Cuba /Aug 02, 2016
No, not the famous film, nor even the Moroccan city, but Casablanca Havana, a quiet waterfront district on the ‘other side’ of Havana Bay.
Dating back to the mid-18th century, the area was originally home to a number of carpenters and workshops involved in repairing ships in Havana’s busy harbour. Today, Casablanca is a quiet neighbourhood devoid of any the trappings of tourism (ie no shops, no paladares and only 1 casa particular that we are aware of).
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Beyond The Ordinary arrange fully bonded, tailor made holidays and tours to Cuba. Contact one of our experts on 01580 764796, email travel@beyondtheordinary.co.uk or contact us via our website. |
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That is not to say it is without tourist interest however. This, the eastern side of Havana Bay, is home to the Morro Castle, the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña (one of the largest forts in all of the Americas) and the Cristo de la Habana. The 60-foot statue of Christ is built entirely of marble and was completed just 15 days before Fidel Castro entered Havana at the end of the Cuban Revolution. At the base of the statue is a terrace with panoramic views across the bay to Old Havana and beyond.
Regular ferries link Casablanca with Old Havana and cost around 5 cents (3 English pence) although you can be confident that the ticket sellers will try and charge you a whole lot more – simply give them 10 cents and refuse to pay any more! A new, shiny, glass, ferry terminal will be opening soon, around 100 metres south of Plaza San Francisco and in front of the Hotel Santander. The trip across the bay takes less than 10 minutes.
As an idea for a morning outside Old Havana, one could easily start by taking a taxi to the Morro Castle, then walking across to the Fortaleza de San Carlos (generally referred to locally as La Cabana) and then on to Cristo de la Habana. From the statue it is then a 5-minute walk down the hill to the ferry and back to Old Havana.
If all that wasn’t enough, Casablanca Havana is also the terminus for the famous Hershey Train which runs (or used to run!) between the capital and Matanzas some 92kms to the east.
Our One Week Havana holiday itinerary is meant as no more than an example of how visitors might spend their time in Cuba's enchanting capital city. As all our holidays are entirely tailor made, clients can stay for longer or shorter, stay wherever they want and mix and match various activities wi...
For clients short of time or who are simply happy to clip along at a good pace, this suggested week-long circuit of western Cuba starts and ends in Havana and incorporates both the island's towns and cities as well as its beautiful countryside.
Enjoy a private Cuba tour with your own driver / guide. This 10 night itinerary takes in the highlights of western Cuba but is only a small taste of what we can offer.
The Hershey Train (aka the Hershey Electric Railway or Hershey Line), is an historic railway line that runs between Havana and Matanzas on Cuba’s north coast.
It may not be as famous as the Rio version, but the Cristo de la Habana is certainly worth including during your stay in Havana.
Havana is so famous for its classic American cars, a ride in one being almost ubiquitous, that many visitors disregard the equal fun to be had by taking the Havana ferry.
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Whichever of our featured countries you wish to visit, we've been there several times. So, if you're after something beyond the ordinary to Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala or the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, we'd love to hear from you.
