Jibacoa
 

Playa Jibacoa is approximately half-way between Varadero and Havana.
I have passed through it a few times but have never stopped or stayed there. I was always meaning to go there and I just might pay a brief visit there next month. Word is that the snorkeling is wondaful.

There are the two (different) resorts there... but what else?
- Are there there some tasty local paladar restaurants?
- Bars?
- points of interest?
- hikes? walks?
- small towns nearby worth the visit

Not much info on the net. Anybody got the low-down?

Playa Jibacoa
 

I'm guessing your enquiring about the beach are not Jibacoa Pueblo ( 2 different areas 7 km apart ).
going East once you leave the Via Blanca onto the coast rd. theres a very nice public beach ( access through Villa Loma resort ).
Continuing East there are numerous beach accesses and a few Campismos ( inexpensive accommodation), then you'll come across two hotels, Starfish Jibacoa ( formerly the Villas) and Memories resort ( the superior but more expensive), you'll have to purchase a day pass to access the beach and reefs at both places.
Further up the road are 2 decent restaurants, El Cacique and Hilberto's ( you can pay in pesos at both so can be a good deal ).
That road will take you back to the Via Blanca near the exit for Canasi village, hope this helps.

BTW...Santa Cruz Del Norte has a couple excellent restaurants, Los Amigos ,El Bohio and one other on a side street i cant remember the name, but worth searching for.

What is Villa Loma resort? A Cuban resort?
I’ll pass on a campismo. Done that outside of Santiago and no need for a repeat experience. I am certain that former Thorntree member BobMichaels wrote about staying at a campismo in that area.
Sounds like I would need a bicycle to get around to those places. Wasn’t one of them named Hershey previously?

Gracias

@ 4
 

Villa Loma....not strictly for Cubans, but many frequent the place.
Hershey is miles away, South of Santa Cruz, Hershey Gardens and the electric train Station, lotsa photo opps, but that's about it.

Not much for bycycles, prefer this transportation, 1964 MZ.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a9d28cf6d4.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...061c0ffb64.jpg

Now that’s a bicycle!

Are there usually taxis hanging out around the 2 tourists hotels?

Are the 2 tourist hotels within walking distance of each other?

Can you give a guesstimate of the price of a taxi from one of those hotels to Havana. Also from playa Jibacoa to the Varadero airport?

Thanks for all the info CJ.

....@5. Cw
 

If you Google Earth you'll see the resorts are quite close, share the same beach, easily walkable. No shortage of taxi's.
Day trip to Havana was around $60-$70 US last winter , taxi to/from Varadero varies of course but around the $70-$80 US last year.
If you book into either resort there's a free shuttle from/to Varadero.

We are looking into going to this area for something different and closer to Havana. Thanks for the info
the bus to Veradreo is interesting, is there a shuttle to Havana?

...@ 7 ..
 

There's no what you would call " regular" bus rtes along that coast road, only the workers bus. No shuttle to Havana, excursions by bus or taxi, and Id recommend a taxi over the tour bus .
This area is a little isolated, if your used to walking around a town, markets etc, may not be for you.

“Playa Jibacoa is approximately half-way between Varadero and Havana.”

We went there many years ago for that very reason. We stayed at the cheaper resort that had a different name back then. We have wanted to stay at the more expensive resort but have always found it expensive. It is a popular place and you should book well in advance. Sorry, I don’t remember the name(s) of either resort now or before. A quaint area with a nice beach if that’s what you like.

@ 9,
 

Memories Jibacoa is the stated 5* ( 4-4.5) , Villa's Jibacoa, now called Starfish Jibacoa is a 2 -2.5 *, yes a bit less expensive, booked 14 days Feb/Mar..$1500. decent price I thought.
I have a Casa in Jibacoa Pueblo but not worth the aggravation to open up for 2 weeks, we're normally there for 6 months but my Cuban wife got a good job in Canada so my winters are much cooler now ...🤣🤣🤣

Pics
 

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d7da7e21a1.jpg
Cubanized scooter
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...25390acffb.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...23b49abab5.jpg
Home delivery
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2d6300f33e.jpg
Cakes too
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b8d7e5ad12.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2b8109a441.jpg
Village Bodega
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...144ba77ddf.jpg
Mobile butcher shop
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Catered piggy.

Arrived a couple of hours ago at one of the beach resorts in Jibacoa. Rainy weather and mosquitoes galore in me bathroom. Shoulda stayed in Havana where I belong!

Better have another drink and think it all more over some. (Bbrrrrrurrrpp!)

… snorkel and sneak in other hotel tomorrow

Have a great time in Jibacoa CW. It was great hanging with you in Havana for a few days. Now I have no adult supervision.

Here is all eat buffetti an all can drink
I hope to find bufett
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...00e4e9b87.jpeg
All can drinkk

Man, last night a bit hazy.
It is definitely a bit more cooler and windy here at night than in Havana. Cubans all bundled up.

Today a red flag day on an otherwise beautiful sunny day at playa Jibacoa.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6a741e70d.jpeg
Playa Jibacoa

I would be terrified to see CW in an all you can eat and drink situation. Yeah it's cold all right. I had to wear my jacket this morning.

Chris, you are right that this area is a little isolated. Other than the 2 hotels, I was not able to discover much else of the area. I couldn’t find a taxi anywhere around here and I got preoccupied with other things too.

So here is the current situation…

Everyone has gone to bed (including the bartenders) and I am behind the bar making drinks for the odd straggler coming in and myself and feeling more than fine!!

I will not keep the tips!!!!

Live from somewhere in CUBA!!!!

Si !!!

Oh my. Nothing good can come out of that. Good luck on the plane today. Lol

We are seriously considering going to playa Jibacoa again mainly for its proximity to Havana. Well, as long as Cubanwaters is not still there!

😆😆😆