Looking for information from travellers who have stayed in
Baracoa -room/food? etc. El Castillo/Porto Santo-tours that
you took out from the hotels winners/losers-what is the
beach like at Porto Santo-did you take a rafting trip-cost?
how was the bus trip from santiago to baracoa? Is it worth
spending a week in this area? thanks mj
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Baracoa is a nice place to hang and I predict it will be a
real backpacker's "scene" someday; so definitely see it
now! I stayed at the La Rusa in town...I think you really
need to stay in town (the La Rusa was I think USD$15 per
night). Also, there are homestays around too which are
pretty cheap. Maria across the street from the La Rusa can
put you up, or you can at least have coffee at her place if
you feel like it.
I only stayed there a few days, but did rent a moped and
drove north a bit which was quite nice. Also, you have got
to be in Baracoa during their market day (I think on the
weekend).
Regarding transportation, I took the daily "milk run" on
the bi-plane, Aero-Taxi. It's suppose to leave each
morning at like 7 am, but since it comes from somewhere
else, it can run late. The cost is USD$24 and you will be
put a head of any Cubans as they fly for $24 moneda
nacional!!! This Aero-Taxi is not really advertised in
anyway per se, and it only goes in one direction (i.e. to
Baracoa with a stop in Guantanamo first) so you have to
find some other mode back to Santiago if you're going back
in that direction.
I've been twice to Baracoa and spent some wonderful days there ... still have close friends there: If you want to stay at a proper hotel I suggest you should choose the Castillo, which is right in town, has a great view and all the usual tourist facilities. The Porto Santo is also very nice and comfortable, but quite far from the centre (it's next to the airport): you must have a car or moped to go anywhere; moreover the beach is really very small and with no sun after 5 p.m.
There are some lovely beaches outside town: Maguana (about 20 km far) and another one which can be reached on foot walking along the shore and then up a hill, among palms and trees, as far as the cape to the right of the town.
Don't take the hotel tours, which are too expensive and tourist-like; rent a moped or a private car (carro particular) to go around (don't forget to to to the village of Yumuri):
If I were you I'd stay in a casa particular (homestay) , not only because they are cheaper than hotels, but because you can get the real taste of Cuba (and help Cubans as well): if you want (let me know) I can give you some safe and good addresses of homestays, where you can have your meals too: as for meals there are some Paladares (small restaurants) where you can enjoy Cuban food for tourists (which is quite different to what Cubans can afford).
By the way, when are you planning to go there ? Anyway you will definitely love it ... I DID
From Santiago I once rent a private car to Baracoa which cost me 60 $ ( Santiago is another place to spend some time at). Let me know if you need further information ... I'll be glad to be of help.
I went on Baracoa in January. It is the one of the niceast
town I have seen in Cuba. It is lovely. You can find a lot
of casa particular for about 15$-nice room for two-and meals
for about 5$. Just ask around, there is a lot. I went from
Santiago to Baracoa in bus... It is awfull. About 6 hours,
about 100 people in the very small and very old bus, and you
are travelling in mountains. It is really cheap... For us it
was good because we were not able to rent a car ($), but if
you can, do it. Maguana is a very nice beach. Villa Maguana
is a small hotel (four rooms) about 45$. We had found a casa
particular but it was not nice.
Baracoa is really nice, go there!
Sorry for my english, it is not my first language. If you
want more informations, e-mail me!
Baracoa is wonderful.. we stayed a week and loved every
minute. We stayed at perhaps the most interesting casa in
the whole of Cuba, Lucy Navarro's (email me for address etc
if you want). Good night life, dancing at the Casa de la
Trova or one of the two bars... daytime on the many
different beaches. Met many many people and loved it
there. There is actually an extremely cheap flight from
Santiago but only once a week, on Sunday I believe, it
might be Taino or Cubana. $18 is all it costs. Otherwise
the dollar bus ($9, book in advance, not bad) or the peso
bus, not good but less than $2, we stood all the way.
Private transport was impossible when we were there in
January because of the crackdown, people too frightened to
go, or only for huge amounts of money.