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