红堡旅馆

A landmark mock red castle building in a road parallel to the main street, Maria's home is beautifully furnished, cool and comfortable inside. Air-conditioned bedrooms have fans, excellent ensuite shower rooms and chilled drinks in the fridge when you arrive. Maria welcomes you with a complementary jelly-nut (topped-up with white rum if you wish).

Four of us stayed there for four nights in August 2023. Food is plentiful and delicious (not the case for many in Cuba) - we took breakfast every day and a couple of dinners. Maria organised taxis for us; every one of which was punctual, and helped us get the best exchange rate when buying pesos.

Playa Giron is a lovely friendly town close to the superb Punta Perdiz, where we snorkelled using equipment Maria provided. And then there's the Museo Girón, the eco-tour to the bat cave and cenotes (Sendero enigma de las rocas), Playa Coco, where a local horse-drawn taxi driver played guitar and sang each afternoon, and much more which we didn't have time for (La cueva de las peces for example).

Maria and her husband and staff run a superb casa particular which I would recommend without hesitation to anyone wanting to visit this historic area. She has a beautiful personality and sense of fun. Five stars.