Ciego de Ávila Province - Lonely...
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Ciego de Ávila Province %33 / pop 424,400 Why Go? For centuries Ciego de Ávila was little more than an over- night stop on Cuba’s arterial east–west highway. Then came Cuba’s ambitious post–Special Period tourist project and the resort development of Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo (the bright tropical pearls that had once seduced Heming- way) had their drizzling of glorious beaches spruced up and daubed with nearly a dozen exclusive tourist resorts. Chopped off the western flank of Camagüey province in 1975, Ciego de Ávila has in reality been harboring intriguing secrets for over a century. Various non-Spanish immigrants first arrived here in the 19th century from Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Barbados, bringing with them myriad cultural quirks, exemplified by cricket in Baraguá, voodoo in Venezuela, country dancing in Majagua and ex- plosive fireworks in Chambas. When to Go ¨ Beach-goers should descend on the cayos (keys) between November and March for drier weather that, while cool by Cuban standards, is still pleasantly warm. ¨ Take to the field on August 1 in Baraguá, where people celebrate Slave Emancipation Day with music, dancing and a game of cricket. ¨ Morón’s Aquatic Carnival kicks off in September, in the channel leading to the Laguna de Leche. Best Watersports ¨ Laguna de la Leche (p316) ¨ Jardines de la Reina (p313) ¨ Boat Adventure (p321) ¨ Cayo Media Luna (p321) Best Places to Stay ¨ Meliá Cayo Coco (p320) ¨ Alojamiento Maité (p315) ¨ Iberostar Daiquirí (p322) Ciego de Ávila 309 Morón 314 Florencia 318 Cayo Coco 318 Cayo Guillermo 321 ©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd
Transcript of Ciego de Ávila Province - Lonely...
Ciego de Ávila Province%33 / pop 424,400
Why Go?For centuries Ciego de Ávila was little more than an over-night stop on Cuba’s arterial east–west highway. Then came Cuba’s ambitious post–Special Period tourist project and the resort development of Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo (the bright tropical pearls that had once seduced Heming-way) had their drizzling of glorious beaches spruced up and daubed with nearly a dozen exclusive tourist resorts.
Chopped off the western flank of Camagüey province in 1975, Ciego de Ávila has in reality been harboring intriguing secrets for over a century. Various non-Spanish immigrants first arrived here in the 19th century from Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Barbados, bringing with them myriad cultural quirks, exemplified by cricket in Baraguá, voodoo in Venezuela, country dancing in Majagua and ex-plosive fireworks in Chambas.
When to Go¨¨ Beach-goers should descend on the cayos (keys) between
November and March for drier weather that, while cool by Cuban standards, is still pleasantly warm.
¨¨ Take to the field on August 1 in Baraguá, where people celebrate Slave Emancipation Day with music, dancing and a game of cricket.
¨¨ Morón’s Aquatic Carnival kicks off in September, in the channel leading to the Laguna de Leche.
Best Watersports¨¨ Laguna de la Leche (p316)
¨¨ Jardines de la Reina (p313)
¨¨ Boat Adventure (p321)
¨¨ Cayo Media Luna (p321)
Best Places to Stay¨¨ Meliá Cayo Coco (p320)
¨¨ Alojamiento Maité (p315)
¨¨ Iberostar Daiquirí (p322)
Ciego de Ávila . . . . . . 309Morón . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314Florencia . . . . . . . . . . .318Cayo Coco . . . . . . . . . .318Cayo Guillermo . . . . . 321
©Lonely¨Planet¨Publications¨Pty¨Ltd
Ciego de Ávila Provin
Ce Ciego
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Ciego de Ávila Provin
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308
AirportMáximo Gómez
AirportLas Brujas
Nuevitas(100km)
Clara (59km)Santa
CARIBBEAN SEA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
RedondaLaguna la
JigüeyBahía de
Buena VistaBahía
Golfo de Ana María
ProvinceCamagüey
ProvinceSancti Spíritus
LosBuchillones
Majagua
MorónCabaiguán
Caibarién
Baraguá
Florida
GasparVenezuela
Ceballos
FlorenciaTamarindo
Chambas
Jatibonico
Taguasco
Pablo
Sanguily
GómezMáximo
de EneroPrimero
de JúcaroEmbarcadero
SpíritusSancti
Game ReserveAguachales de Falla
TuriguanoIsla
CocoCayo
JudasCayo
Sabana-CamagüeyArchipiélago de
RomanoCayo
MaríaAna
Cayo
BrujasCayo las
FragosoCayo
MaríaSantaCayo
Rey AirportJardines del
O MuerteCentral Patria
Criadero de Cocodrilos
HolandésEl Pueblo
Ganado Santa Gertrudis
de M
orón
Car
rete
raCarretera Central
Reina ArchipelagoJardines de la
Cayo GuillermoPlaya Pilar
Loma de Cunagua
la LecheLaguna de
Ciego de Ávila
0 20 km0 12 miles
1 eat fresh fish for ridiculously cheap prices at the Laguna de la Leche (p316) .
2 dive from a liveaboard into the almost-virgin waters of the secluded Jardines de la Reina archipelago (p313) .
3 Browse through one of the best municipal museums
in Cuba, Museo Provincial Simón Reyes (p309) in Ciego de Ávila .
4 Follow in the wake of Papa Hemingway while deep-sea fishing off Cayo Guillermo (p321) .
5 dig your toes in the sand at the beach paradise of Playa Pilar (p321) .
6 escape the resorts and immerse yourself in the rustic simplicity of the Loma de Cunagua (p317) .
7 Marvel at how waste ground got transformed into one of Cuba’s most interesting city parks at Ciego de Ávila’s Parque de la Ciudad (p309) .
Ciego de Ávila Province Highlights
