Caibarién
	Casa Particular / B&B in Caibarién Hostal Calle 12 La China y Juanito Calle 12 #1116 e/11 y 13 Caibarién Villa Clara Tel. +53 (42) 36 42 74 Price: 20-25 CUC/room (20 CUC in low season, that means april, may, june, july, september and october) Description: Juanito y La China, a very charming couple, rent three rooms in the downtown of Caibarién. Each of these rooms has a double bed, air conditioning, fan, a mini bar and bathrooms with hot and cold water. Juanito and La China are very kind hosts and good cooks. They prepare good Cuban dishes made with high quality ingredients. You may use the living-room and backyard as well. Juanito and La China´s house is well located in the downtown of Caibarién, very close to the pier (Malecón) what allows you going on foot. Reservation: by e-Mail or phone (communication in English und Spanish)

Caibarién is a small town at the northern coast of the Villa Clara province. It is focused on fishing (including crayfish), but nowadays the near tourist resorts are the most important and favourite employers. The large park is the heart of the ample centre. In addition, also the long Malecón (boardwalk) and the small beach are worth a visit. The most important reason to look for an accomodation in Caibarién however is the proximity to the small islands Cayo Las Brujas and Cayo Santa María. Both islands are connected tot he mainland by an embankment and dispose of extraordinarily beautiful beaches with finest white sand and crystal clear water – ideal for snorkeling and diving.

In the city

• Caibarién is a small calm town which does not bother tourists, nobody wants to sell you something or will ask for an elevated price. This pleasant ambience can be enjoyed in the park or in a café – certainly you also find someone to talk to if you want.

• Strolling along the Malecón (the boardwalk), watching the fishermen or having a look at their catch is also a must. In the bay the young people do sailing exercises – a nice view with numerous boats crossing the bay. On the Malecón small restaurants or bars invite you to drink something with music in the background.

• If you don't want to go every day to the islands for a swim, you can content yourself with the small local beach of Caibarién. The beach is tidy, the water calm, palm trees offer shadow. A small bar helps to overcome thirst and hunger. In summer the beach becomes the bathtub of Caibarién – tourists are rare. You get from the centre to the beach by horse-drawn carriage for 2 Pesos (park – hospital and hospital – beach each 1 Peso). A velotaxi takes you for 10 Pesos to the beach (each way). The guesthouse from Virginia and Osmany lies at about half way between beach and centre, both are within walking distance or by horse-drawn carriage (1 Peso).

Excursions

• The islands Las Brujas and Santa María
  A road on a long embankment connects both islands "Las Brujas" and "Santa María" with the land. Both dispose of extraordinary beautiful sandy beaches with fine white sand and crystal clear water. The only disadvantage is that the vegetation does not grow high and is no protection against the strong solar irradiation.
  There is a small hotel of the Cuban hotel chain “Gaviota on the island "Las Brujas" which you reach first. Next to the bungalows it offers a good restaurant with a nice view of the island and the sea. At the hotel beach there are loungers and parasols. Since there are rarely many guests in the hotel, this beach is a comfortable and calm alternative to a “wild” beach – including the advantage of nice food, cold beverages, and a parasol. The entrance for day visitors is 4 CUC including a small sandwich and a drink of your own choice from the above mentioned restaurant.
  You can also visit the beach at the hotels of the island Santa María at a day rate. However, in those big all-inclusive hotels it is less quiet and the day rate is extraordinary (between 30 and 50 CUC).
  Of course you can visit other than hotel beaches. Nevertheless this requires sufficient sun protection, a parasol, and above all an adequate means of transport.
  In order to be flexible it is worth it to rent a car or scooter (from 50 and 24 CUC respectively per day). If you rent a scooter, ensure to take enough sun protection with you, otherwise you may return wearing the colours of the symbol of Caibaríen. A taxi is a little cheaper to go there – you should expect 35-40 CUC for both ways (until the hotel Gaviota on Las Brujas). It is very important to make a date with the choffer who will fetch you up in the evening, since the taxis on the island are overprice – the trip back to Remedios costs at least 35 CUC. The taxi central has only very few cars, therefore you should book the trip to the islands as early as possible (at last the evening before – depending on the season).
  A last, however uncomfortable and unsure possibility to get to the islands is the bus for the hotel personnel. Uncomfortable, because you need to wait at the roadside, unsure, because you don't know whether the driver will take you or not until it arrives.
  If you want to stay one or more nights at one of the various hotels on the islands you can travel also by Viazul. Some months ago Viazul opened a new line conecting Trinidad and Cienfuegos with Santa Clara, Remedios and Caibarién and the three islands: Cayo las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Santa Maria. There's one bus per day in both direcions. Here you find the actual timetable. Important: take some repellent with you because after sunset an enormous army of mosquitoes will be on you.

• Remedios: This town is a colonial jewel and a must for everybody passing nearby. Remedios is one of the first five cities founded by the Spanish and wins over by its colonial architecture, impressive churches, homely squares and inviting restaurans and bars. In contrast to Trinidad Remedios has not yet been conquered by the tourist bulks and therefore an insider tip. If you are more interested in architecture than longing to be close to the sea like me, Remedios is a good choice as starting point for one-day-trips to the islands ( Las Brujas and Santa María) as well as to Caibarién. Between Remedios and Caibarién there is a train about twice per day, several buses and from the park in Caibarién you can take a collective taxi for 5-10 CUP per way for the 7 km to Remedios. If you know a sportive drivers of a bicycle-taxi, you can do the trip also in this extraordinary means of transport – in any case the best opportunity to look at the landscape at both sides of the street and possibly to take photos. For more details please read the page about Remedios!

Arrival and departure

• Railway You can reach Caibarién from Santa Clara by train, there is one per day between both cities that stops in all villages and towns in between. The journey lasts two hours and costs 1.90 CUP. You should buy the tickets two hours prior to the train's departure opposite to the railway station of Santa Clara . Every second day there is a train between Sagua and Caibarién with stop in Remedios. For further information about the trip Santa Clara – Caibarién please read the report.

• Viazul conects Caibarién with Remedios, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos and Trinidad and in the other direction with the islands Cayo las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Santa Maria. Here you find the actual timetable.

• Colectivo The quickest alternative for the passage Santa Clara - Caibarién certainly is the collective taxi – the price per passenger is approximately 30-40 CUP.

• Tourist-taxi The most simple and expensive possibility for the passage Santa Clara - Remedios of course is the tourist taxi which costs about 20 CUC per way.