Useful info

Visit Havana

- Walk along the Malecón in Vedado (in half day), the sea wall that runs along the Havana coastline. On weekends this is where the locals come to party, so bring a bottle and join in.
- Visit the H.Upmann Cigar Factory in Vedado: 23 entre 14 y 16.  Vedado

- Visit The Old Town “Habana Vieja” (visit in all the day) in the early mornings, some of it faded and crumbling - but there are many beautifully restored buildings as a result of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. 

- Museum of the Revolution and the Capitol Building.

- Visit the Partagas cigar factory just behind the Capitol Building (cost 10CUC for a half hour guided tour)

- Walk along the Prado street in the evening. Great public space - unfortunately not illuminated at night. - -- The Prado hums with street life, cafes and charm.

- The Catedral de San Cristobal in old Havana. Said to be the only example of a baroque construction that possesses asymmetrical features, one of the towers is wider than the other.

- Plaza de Armas y Castillo de la Real Fuerza. Old Havana (visit in all the day)

- Beaches of East Havana : Guanabo, Santa Maria del Mar  ( all the day)

Visit Miramar

Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) or ‘Embassy Row’
Initially called Avenida de las Américas, Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue) stretches from the tunnel that connects it to Calzada Street, in Vedado, to the Santa Ana River, in the locality of Santa Fe. Considered the most beautiful avenue of its time, its construction was decisive for the development of Miramar.

Fuente de las Americas : 5ta Ave. entre 0 y 2
Clock Tower : 5ta y 4
Iglesia (Church) de Santa Rita de Casia : 5ta y 26
Maqueta de La Habana:  28 #113 entre 1ra y 3ra
Casa de la Musica : Ave. 20 No. 3308 esq. a 35, Miramar, L'Avana, Cuba
Iglesia (Church) de Jesús de Miramar : 5ta #8003 entre 80 y 82

Places of Hemingway

El Floridita :  Simply the best Daiquiri in town. Buzzing atmosphere. Obispo #557, esq. a Monserrat, Habana Vieja;  Admission Free

La Bodeguita del Medio: The best  Mojito here. Empedrado #207, e/ San Ignacio y Cuba, Habana Vieja

Hemingway’s  House:  Wonderful view over the Cojimar bay, echoes of Hemingway: Calle Real No. 161 esquina a Candelaria, Cojímar. Tel.  (+53) 7763 – 9486, open from 10.00 am

For children

Cámara Oscura: A 360-degree panoramic view of much of Old Havana: Open: 10am-5:20pm, Mon-Sat: Teniente Rey, esq. a Mercaderes, Habana Vieja.   Admission: CUC 2 (incl. English-speaking guide), free under-12s

Acuario Nacional de Cuba : 3ra esquina a 62. Miramar ;  Admission  7 CUC 

Parque Temático Isla del Coco (Coney Island Park ) : 5ta y 112. Miramar

National Park garden of Havana: 25 kilometers South of Havana: 100, esquina Cortina de la Presa

Parque Lenin: Park with different attractions (visit in half day)

Club Habana : club with its own beach, swimming pool, fitness center, gym, tennis courts, bar, boutiques, health club, yacht hire, scuba-diving excursions and other watersports facilities.
Open: 7:30am-9pm daily. Admission free.  5ta entre 188 y 192. Miramar.

In Havana Vieja the children can visit to: 
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural  : Obispo #61, e/ Oficios y Baratillo, Habana Vieja
Planetario: Mercaderes #311 e/ Teniente Rey y Muralla. Plaza Vieja, Habana Vieja
Museo del Ferrocarril: Estación Cristina, s/n, esq. a Arroyo, Habana Vieja
Deposito Automovil: Oficios #13 esq. a Callejón de Jústiz, Habana Vieja

One day excursion from Villa Sole to:

VIÑALES VALLEY in Pinar del Rio  -   (1 h 49 min / 180 km; direction Autopista Este-Oeste )
The National Park Vinales is one of the most spectacular locations in Cuba.
Just a few hours driving from Havana, Viñales Valley is a unique landscape dotted with gigantic “mogotes” (karst formations) surrounding a lovely valley with rich, red earth and majestic palm trees. This is one of Cuba’s most fertile areas and where some of the world’s best tobacco is grown, harvested, dried and processed.
•Visit to Casa del Veguero (the Tobacco Farmer’s House), where you will taste a welcoming cocktail and appreciate Tobacco plantations, traditional industry of the province; OR Cigars Factory (Not Saturday or Sunday)
•Visit to Viñales Valley lookout point which offers a beautiful general view of the Valley;
•Visit to the Indian Cave with a boat ride on the subterranean river which flows;
•Visit the Prehistoric Mural which illustrates the process of evolution in the Sierra de los Organos from mollusk to the first human inhabitants of the region
Maria Luisa can prepare a sandwich with ham and cheese, a fruit and a bottle of water for your lunch (€7,00)

 

GUAMÁ & BAY OF PIGS  -  (1 h 35 min /178,0 km; direction Autopista Trinidad )
Drive south Havana, through the rural countryside of Matanzas province.
• Ask to rent a boat ride up the Hatiguanico River. Do an ecological walking trail, ending at the river estuary. Swimming here highly recommended!
• Visit the crocodile farm (the seconf in the world) and if you want take another boat expedition crosses the Laguna del Tesoro to the Village of the Taínos; a replica of a Cuban aboriginal settlement.
• You have another opportunity to swim and snorkel  at Punta Perdiz Center - close to Playa Girón - where the Bay of Pigs meets the Caribbean Sea.
Bring swimwear, towel  and sun protection.
Maria Luisa can prepare a sandwich with ham and cheese, a fruit and a bottle of water for your lunch (€7,00), or you can try crocodile meat in Guama!

 

VARADERO BEACH  ( 1 h 46 min / 153,7 km; direction Vía Blanca )
The worldwide famous beach of Varadero, Cuba’s leading tourist destination, offers an impressive sight to visitors from all over the world.
Bathed by the crystal-clear water of the sea that caresses the shore, with more than twenty kilometers of coralline white sands and an exuberant tropical vegetation of palms and coconut trees, the resort is a true paradise.
No wonder it is known as one of the world’s best beaches; Nature’s masterpiece; the object of desire of people in love and a dream place for the whole family.

Bring swimwear, towels and sun protection.