| Relaxation, peace and quiet are very much the | | | | beauty beneath the waves! |
| watchwords of Cuba's reputation as being an exotic | | | | 3) Beach |
| holiday hotspot, but as more and more people hear | | | | It should be enough to tell you that residents of |
| about it, the less and less relaxing it gets! It's a bit of | | | | Havana take the 60km journey to Jibacoa resort's |
| a catch-22, but as more and more people are heading | | | | beach to get away from the hustle and bustle of the |
| on Cuba holidays to the likes of Havana, Santiago de | | | | city. If it's good enough for the locals, then it is good |
| Cuba and Varadero, it becomes less and less relaxing. | | | | enough for you. A small secluded beach that is the |
| Fortunately, there are still some hidden gems on the | | | | perfect antidote to the chaos of Varadero's miles of |
| island that are clear of the hustle and bustle of | | | | sands. Here, it's just you, the white sands, then sun |
| tourist life. | | | | and crisp blue water as far as the eye can see. |
| My pick of these places is the calm resort of Jibacoa | | | | 4) Markets |
| in Cuba. If you're thinking of booking into a hotel in | | | | If you ever tire of the beach and blissful relaxation |
| Varadero or Havana, consider these selling points first | | | | (what's wrong with you?!), you may wish to venture |
| - you might just have a change of heart: | | | | from your hotel to Jibacoa's old town. The sight that |
| 1) The peace and quiet | | | | will greet you is a street market stretching off into |
| Jibacoa, Cuba, is the very definition of a quiet resort. | | | | the distance. For shopoholics, the 15 Mile Market is an |
| It's beautifully tranquil - just you and a handful of | | | | attraction to the area in itself, and here you'll be able |
| other visitors enjoying the sunshine and the | | | | to buy everything you could want, from jewelry, to |
| wonderfully calm atmosphere. It's something of a | | | | leather goods to keepsakes and crafts. With so |
| hidden gem, so you shouldn't have to compete too | | | | many stalls to see, its well worth coming over for a |
| much against other Cuba holiday makers. In particular, | | | | couple of visits. |
| party animals and families with noisy young children | | | | 5) Easy Access to Havana |
| have no interest in the place so won't be on hand in | | | | Perhaps the main reason people don't choose resorts |
| Jibacoa's hotels to disturb you. It really is the best | | | | off the beaten track is because they want to have |
| place on the island to unwind from the stresses of | | | | access to the bigger cities, but Havana is just a 33 |
| modern life. | | | | miles away from the Jibacoa resort! This is close |
| 2) Scuba Diving and Snorkeling | | | | enough to allow you to enjoy the bright lights of the |
| Just a little way off the shore is Jibacoa's coral reef, | | | | city, but able to return to your tranquil Jibacoa hotel |
| making this an unforgettable place to snorkel and | | | | when it becomes too much like the busyness of |
| scuba dive. If you have access to an underwater | | | | everyday life. |
| camera, bring it along, because the quantity of | | | | Sure, it's not the perfect Cuba holiday destination for |
| tropical sea life beneath the surface is simply | | | | party animals, who would be better served with |
| astounding, and the kind of thing you do not want to | | | | Varadero's delights (though there are places to stay |
| forget in a hurry. If you have no experience of either | | | | out all night should you wish for a break from the |
| snorkeling or diving, you will have to pass a test - but | | | | relentless calm!), but for everyone who likes an |
| there are facilities at the Jibacoa resort to prove you | | | | ocean of calm in their hectic lives - be they couples, |
| have what it takes to the instructor. It may seem | | | | families or singles - the beach of Jibacoa, Cuba, is |
| like a lot of hassle for a 'relaxing resort', but you'll | | | | simply an unbeatable solution. |
| thank me as soon as you get an eyeful of the | | | | |