Casas Particular in Playa Baracoa Cuba
Those
of us who prefer an authentic Cuba travel experience stay with families
in their casas particular, rather than in the comparatively sterile
environment of tourist hotels. A night in a casa generally
runs from $25 to $30 CUC (Convertible Cuban Peso, each roughly
equivalent to $.89 USA), with some also offering meals, and your hosts
are able to assist with your travel arrangements to your next
destination.
Playa Baracoa is home to the Latin American School of Medical Sciences where students from throughout the Americans, unable to afford a medical education in their home countries, are provided a six year education upon their pledge to return to practice their medical skills in their generally medically under served communities.
The town offers a tranquil setting; cooling sea breezes; a disco for
those so inclined; a number of restaurants and bars; a number of
swimming areas; a friendly populace eager to engage visitors in
conversation; and ready access to Habana, either via official
taxi or, for the more intrepid traveler, an antique American "maquina"
taxi. Transportation around town is provided by "bicitaxis",
bicycles modified in a wide variety of creative manners, many equipped
with batteries to power the lights and sound systems. The
chauffeurs, some quite comical, will sometimes permit more
adventuresome travelers to drive the taxi, though they will generally want to assist
with a push. One may ride a bicitaxi from one end of town to the
other for $1 Convertible Cuban Peso, though I recommend paying more.
This traveler has personal experience with each of the three properly licensed casas described here and attests to the warm hospitality and security offered by their owners.
It is very important, when making your accommodation arrangements, that you provide complete information to the casa operator as to how many folks you wish accommodated so the operator may ensure that your needs are consistent with the elements of their operating license.
If you happen to contact the owners of the casas described here please
tell the owner that you read about their house on the web site
constructed by El Gringo Loco.
This page has been produced and is hosted by Gringo Loco at no charge to my friends in Baracoa in hopes it will help. All photos shot in Playa Baracoa and copyrighted by Gringo Loco.
Visit Ruminations of an Expatriate
Casa de Suzy
Rent a complete two bedroom home with a palapa covered rear terrace abutting the estuary where the Rio Club dischares its "agua dulce" into the Florida Straights. The terrace is a great place for parties or to just relax to the sights and sounds of the coming and going boats and swimming children.
Casa de Manuel y Norales
The best views in Playa Baracoa may be had from the two terraces of this beautiful third floor, one bedroom independent apartment. Manuel will likely gladly join you on the sheltered rear terrace for conversation over a linia or two of rum. Norales and Manuel both speak English well.
Casa de Juan Daniel y Olivia If a bit of pampering, home prepared meals, lounging on the patio under the bougainvillea, engaging in political discussions over "linias" of rum with Juan Daniel, and a centro Playa Baracoa location are more your style, their house is for you. Olivia speaks English well.
The house is located at the end of a short dead-end street at the far West end of Playa Baracoa, an area of town "mas tranquillo", as they say here, than the more popular central area of town.
The house offers two bedrooms (one with air conditioning), a large bathroom with a hot water shower, a complete kitchen, a living/dining room, and the generous
assistance and kindness of the the family across the street. There is a public telephone at the home of the family across the street which may be used for calling for taxis or for your other communication needs.
The back terrace of the house, covered by a palm frond palapa roof, abuts the water of the estuary and includes stairs for access to the water. The terrace provides an excellent area for soaking up the early morning tranquility over a cup of coffee, for fiestas, or for simply relaxing to the sights and sounds of the coming and going of all manner and size of fishing boats and children frolicking in the water on the opposite side of the cove.
You may contact Suzy through her email address or by telephone at (53) 537-209-3642. The address of the house is 1ra y Mar numero 16 609 Playa Baracoa, Bauta, La Habana. The house is the last house on the left on the short street next to the town clinic. Tell your taxi driver "por el clinico".
If you choose to stay at Suzy's be sure to say good morning to the next door neighbor, Senor Miguel, as he is putting out his fishing lines.
Manuel and Norales are young folks, with a young child, Diego, who have created a beautiful third floor casa complete with handcrafted wooden doors, a kitchen, living room, beautiful bathroom with plenty of hot water, an air conditioned bedroom and two terraces, the smaller of the two overlooking the street and the large rear terrace overlooking the Rio Club with a roof covered table around which one may sit to enjoy the setting sun or relax over a bottle of fine Cuban rum. The pictures above, to the right, and the sunset below were taken from the back terrace.
The apartment is accessed via an exterior staircase which opens to a short hallway which
leads to the door to the owners' living quarters and a stairway to the third floor apartment.
Manuel and Norales both speak English well, clean the apartment daily, and Manuel will likely be pleased to join you for an evening of conversation and rum.
Manuel and Norales may be contacted through their cell phone (05) 2927028. The apartment is located at Calle 166 #354 Playa Baracoa, Bauta La Habana, Cuba.
Casa de Juan Daniel y OliviaThe house includes two air conditioned bedrooms, each complete with a modern bathroom and one with a complete kitchen. Each of the two quarters open onto the back patio, with table and chairs shaded by a lush bougainvillea vine.
The enclosed, secure
rear patio includes a parking area for those with cars or bicycles and
is a wonderful place to enjoy the cool evening breeze while sipping
renowned Cuban rum or the fine local beers. Juan Daniel, very
well informed as to Cuban and USA politics, will likely join you with
his shot glass in hand, ask for a "linea", and engage you in very
interesting conversation.
Olivia and Juan Daniel will greet you each morning with a pot of rich Cuban coffee and offer you a delicious breakfast of freshly extracted juice, fruit, eggs, and bread. They will also offer equally delicious lunches and dinners featuring local sea foods, pork, or chicken accompanied by seasonal vegetables. All the meals are offered at very reasonable prices.
Additionally, the casa of Olivia and Juan Daniel is just around the corner from two "paladars", the private restaurants some Cubans operate in their homes and which are generally cleaner and offer much better fare than do their state operated counterparts.
The house abuts the
malecon in the centro area of Baracoa, know locally as "Hollywood", and
provides ready access to the most popular beach area in town. There are a number of state operated bars and restaurants within easy walking distance where one may purchase Havana Club rum and local beers at their usual reasonable prices. Also, for those so inclined, there is disco within walking distance where one may dance to the
driving beat of "Reggaeton".
Juan Daniel and Olivia may be reached at 47-37-8231 or through their email address. Their home is
located at Avenida 3ra A #14433 between calles 144 y 146.
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