Thinking about a 2 week holiday to Cuba next February. Would like to visit Santiago for the salsa scene there but also want plenty of time on the beach to escape from the British winter! What's Guardalavaca like? Or any other beach resorts near(ish) to Santiago? Was thinking of maybe basing myself near the beach but having 3 or 4 days in Santiago? But I want to stay somewhere with a bit of atmosphere.... not just a tourist resort... Are there salsa clubs in Guardalavaca? What about restaurants etc? Any info to give me a feel for the place would be really useful.
Thanks!
carolinehowlett
1
tiiib
hey caroline
guardalavaca is disgusting. well, in my opinion. but speaking of ambiance... i found the contrary. i haven't been to many 'touristy' beaches in cuba but i guess the best ones are really the cayos (eg guillermo, coco...) or the well known varadero. another option: go to havana instead of santiago (i like both, but havana is the most beautiful city in the world) and then you can take a taxi, 30 min. ride to las playas del este. you can go as day-trips only or even stay in guest houses there. it's quite local there.
say hello from me, when you get to the island!
:-) tibena
2
smact
mmm - I've been to Holguin / Guardalavaca more than 20 times over 20 years.
not sure why someone would say disgusting - I preferred it to Varadero, Santa Lucia, Trinidad, and Playa Giron. It's a scenic area, hilly, palms, and several little beaches within an hour that
have almost no people.
just returned from 5 months in Holguin. The original beach at Guardalavaca is great for swimming, snorkeling & diving - and bonus shade trees. There are newer hotels at Playa Esmeralda and Play Pesquero nearby - more upscale,
and I find more boring, although have only visited. Guardalavaca has 1 disco - not sure if it is open every night. Hotels have entertainment, but most tourists, self included, get tangled trying salsa.
Although I don't like most reggaton, it's easier to dance to.
Holguin has a couple of dance spots - Hotel Pernik, Cabaret Nocturno, and Cabaret Bariay. Also dancing at the rooftop of restaurant 1720, and some other spots central to downtown. But, Holguin is
about 70 km's from Guardalavaca, a $25 CUC cab ride each way.
Restaurants in Cuba? - they make British food seem gourmet :-) Tourist hotels have more variety than the city - but I'd suggest not thinking of food. Enjoy everything else. Did meet a British couple last Feb, introduced them to baseball, and they introduced me & 2 friends to drinking till 5 am. Good fun & joking.
To my knowledge, beach resorts are even farther from Santiago. Santiago is about 3 hours from Guardalvaca / Holguin. I have been to Santiago a couple of times, find it too busy for me. But it does have the
rep as the music capital, and the 2007 champion of baseball.
If you get a good package deal to Guardalvaca, you could leave most of your stuff in your room, and get a casa in Holguin for a few days and explore. I surprised myself by not getting bored in my 5 months, but
do have a bunch of friends there.
PM if you want more info - or cantacts if you go to Holguin.
4
charliethompson
I would not hold you breath for Holguin, a very unimpressive city i think.
Your real issue is travelling around, that part of the country is going to take you time by bus. If you have a car you have loads of flexability to move around, definitely try and make it to Baracoa which justifiably has a great reputation. There are also loads of interesting places in the country between Santiago and Baracoa.
If you want to relax than Guadalavaca has great beaches but the hotels will be all inclusive. If you get a chance check out the very cute little town of Gibrara between Holguin and Guadalavaca
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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