Rafael Ricardo Almaguer y Dora Campaña Peña Calle Miró #125 A e/ Frexes y Aguilera Holguin Tel. ++53 (24) 42 20 90 Price: 20 CUC with aircondition. Note: A jubilated couple who's renting in the center of Holguin two rooms, each with his own bathroom. Friendly treating. Reservation: Also possible by e-Mail (Spanish and English).

Quiet city, located 56 km far from the famous beaches of Guardalavaca. Holguin has an international airport. The city is a good door for exploring the cuban east.

Excursiones

• Loma de la Cruz. It is a hill almost in the city with a rich history. If you want to go up till the top where you can find the cross, its ancient history and among other things a wonderful view of all the city and its surrrounding area. It is important to say that this hill has not only a big stairs of at about 3 hundred and 50 steps but also a road. Going up by car is not as exciting as going up by walking because of the beautiful view you can have while you are going up. (At least when you don´t go up at 1 o´clock in the afternoon under a burning sun...)
  
• Mirador de Mayabe. A place near of the city with a very special view of the valley of Mayabe. At the mirador you can find a Hotel (Islazul), with a swimmingpool, bar and an especial atraction, one of the two asses in the world that drink beer. The best is going with a taxi. It will cost you about 10 CUC, both ways. Another posibility is going by bike, but you have to go up because it´s located on a hill (logic for a view point, isn´t it) and doing this at midday is not so nice... You have to pay for enter in the hotel, it costs you about 3 to 5 CUC - depending on who's at the door for picking the money (and I think also how you look, how you are arring and so on...)
  
• Guardalavaca. Holguin most famous beaches 56 km away from the city. You can go by truck or rent a taxi (be sure that the taxidriver has a licence for doing this!). The travell cost about 25 or 30 CUC both ways. Near of the beaches you can find more attractions. For example a copy of the house were Fidel Castro was born.

How to go to Holguin

• TRAIN. Train #15 from Havana every other day, leaving at the Main station at 14:00. This train stops in all the citys on the way to Holguin (like Matanzas, Santa Clara, Camguey, Ciego de Avila, Las Tunas). There are also trains from Santiago to Holguin. At least at the schedule. When I wanted to catch one of them they said me in the booking office that this train doesn´t live since 10 days...
• ASTRO. They have buses from citys like Habana, Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Bayamo. The best is if when you ask directly at the bus station for the scheduled leaving of the buses (and maybe for other destinations).
• VIA AZUL. They have every day at least to buses from Habana and Santiago de Cuba. They will stop in every capital-province they cross. There also exists once a day a bus from Trinidad. For more details check the actual timetable!
• AVION.
  - Cubana. Three times a week from Habana. Price 74 CUC (one way).
  - Charter flights. There are also some charter flights to Holguin. Please ask direct at your charter company or booking office.
• CAMIONES. There are truck conections from the near cities. Specially from Moa and Bayamo exists a good service. If you want to go by truck from Santiago de Cuba, you normally need to change in Bayamo.