| Must-do's |
Scale Model of Havana, around Havana, Museum
 The Scale Model of Havana in Miramar is, due to its dimensions, the second largest in the world; 22 meters of length and 10 meters of width representing 727 square kilometers. Every building of Havana and its suburbs are represented. The different periods of constructions of the buildings are displayed in different colours; Brown for the colonial period, yellow the republican period, ivory the revolutionary period, and white represents the projects, the sculptural monuments and cemeteries.
There are exhibitions related with the environment and similar topics in the same building and its gardens, as well as cultural and children’s activities.
Address: Calle 28, between Avenida 1 and 3
Open: Monday to Saturday, 9:30am to 5:00pm
Entrance fee: Adults 3.00CUC; children 1.00CUC
Marina Hemingway, around Havana, Notable site
 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 Cuba. There are alsoo several bars and restaurants and a couple of hotels which are part of the tourist complex.
Address: Avenida 5, Santa Fé
Parque Lenin, around Havana, Park
On the edge of Havana there is the huge park, ideal for family outings. You can hire a boat for a trip on the lake, or a horse for some horse back riding. There is an amusement park and an aquarium as well as a restaurant, Restaurante Las Ruinas.
Address: alongside Carretera El Globo
Jardín Botánico Nacional, around Havana, Park
A bit further down south is situated the Jardin Botánico Nacional. This 60-ha garden are in the best traditions of botanical study. Supported by the Universidad de Havana and with links to worldwide gardens and much scientific research they have some very interesting collections. Taking the visit you will be driven around the gardens and along the greenhouses. There is an organic vegetarian restaurant using solar energy for cooking.
Address: Carretera El Rocio km 3 ½
Entrance: no entrance fee
Regla and Guanabocoa, around Havana, Notable site
 The towns of Regla (founded in 1598 on the site of the sugar mill Guaicanamar) and Guanabacoa (founded in 1554), are two municipalities in the province of Havana and nominated places of memory of the slave route in the Latin Caribbean. It is where many slaves were brought to work on the sugar plantations.
Both are sites for pilgrimage, places where still today the African spirit is present. It is where as early as 1681 Capuchin priests Francisco José de Jaca de Aragón (1645-1686) and Epifanio de Morains de Borgoña (1644-1689) preached and wrote against enslaving Africans.
However, the most important heritage in both towns is not due to their buildings, but because their people. A significant part of the community in both municipalities practices the religious cult to the orichas (santería) and palomonte (Rule Conga).
Both the Museum of Regla and the Museum of Guanabacoa treasure examples and artifacts of popular religiosity, with a strong African influence, which have merged in syncretism with saints and liturgy of Roman Catholicism.
In both towns some of the most important buildings have been restored; the historic colonial centre of Guanabacoa as well as the more industrial Regla. You can visit the Sanctuary of Regla, participate in the Wemilere Festival of African Roots or appreciate the collections in the museums of both municipalities. The infrastructure is poor, you will only find basic food, there are no hotel facilities in the area, and even though maritime communication with Havana Vieja makes it easy to get there, the road network leaves a lot to be desired.
Miramar, around Havana. Remarkable site. This important and luxurious residential area of Havana is located in the municipality of Playa. Characterized by their imposing houses and mansions of the 1950s, many of them occupied by diplomatic embassies.
It has a street called “Fifth Avenue”, as the New York, which say that it is the most beautiful Avenue in Cuba. Although you have yacht clubs, spas, etc, Miramar is opposite the coastline with whites and rocky areas strongly by sea.
Don't miss the National Aquarium, where you will enjoy the dolphins, sea lions and tropical fish. The Marina Hemingway, which we talked about earlier, is a must-see. And if you want to enjoy the best Cuban cabaret show, the Tropicana is waiting for you for an unforgettable night.
As you can see on our website, www.househostelcuba.com offers you a variety of private houses and accomodations in this beautiful area.
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