cultural spots of calle Heredia ... refresh your eyes admiring the classic paintings in Museo Emilio Bacardi Moreau
... relive recent history in La Moncada and at the Museo de Lucha Clandestina
... slowly sip a cafecito at La Isabelica, facing Plaza Dolores
... remember history at Cementerio Santa Ifigenia. In all, a sound and sight spectacle you will enjoy remembering. In spite of everything, this city's soul manages to stick to yours. The way India does, in a kind of a love-it-or-leave-it relationship.

Bayside, Paseo La Alameda (de Michaelsen) runs on Calle Jesus Menéndez between Calixto García and Aguilera and was named in honor of German-born benefactor, adoptive son and classical music and art supporter Hermann Michaelsen in 1929. It is also a wifi zone © unk •]• Bucolic spot on the Universidad campus — somewhere © unk

Enramada (J. A. Saco) street, is pedestrian and more breathable from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. © sogestour •]• Nuestra Señora de la Caridad (Oshun for santeria believers) at El Cobre where Cubans pray the country's patron saint and romantics look for Hemingway's gift to Cuba : his Nobel Prize Medal © William Trumbull

Parque Serrano along Enramada © sogestour •]• Parque Céspedes and Poder Popular where Fidel gave victory speech on Jan. 2, 1959 © Heidi Jonker

Music pioneers at Casa de La Trova Pepe Sanchez © sogestour •]• Señora buying birdseeds © sogestour

This is one of many stunning views of the bay — La bahia de Santiago © unk •]• The Casa de La Trova Pepe Sanchez won the Best on the island — CubaDisco award © pedro de la osa, cubarte

The famous terrace of Hotel Casa Granda, overlooking Parque Cespédes, our perennial favorite and hangout in the Oriente © sogestour

The "Lancha de la Bahia" will take you (and anybody else, really) twice a day to and from Cayo Granma, el Parque Frank Pais and el Castillo del Morro for CUP pennies or centavos, or menudos, spare change, wot ? © Guillermo Salas, OnCuba

DUZER BIKER CROSSES CUBA

This bike rider from Colorado made this short, perfectly to-the-point video. Ryan van Duzer is from Boulder and his 9-minute film CUBA AT 15MPH about his 850-mile ride has a sublime premeditated ending. 8562

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the most famous and historic group of New Orleans travelled from Havana to Santiago in a school bus to find musical roots. The road movie - A TUBA TO CUBA - premiered at SXSW in Austin (Texas) on March 8, 2018. Teaser on youtube on click.

IF STONES COULD TALK
Cementerio Santa Ifigenia The cemetery boasts tombs of José Marti (2nd most revered spot in Cuba after El Cobre). Hourly changing of the guard is impressive; also Carlos Manuel de Céspedes "Father of the Fatherland"; Cuba's first President, Tomas Estrada Palma; Mariana Grajales who was not only Antonio Maceo's widow but a revolutionary woman still revered in much of Latin America.

Since December 3, 2016, there's a rock where the ashes of Comandante en Jefe de la Revolución Cubana Fidel Castro Ruz lie. By the rock there is Fidel's own definition of the word Revolución. Photos.

Also, Frank and Josué Pais, two more recent heroes — of the modern Revolucion as well as the graves of those who died in the failed taking of La Moncada on 26 de Julio 1953; the black marble tomb of Emilio Moreau Bacardi (1844-1922), writer, journalist, businessman and advocate of Cuban independence, jailed in 1876, exiled in 1879; elected Mayor in 1901 then served as Senator. His disavowed business cronies turned against the Revolucion and the Bacardi name long stood for corruption, coercion, unfair trading and terrorism, as in this Guardian article from August 2002.

PRESERVING COFFEE CULTURE

Casa Dranguet (calle Corona, corner Heredia) is dedicated to preserving and researching coffee culture. It features a museum space (photo above), a café on its patio, a recording studio and regular music shows, no less.

Its staff has developed trekking tours in the mountains called Los Caminos del Café where archeological research is done to eventually restore some of the first coffee plantations in Cuba starting in Santa Maria de Loreto. Article } here { located in the newly-established Parque Arqueológico Fraternidad (photo below).

The project is supported by the European Union, the Fundación Malongo and the Oficina del Conservador de Santiago.

Photos © Edgar Brielo Maranillo

For one month in April, since 2007, the city holds the Festival de Aves Endemicas celebrating birds which can only be found in Cuba.

Hotel Casa Grande's terrace overlooks Parque Céspedes. In background, the Poder Popular building where Fidel gave his victory speech on January 2, 1959.

TOP 10 EATERIES ...
St. Pauli Enramadas 605, Aurora on General Portuondo, Setos on avenida Manduley, El Palenquito avenida de Rio et calle 6, Compay Gallo at San German 503, Salon Tropical at F. Marcane 310, Hotel Casa Granda on parque Céspedes , Rumba Café at 455 San Felix, El Holandés on Victoriano Garzon in Vista Alegre ... rest rants with more than 100 comments on Tripad Visor as of Jan 2018.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG There are many other must-sees in the ciudad : Balcón de Velázquez, Casa del Caribe, Castillo del Morro, Catedral Nuestra Senora de la Asunción, Cayo Granma, Cuartel Moncada, Museo de Ambiente Cubano, Museo de Lucha Clandestina, Museo Diego Velasquez, Museo Emilio Bacardí Moreau, Teatro Heredia, Iglesia Santa Lucia. CHOPPING FOR BARGAINS • Good and well-designed stuff ("more stuff" like George Carlin used to say) at Galeria de Arte UNEAC (Heredia, e/Pio Rosado y Hartmann) • Egrem Records boutique (Hartmann, e/Maximo Gomez y Portuondo) has musical instruments and CD and DVD's • Rhum at the Caney factory on Peralejo and • Cigars at Casa del Habano on Aguilera and Menendez



	ADMIRE Dancers and musicians performing at Cabaret Tropicana Santiago (similar but not as "outrageous" as Havana's Tropicana) : located about 2 miles out of town : 35€/US$ per person; on a smaller scale, the Santiago Café at the Melia Santiago Hotel : 5€/US$ per person. Otherwise, lots of music shows by up-and-coming and established stage artists where dancing along is allowed ; ) Locations on calle Heredia : Casa de la Musica at #208, Casa de la Trova (Patio de Artex) at #304, UNEAC's Patio de la Jutía Conga at #266, Museo del Carnaval at #303, Casa del Estudiante at #205 or the Patio de los Dos Abuelos (Grandfathers' Patio) at calle Pizarro (Pérez Carbo) #5 on Plaza de Marte and Casa de las Tradiciones at 154, calle Jesus Rabi, e/San Fernando y Princesa.
	DEVOUR ... what food is on offer in these paladares (private restaurants) and state-run restaurants Paladar las Gallegas Bartolomé Maso 305 for its pork, chicken or lamb; Paladar Salon Tropical (photo left) on Luis F. Marcané 310 in reparto Santa Barbara in the area of the Las Americas Hotel : smoked pork, chicken, salads served on the rooftop terrace; Santiago 1900 on Bartolomé Maso 354 in what used to be the Bacardis' family casa : recently re-opened, everything is in moneda nacional, so less than 5cuc per dish; La Fontana in the Melia Santiago for its ravioli or pizza, pork or chicken; La Teresina on Aguilera (Marina) in a super setting opening onto Plaza Dolores : chicken, pizza and pasta; La Perla del Dragon almost beside the preceding does the Chinese thing, szechuan and wotnot; El Cayo on Cayo Granma - in the middle of the bay - serves sea catches of the morning but only at noon; El Barracón, opened in 2008 on V. Garzon, corner of Prudencio for its creative new Afro-Cuban cuisine; El Morro with breathtaking views of the sea : for lunch, a full plate of comida criolla (typical Cuban fare) for 12€/US$; Zunzún a good choice on offer at Manduley 159 in Vista Alegre with super meals of lobster, paella or curry chicken.

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

CASAS RENTING IN THE CLASSIC CENTRE, AROUND PARQUE CESPEDES
with Casa Granda Hotel on one side and the Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion
and the Balcon de Velazquez and the Ayuntamiento on the others.
There you have five of the top places to see in Santiago.

From one side of the park, one takes Heredia street to find La Trova and other hot music spots
From the other end of the park, take Enramada a no-car, all-pedestrian street from 9 to 9 every day !
And do not forget
Padre Pico with its stairs leading to from little bars beyond,
fascinating Museo Bacardi and some impressive pieces,
Parque Dolores with local fauna of all orientation
and La Escalera libreria slash troubadour spot

The Catedral's steeples on Parque Cespedes, the out-of-towners' town center

BOOK BY PHONE
• From Canada and the USA : 011 53 + # preceded by the city's area code, 22 • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Mexico : 00 53 + phone # preceded by area code 22 ••• 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 01 + the 8 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.

Click photos to see each casa's page and description. Map of area with casas here.

See Centro casas in sequence.

Click logo to move to next casa.

NENITA
Two a/c bedrooms, ensuites, patio
San Jeronimo (S. Hechavarria) 472, entre Carniceria (Pio Rosado) y Calvario (Porfirio Valiente), facing Museo Vilma Espin. Tel. (22) 65-4110

LA TERRAZA VERDE
Upstairs, three ac br's, ensuites, terraces
Mayia Rodriguez (Reloj) 201, esq. (corner) Trinidad (Gral. Portuondo), five blocks from pedestrian Enramadas. Tel. (22) 62-4440 cel. 52 84 54 68

NIVIA
Two ac bedrooms, ensuites, patio
General Portuondo (Trinidad), #510, entre Hartman (San Félix) y General Bandera (San Bartolomé) near Parque Cespédes Tél. (22) 62-28-93

COLONIAL 1830
One ac bedroom, ensuite, patio
San Pedro (Gral. Lacret) 367, e/ San German (Gral. Maximo Gomez) y Trinidad (Gral. Portuondo), five blocks from Parque Céspedes. Tel. (22) 65-3649 cel. 53 93 48 23

MARUCHI
Two a/c bedrooms, ensuites, patio
Hartmann (San Felix) 357, e/ Trinidad (Gral Portuondo) y San German (Maximo Gomez), steps from Casa de Frank Pais. Tel. 22-62-0767 cell 52 61 37 91

CASA AZUL
Upstairs, three a/c bedrooms, ensuites, patio
Calle Jaguey 121, e/Padre Pico y Escudero, downtown, 5 blocks from Parque Cespedes. Tel. (22) 62-0319 cel. 52 82 10 57

See Santiago Center casas in sequence.

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NESTOR y CARMEN V
One a/c bedroom with ensuite bathroom
Santa Rosa (Desiderio Mesner) # 290, e/ Mariano Corona y Mejorana, a 5-min walk from Casa de la Trova and Casa de la Musica, from Cespedes Park. Tel. (22) 62-5863

MARY y SANTI V
Upstairs, three a/c br's, ensuites, terraces, roof
Calle Rey Pelayo (Eduardo Yero) 9, e/ Calvario (Porfirio Valiente) y Carnicerio (Pio Rosado), three blocks from lively and pedestrian Heredia (Patio de ARTEX, UNEAC, Casa de Cultura). Tel (22) 65-1327, cel 55 13 58 85

TERRAZA PAVO REAL
Upstairs, two a/c br's, ensuites, patio, roof
Santa Rita (Diego Palacios) 302, entre San Pedro (General Lacret) y San Felix (Hartmann). Closest casa to Parque Cespédes.Tél. (22) 65-8589 cell 53 40 27 93

ALINA
One a/c bedroom with ensuite bathroom
Felix Pena (Santo Tomas) 453 (upstairs), e/San Francisco (Sagarra) y San Jeronimo (Hechavarria), close to Parque Cespedes. Tel: (22) 62-4397

COLONIAL 1893 V
Seven a/c br's, ensuites, patio, grand casa
Hechavarría (San Gerónimo) 301, e / Gral. Lacret (San Pedro) y Hartman (San Félix), in historical quarter of town. Tel. (22)

YULIETT V
Upstairs, two ac bedrooms, kitchenette, terrace
San Basilio (Bartolomé Maso) 513, e/Clarin (Padre Quiroga) y Reloj (Mayla Rodriguez) near Hostal San Basilio Tél. (22) 62-0546.

See Santiago Center casas in sequence.

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CASA SOL V
Two ac br's, ensuites, patio
Calle Rey Pelayo (Eduardo Yero) No. 16 entre Carnicería (Pio Rosado) y Calvario (Porfirio Valiente), close to Iglesia Santa Lucia. Tel. (22) 65-5631 cel. 54 08 08 39

SANDRA V
Upstairs a/c bedroom, ensuite, terrace
Carniceria (Pio Rosado) # 762-A e/ Santa Rita (Diego Palacios) y San Carlos (Rafael Salcedo), three blocks from Parque Cespédès. Tel. (22) 65-5492 or 65-4574 Cell. 52 70 60 22

MARIA V
Two a/c bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms
Rey Pelayo (Eduardo Yero) n° 86, e/ Reloj (Mayla Rodriguez) y Calvario (Porfirio Valiente), 6 blocks from Parque Cespedes. Tel. (22) 62-2152 Cellular 52 40 07 61

BELLA VISTA SANTIAGO
One rooftop a/c br, ensuite, views
Rey Pelayo (Eduardo Yero) 112, entre Reloj (Mayla Rodriguez) y Clarin (Padre Quiroga), equidistance from the city's three center parks. Tel. (22) 62-5381

RAIMUNDO
Two a/c bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom
Heredia 308, entre Pio Rosado (Carniceria) y Porfirio Valiente (Calvario). Steps from Casa de la Trova, Casa de la Musica and Parque Céspedes. Tel. (22) 62-4097

SOL DEL CARIBE V
Three ac br's, ensuites, roof terrace
Calle Eduardo Yero (Rey Pelayo) 65, e/ Reloj (Maya Rodriguez) y Porfirio Valiente (Calvario), some 6 blocks from Parque Cespedes. Tel. (22) 65-2263 cels 52 40 07 61 or 53 40 55 86

See Santiago Center casas in sequence.

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MABEL V
One a/c bedroom apartment with own bathroom
Padre Pico No 354 upstairs entre San Basilio (Bartolomé Maso) y Santa Lucia (J. Castillo Duany). At foot of Padre Pico, in town center. Tel. (22) 65-5317

Santiago de Cuba • Casa Mabel © radames fiol

GISELA y JOSÉ V
Two a/c bedrooms, with ensuites
Pio Rosado (Carniceria) 409, e/ San Jeronimo (S. Hechavarria) y San Francisco (Sagarra), minutes from Parque Cespedes. Tel. (22) 62-5176

MARIA DEL CARMEN V
4 ac bedrooms, ensuites, large patio, mini-pool
Trinidad (General Portuondo) 667, entre Calvario (Porfirio Valiente) y Moncada, steps from Iglesia de Trinidad. Tel. (22) 65-8240 cell 53 38 77 46

OSVALDO V
Large upstairs ac br with mini-balcony
San Geronimo 155, e/ Corona y Padre Pico about 200m du Parque Cespedes Tel. (22) 65-8020 Cell 52 46 63 19

VILLA ROMA V
Two upstairs ac br's, with ensuites, roof terrace
Padre Pico 614 altos, e/Princesa y San Fernando, some 50m from Casa de las Tradiciones. Tel. (22) 62-2801 cell 54 25 75 65

TERRAZA SANTIAGO V
Two upstairs ac br's, with ensuites, roof terrace
Santa Lucía (Castillo Duany) #163 1/2 altos (2 floors up), e/ Calle Corona y Padre Pico right by escalinita Padre Pico. Cell 54 07 84 95 or Gabriel 52 46 73 87

See Santiago Center casas in sequence.

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MARIBEL y DIOGENES V
One upstairs ac br with ensuite, roof terrace
Jose A. Saco (Enramada) 811 altos (upstairs), e/ Hernan Cortes (E. Tamayo) y San Miguel, two blocks from park Plaza de Marte. Tel. (22) 65-2744 cell 53 40 28 16

DON PEDRO BACKPACKERS V
One dorm with 6 bunks
Calle San German 514, e/ Carnicería y Calvario, three blocks from pedestrian Enramadas. Tel. (22) 64-6725, cel. 52 46 61 06

LA CEIBA V
Two a/c bedrooms with ensuites, patio
General Portuondo (Trinidad) # 651¼, e/ Calvario (Porfirio Valiente) y Moncada, right by Santísima Trinidad church. Tel. (22) 65-8924 cel 53 73 65 66

COLONIAL TERESA V
One a/c bedroom, ensuite, rooftop terrace
Calle Colon 63, entre Trocha y San Fernando, downtown in Tivoli area, 3 mins from Casa de las Tradiciones. Tel. (22) 62-9508 cel. 53 19 52 54

CASA TITA V
Upstairs, one ac br, ensuite, kitchen, terrace
Calle Felix Pena (Santo Tomas) 107, e/ San Antonio (Narciso Lopez) y San Ricardo (Gonzalo de Quesada), about 10 mins. from Parque Cespedes. Tel. (22) 65-5326 cel. 53 95 17 22

CASA TITA Étage complet : ch clim, sdb, cuisine, terrasse

CASA LINE V
Indep. apart., two ac br's, one bath, terrace
Calle José de Diego (Princesa) 362 1/2 (Upstairs-altos), e/ Corona y Eduardo Martin (Mejorana), 200m from Casa de las Tradiciones. Tel. (22) 62-7808 cel. 58 10 06 45

See Santiago Center casas in sequence.

Click logo to move to next casa.

CASA GLORIA V
One a/c bedroom, ensuite, patio
Calle Rey Pelayo (Eduardo Yero) #66, entre Calvario (Porfirio Valiente) y Reloj (Mayla Rodriguez), two blocks south of main calle. Tél. (22) 65-6821

AURORA + PALADAR V
Two ac bedrooms, ensuites, patio w/dining
Trinidad (General Portuondo) 662, e/ Calvario (Porfirio Valiente) y Moncada, behind the Trinidad church. Tel. (22) 65-7386, cel 52 71 77 56

NARA B&B V
Two ac bedrooms, ensuites,
Los Maceos (Providencia) 115, e/ Gallo (10 de Octubre) y Jobito (Matadero Viejo), 180m from Viazul bus terminal and 14 blocks from Parque Cespedes. Cel 55 12 18 18

ROSA MARIA (LAS ROSAS) V
Up, five br's, ensuites, roof terrace, easy park
Calle 5ta (Quinta) #63 altos (upstairs), e/ Escario y JA Saco (Enramadas), 12 blocks East of Plaza de Marte in reparto Santa Barbara. Tel (22)

Off-centre in this quiet and safe residential area, these casas offer travellers with a rented car some easy parking. The neighbourhood of Vista Alegre (of which a part is officially named Terrazas de Vista Alegre just to confuse you more : those pencil-pushing city workers never give up, do they ?) is also closer to the road leading to the beaches.

Built in the 50's, Vista Alegre has allures of an American suburb, albeit unrenovated, without malls or shops (which are ruining the Empire of Evil as we all know ;-), except in nearby major hotels : Santiago, San Juan and Melia Las Americas.

Some palatial homes have been turned into institutions :

• Alliance française, calle 6 #253 corner 11 (22) 64 15 03
• Casa del Caribe, calle 13 #154 corner 8 - photo below right
• Centro Cultural Africano, ave. Manduley 106 corner 3
• Galería de Arte Universal, calle C e/ M y Terrazas

BOOK BY PHONE
• From Canada and the USA : 011 53 + # preceded by the city's area code, 22 • From Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Mexico : 00 53 + phone # preceded by area code 22 ••• 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 01 + the 8 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.

Click photos to see each casa's page and description. Map of area with casas here. Or check out this new detailed map aqui.

See Vista Alegre casas in sequence.

Click logo to move to next casa.

VILLA GRETA V
Two a/c br's, ensuites, garden, terrace, patio
Avenida Manduley # 3, esquina (corner) 1ra (Primera), facing Roosevelt and Ferreiro parks, in reparto Terrazas de Vista Alegre. Tel. (22) 64-5699, cel 53 63 00 21

MARGARITA BERROJO
One a/c bedroom, ensuite, lovely grand patio
Calle 6, No 406 entre 15 y 17, reparto Vista Alegre. Tel. (22) 64-2450

JULIA V
Two a/c bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom
Calle 6 #407, entre 14 y 17, a few steps from the Alliance française. Tel. (22) 64-3663

AYMARA y PABLO V
One a/c bedroom with own bathroom
Calle Centro Gallego # 4 e/ Aguilera y Anacaona, 5 mins. walk from "La Maison", Hotel Melia or Las Americas. Tel : (22) 64-1018

MERY y TANIA - HAS STOPPED RENTING
One a/c bedroom, ensuite, private entrance
Calle Anacaona # 107 entre Aguilera y Taínos, some 5 mins. walk from La Maison. Tel. (22) 64-1970

CASA GALLART - HAS STOPPED RENTING
Two a/c bedrooms, ensuites
Calle 6 No 302 corner (esquina) 11, between Sagrada Familia and Casa del Caribe in reparto Terrazas de Vista Alegre. Tel. (22) 64-3307

RECOMMENDED BY PAPERBACK GUIDEBOOKS
Footprint (FH), Frommer's (FG), GéoGuide (GG), Lonely Planet (LP), Le Routard (LR), Michelin (MC), Moon (MH), Eyewitness Top10 (T10), National Geographic (NG), Petit Futé (PF), Nelles Verlag (NV), Stefan-Loose (SL) and website Trip Advisor (TA)
::: FH : Casa Mayita, Andres y Ramona, Colonial Tania, Dulce, Irma Jordana Valls, Jardin, Manrique, Migdalia Gamez Rodriguez, Yuliett Ramos Duany, Raul y Kathy; Vista Alegre : Flor Maria Gonzalez, Gallart (stopped renting), Margarita Berrejo ::: FG : Hostal 1930, Hostal Casa Jardin, Yuliette Ramos Duany, Villa Roma, Hostal Girasol, Hostal Raul y Kathy Vista Alegre : Casa Gallart (stopped renting), Casa Caridad Cisneros Ferrer; Reparto Sueño : Casa Asensio ::: GG : Casa Maria, Isabelita Driggs Peña, Casa Mundo, Don Carlos, Tania, Jardin Mary y Félix, Armando Caballo Fernandez, Carmen F. Valls Rodriguez, Maria y Miguel, Jesus y Marisol, Glenda Diaz Picazo, Arelis Novoa ::: LP : Roy's Terrace Inn, Colonial 1893, Inalvis, Milena, Terraza Pavo Real, Nelson y Deysi, Lola, Maruchi, Yoyi, Mili, Aichel y Corrado LR : Galia La Rusa, Cecilia Tornés, Amelia Correoso, Casa Miriam, Casona de Alina, Casa y Paladar El Holandés, La Casona de San Jeronimo, Casa San Carlos, Tania Colonial, Casa Azul, Casa Mabel, Roy's Terrace Inn, Casa Blanca, Zoila Mejias Torres, Hostal Amanecer, Casa Dulce, Casa Nenita, Casa Mirna Zaldivar Vasquez, Casa Colonial Laudelina y Niurka ::: MC : Tania Colonial House, Edilma y Daniel, Casa 3 Ana, Georgina Martinez Gascon, Villa Roma ::: MH : Casa Catedral, Maruchi, Yuliett Ramos Duany, Don Carlos, Hostal Atardecer; Reparto Sueno : Florinda Chaviano Martinez, Gloria Boue, Nancy Tellez; Vista Alegre : Esmeralda Gonzalez, Juan Matos Palaez ::: NG : Casa Dulce, Jesus Perez Castro, Leonardo y Rosa, Nivia ::: T10 : Maruchi ::: PF : Dr. Francisco Rodriguez Morell, Casa Nenita, Casa Tatica, Hostal Yoyi, Iris Ferre Labaniño ::: FE : Hostal 1930, Yuliett Ramos Duany, Girasol, Raul & Kathy; Vista Alegre : Gallart (stopped renting), Caridad, Asensio ::: NV : Yadira y Yvan, Candido Ruiz y Olga Jordan, Teresa Goméz Diaz ::: SL : André y Ramona, Casa Colonial Maruchi, Leonardo y Rosa, Raul y Kathy, Casa Amparo, Juan A. Tejera, Juan Marti Vazquez, Hilda, Rosa Vazquez, Nieves Vazquez Dominguez, Milena Despaigne Hernandez, Irma Valls, Balcon del Caribe; Vista Alegre : Villa Santiago, Esmeralda Gonzalès, Casa Gallart (stopped renting), La Confronta, Mirta y Jorge, Amalia y Ricardo, Magda y Rafael, Doña Mery ::: TA (100+ reviews) : Miriam, Azul, Marieta, Nivia Melendez, Don Carlos, Roy's Terrace Inn, Girasol, Raul y Kathy, La Hiedra, Villa Roma 29.05.18 LR+PF+GG+TA 17.02.2020

Updated 08.06.2021