Page 140 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

138  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Western Cuba

The extraordinary tranquillity and agreeable climate of
Western Cuba make it a lovely area for a relaxing break.
However, there is also plenty to do. Besides walking and
horse riding, there is the provincial capital of Pinar del
Río to explore, while tempting coral beaches are easily
accessible off the north coast. More effort is required
to reach remote María La Gorda, in the far west, but
keen divers are attracted to this diving centre. Isla de la Playa
Juventud attracts divers and visitors interested in curious Typical street in Pinar del Río, Bahía Baracoa
attractions, from painted caves to the one-time prison “the city of capitals” Honda de Cabañas LA HABANA
Bahía
of Fidel Castro. The Valle de Viñales hotels and bed and Playa Cabañas Mariel Bejucal
Orlando
breakfasts make the best base for a stay in Western Cuba. LEVISA Cayo El Morillo Bahía Honda LAS TERRAZAS Guanajay San Antonio San
A r c h i p i é l a g o d e l o s C o l o r a d o s San Andrés San Diego de los Baños San SOROA San Juan ARTEMISA Alquízar Güira de Melena
Nodarse
Paraíso
CAYO
de los Baños
Felipe
S I E R R A D E L R O S A R I O
Las Pozas
MAYABEQUE
Golf o de
Artemisa
Manuel
Sanguily
Cayo
Mé xico
Inés de Soto
Puerto
La Palma
Batabanó
Las
Candelaria
Esperanza
Mangas
Guanímar
Cayo
Playa
VALLE DE
Ensenada de
Cristóbal
Jutías
del Cajo
Majana
VIÑALES
PARQUE NACIONAL LA GÜIRA
Minas de
Matahambre
VIÑALES
Las Cayamas
Baja
de Herradura
PINAR DEL RÍO Consolación Entronque Los Palacios Playa Loma Colorada Cayeria
del Sur
Sierra
Maestra Comegatos
Dimas Cabezas
Farmers with typical ox-drawn carts at the Mina Dora PINAR DEL RÍO Golfo de
foot of a mogote San Carlos Baró Batabanó
Arroyos Llanura Aluvial del Sur
de Mantua San Juan
y Martínes VUELTA ABAJO
Mantua San Luis Archipiélago de los Canarreos
Guane Playa Playa
El Guanal
El Ají Punta Las Canas
Golfo de Isabel Rubio de Cartas Playa Cayo Cayo
Guanahacabibes Ensenada La Salina Rico Iguana
Playa Sandino de Cortés Cayo CAYO LARGO
Punta Coloradal Rosario DEL SUR
Plumajes Cortés Laguna de Cortés Cayo
La Fé Manuel Lazo Cantiles
GUANAHACABIBES RESERVE La Bajada Valle San Juan Cabo C a yo s d e S a n Fe l i p e Nueva Gerona
Babineyes
Bahía de
Corriente
Playa
Cabo Bolondrón Playa Las MARÍA Francés Cayos los La Demajagua Júcaro
San Antonio La Barca Canas LA GORDA Indios
Playa Jaimanitas
Cabo Corrientes Getting Around
La Victoria La Fé
The motorway (autopista) connects Havana,
Artemisa and Pinar del Río (about a two-hour drive), Granja
Libertad
and another slower, but more picturesque, road Ensenada de El Colony
la Siguanea
Punta
follows the northern coastline. From Pinar a road Cayo Piedra del Este
runs southwest to Guanahacabibes. There are one-
day tours that start off from Havana and include Cocodrilo ISLA DE LA JUVENTUD
Soroa, Pinar and Viñales, but not the beaches: Cabo
information is available at tourist offices. The best Pepe Carapachibey Playa Larga
way to get to Isla de la Juventud and Cayo Largo
is by air from Havana (40 mins). There is also a
catamaran service to the former from Batabanó;
the trip takes two hours. Excursions can also be
Schools of tropical fish, easily spotted on the sea bed along booked to the two islands; departures are from
the Los Canarreos archipelago Havana or larger towns.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp258–9 and pp272–3
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