©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Ciego de Ávila Province %33 / pop 424,400

Why Go? Ciego de Ávila. . . . . 309 For centuries Ciego de Ávila was little more than an over- Morón ...... 314 night stop on ’s arterial east–west highway. Then came Cuba’s ambitious post–Special Period tourist project and Florencia...... 318 the resort development of and Cayo Coco...... 318 (the bright tropical pearls that had once seduced Heming- Cayo Guillermo . . . . .321 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 Best Watersports secrets for over a century. Various non-Spanish immigrants ¨¨Laguna de la Leche (p316) first arrived here in the 19th century from Haiti, Jamaica, ¨¨Jardines de la Reina (p313) the Dominican Republic and Barbados, bringing with them myriad cultural quirks, exemplified by cricket in Baraguá, ¨¨Boat Adventure (p321) voodoo in Venezuela, country dancing in Majagua and ex- ¨¨Cayo Media Luna (p321) plosive fireworks in .

Best Places to When to Go Stay ¨¨Beach-goers should descend on the cayos (keys) between ¨¨Meliá Cayo Coco (p320) November and March for drier weather that, while cool by Cuban standards, is still pleasantly warm. ¨¨Alojamiento Maité (p315) ¨¨Take to the field on August 1 in Baraguá, where people ¨ ¨Iberostar Daiquirí (p322) 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. )

(100km Nuevitas Jigüey Cayo Bahía de Romano Florida Cayo Judas Airport scape the resorts and the resorts scape Province Camagüey E Marvel at how waste waste at how Marvel Pablo Loma de Cunagua ground got transformed into into transformed got ground interesting most Cuba’s one of Ávila’s de at Ciego parks city de la Ciudad (p309) . Parque 7 6 immerse yourself in the rustic in the rustic yourself immerse de the Loma of simplicity . Cunagua (p317) s Ganado Santa Gertrudi Cayo Coco l Cayo Guillermo Laguna la Redonda El Pueblo Holandés Central Patria O Muerte ATLANTIC OCEAN ATLANTIC

Criadero de Cocodrilos

Baraguá Gaspar

de Morón de Carretera

Isla Carretera Centra Turiguano Morón Venezuela o Gómez la Leche Máximo Laguna de Embarcadero de Júcaro Archipiélago de Archipiélago Ceballos Playa Pilar Sabana-Camagüey Los Ana Follow in the wake of Papa Papa of wake in the Follow ig your toes in the sand in the sand toes your Dig Airport Cayo Tamarindo María Game Reserve Cayo Santa Sanguily María Buchillones Museo Provincial Provincial Museo in Cuba, (p309) in Ciego Simón Reyes . Ávila de Playa Playa of paradise at the beach . Pilar (p321) 4 5 Hemingway while deep-sea while deep-sea Hemingway Guillermo off Cayo fishing . (p321) Chambas Majagua Ciego de Ávila Aguachales de Aguachales de Máximo Gómez Jardines de la Reina Archipelag Florencia 20 km 12 miles Golfo de Ana María Brujas Cayo las Cayo Jatibonico Taguasco Airport Las Brujas Province 0 0

Bahía

) Sancti Spíritus Cayo

fresh fish for fish at fresh Fragoso Buena Vista E ive from a liveaboard into into a liveaboard from Dive Browse through one of one of through Browse

Caibarién Cabaiguán Ciego de Ávila Province Highlights Sancti the almost-virgin waters of the of waters the almost-virgin de la Reina Jardines secluded . (p313) archipelago the best municipal museums museums municipal the best 3 2

1

ridiculously cheap prices prices cheap ridiculously at the Laguna de la Leche . (p316) Spíritus

Santa Clara (59km

ce Ciego de Ávila ProvinCARIBBEAN SEA ce Highlights

Ciego de Ávila Provin 308