I AM FROM TORONTO AND I WILL BE GOING TO GUARDALAVACA, CUBA
NEXT MONTH (WILL BE BASED AT HOTEL ATLANTICO) FOR TWO WEEKS.
WOULD SOMEONE KNOW IF WE CAN BUY A TOURIST CARD AT THE
HOLGUIN AIRPORT (CUSTOMS) ON ARRIVAL FROM CANADA ? WHAT DO
THEY SELL FOR ?
IS HOTEL ATLANTICO A GOOD BET: ANYTHING I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
THIS PLACE ?
FOR THE SECOND WEEK, I WOULD LIKE TO DO SANTIAGO DE CUBA AND
BARACOA ON MY OWN: WHAT ARE MY BEST TRAVELLING OPTIONS ?
RENTING A CAR COULD BE EXPENSIVE. WOULD HIRING A LOCAL TAXI
BE OK ? ANY SUGGESTIONS ?
IS THE HOLGUIN-MOA-BARACOA ROAD REALLY BAD ?
ANY GOOD LODGING ADDRESSES IN SANTIAGO AND BARACOA ?
ANY INFO. WILL BE APPRECIATED.
[There are 5 posts - the latest was added on Wed 26 May, 3:57]
Use the form at the end of this page to add your own post.
Topics
| Thorn Tree
| Home
tourist cards are picked up at the tour operators desk at
the airport just before your flight
Hello...
Guardalavaca is a very pretty area. I enjoyed it
immensely. As for the tourist cards, your tour operator
gives those out (no charge)at their booth at the Toronto
airport. I am surprised that they did not tell you this
when you booked your flight.
I did not stay the Atlantico hotel...but it looks decent.
If you want to, you can check out the published details on
www.cubaweb.cu
Go to the hotel sections for Guardalavaca. I believe it is
a three star and it is right on the beach their.
Guardalavaca is about an hour from Holguin by air
conditioned bus (transportation is provided).
The hotels usually offer one or two days tours to Havana or
Santiago de Cuba. Renting vehicles isn't cheap, but if you
get to know any Cubans working in the hotels, they could
probably help you arrange renting or hiring a car.
Holguin is a very interesting city and there any many
places to see there. There are also other smaller towns
worth visiting such as Banes etc. The people I met in
these areas were wonderful and really keen on talking with
tourists.
As for the roads you describe, I don't know...but the way
the locals drive was enough to give me a heart attack!
Remember though that the government has imposed
restrictions on the interaction of tourists with the
locals...my sources in Guardalava say it hasn't affected
them, but I would read other posts about Cuba on this
branch to prepare yourself.
Have a wonderful trip...when are you leaving?
The road to Barocoa is spectacular and was in good
condition in 1996, when I went there. I liked Baracoa very
much, even if it is quite remote and that there isn't that
many things to do,... At the time, I rented a private car
80 USD for the one way trip from santiago to Baracoa. Not
very cheap, but everything tends to be expensive in Cuba.
Phil
PS: I haven't been to this site for months. Now I'm back on
my own PC...
The road north from Baracoa to Moa is only hard surface for
a few miles and then is dirt/or mud depending on weather,
not the best, nearer to Moa it improves.
Not so easy now to rent private cars with drivers as it was,
If you are going to Santiago pick up a rental car there,
small 4dr, A/c Daewoo for about $30/day plus $12/day
insurance. allow about five hours for drive to Baracoa via
Guantanamo, road good except for last 35kms over La Farola
which is concrete but very twisty and hilly, If you want
hotel, El Castillo is central, elevated has car park and
pool, $29.0 single last week, plenty of private rooms
around $10/$12 night, Paladare restuarant El Colonial, near
centre, has good food. not much to do in Baracoa, La Trova,
485 bar, but it has a special magic, love it or hate
it,enjoy your trip!!
You can share car/bungalo rental cost with travel if it's
possible, or you can rent scooter for short trip. I find
train/bus is most affordable for inter-city trips although
you had to reserve ticket ahead of time. But hey, a $5 intro
to Lincoln usually cut the red tape.