Must-do's |
Boxing
Gimnasio de Boxeo Rafael Trejo, Old Havana
In the thirties boxing became an official sport in Cuba and is currently the second most popular sport after baseball. One of the oldest boxing gyms in Cuba is the Rafael Trejo. Despite their modest means, it is the cradle of many Olympic boxers. If open (they don´t have fixed hours, try weekends, they are usually open then) you can visit the training sessions and Fridays bouts are held between young upcoming talents.
Address: Cuba 815
Golf
Club de Golf Havana, Havana
Between Vedado and the airport you can play golf at the golfito or Dilpo Golf Club. Originally titled the Rover's Athletic Club, it was established by a group of British diplomats in the 1920s, and today the diplomatic corps still are the main clients. There are nine holes with 18 tees to allow 18-hole rounds. Green fees start at 20.00CUC for nine holes and 30.00CUC for 18 holes, with extra for clubs, cart and caddie.
In addition, the club has five tennis courts and a bowling alley. Fidel and Che Guevara played a round here once as a publicity stunt soon after the Cuban missile crisis.
Horseback Riding
Club Hípico Iberoamericano, Havana
This is in the northwestern corner of Parque Lenin. Horseback riding through the park on one of the horses rented from the club will cost you 12.00CUC an hour, but horses rented from boys at the nearby amusement park, or at the entrance to Parque Lenin will cost you a lot less; around 3.00CUC per hour, guide included.
Scuba diving
Marina Hemingway, around Havana
In the fishing village of Santa Fé, just off Avenida 5, is the Marina Hemingway tourist complex. There are many water activities available here: Scuba packages are available for 35.00CUC per dive.
Address: Avenida 5, Santa Fé
La Aguja Marlin Diving Center, around Havana
Between Cubanacán Náutica and the shopping center, this center offers scuba diving for 30.00CUC per dive, plus 5.00CUC for gear. It has one morning and one afternoon departure. A diving excursion to Varadero or Playa Girón can also be arranged.
Watersports
Marina Hemingway, around Havana
In the fishing village of Santa Fé, just off Avenida 5, is the Marina Hemingway tourist complex. There are many water activities available here: Fishing trips can be arranged at Marlin Náutica from 150.00CUC for four anglers and four hours of bottom fishing, and 280.00CUC for four anglers and four hours of deep-sea fishing. Scuba packages are also available for 35.00CUC per dive and catamaran tours can also be arranged (60.00CUC).
Marlin season is June to October, with in June the Ernest Hemingway International Billfishing Tournament and in September the International Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament
The Hemingway International Nautical Club is located at the Marina Hemingway. It is a social club for foreign executives based in Cubu. There are aslo several bars and restaurants and a coule of hotels which are part of the tourist complex.
Address: Avenida 5, Santa Fé
Sea & Beaches
Playas del Este
Playas del Este is a vast littoral about 15 kilometers long, full of white sand beaches surrounded by coconut palms. It stretches from Bacuranao Beach (12km east of Havana) to Guanabo Beach (27km east of Havana). Between these two one can find four other beaches: Tarará, El Mégano, Santa María del Mar and Boca Ciega. All of them are excellent options for tourists who want to spend a day at the beach without having to drive to many kilometers from the capital.
As opposed to many other beaches in Cuba where you will find only tourists, the Playas del Este are very popular among the habaneros, who frequently go there to enjoy these warm waters near town.
In www.househostelcuba.com you could find a good particular house or another type of accomodation for your holidays.
Playa Bacuranao
Bacuranao beach is only 12 kilometers away from Havana, it is the first of the Playas del Este. Mainly visited by Cubans, Bacuranao Beach is located on a small bay and its sand is a bit coarse. There are cabins available for renting.
Near the beach there is an interesting diving site: a sunken ship, around 14 meters under the surface. Another interesting spot in this area is a small rock formation called Itabo, at 20 meters under the surface, with plenty of big moray eels, lobsters, barracudas, some grouper, parrot fish, dogfish, spider crabs, sponges and fire corals.
Playa Tarará
The next beach between Bacuranao and El Mégano is a tourist resort called Tarará, 20km from Havana. Its sea port (Marina Tarará) is the perfect place for those who want to go fishing or diving.
Tarará Beach’s diving center has several medium sized boats, quality diving equipment and a good team of divers. Even though sea bottoms east of Havana are rocky and there are no coral reefs nor an outstanding variety of flora and fauna, diving in this area with its clear and shallow waters can be a pleasant experience.
Playa Megano
Playa Megano lies further east and forms the westernmost of the Playas Del Este. It has a sand volleyball court and you can rent umbrellas and chairs here. This beach is very popular among the habaneros.
The nearby rivermouth channel which opens out onto the Ocean is renowned for its coral, large groupers, and schools of snappers, great for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Playa Santa Maria del Mar
With 8 kilometers of good quality sand, Santa María del Mar is the longest beach at the north coast of the province of Havana. There are many restaurants, nightclubs, bars and hotels in the area. In Santa María del Mar, you can enjoy catamaran rides, rent jet skis, as well as sailing boats, rowboats and explore its many other attractions.
Mi Cayito Beach
If leaving from Havana, and just before getting to Guanabo, there are some kilometers of beach that the Cubans call Boca Ciega. This is a pleasant beach with high dunes and coconut palms. In Boca Ciega there is a famous beach known as Mi Cayito, a favorite place for gays. Next to this beach, there is the Laguna Itabo, special site due to its abundant vegetation and the surrounding natural lagoon.
Playa Guanabo
27 kilometers away from Havana, Guanabo Beach occupies the coastal strip of the town of Guanabo. It is the most visited of the Playas del Este. The quality of the sand is pretty good, although some parts are less attractive because of the river mouths and the stony bottom. Around there are shopping centers, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Unlike Santa María del Mar, this little town has no hotels, but there are lots of houses for rent.
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