Remedios, also known as San Juan de los Remedios, is a small city in the northern part of Villa Clara. The city is primarily known for its Christmas festival, Las Parrandas de Remedios, which takes place between December 16th and 26th.
Understand
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Remedios is one of the oldest cities in Cuba, being founded in the early 16th century, and there are still intact remains of the city's 17th-century architecture.
The city is mainly known for its Christmas celebrations, Las Parrandas de Remedios, which is known all around Cuba and has been listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2018 [1]. The two neighborhoods of San Salvador and El Carmen spend the entire year constructing light shows and floats that are exhibited in the main square, and at the end of December 24th a winner is chosen.
Get in
[edit]Taxis colectivos are the way for tourists to get to the city, with a trip from Havana costing US$35 per person or US$140 for an entire taxi. Viazul buses no longer serve the city.
Get around
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On foot
[edit]As the city is small, everything located inside the city can easily be reached on foot.
By bicycle taxi
[edit]Destinations outside of the city, including the nearby city of Caibarién, can be reached by bicycle taxis. They can be found around the central square, and a trip to Caibarién will cost US$10 for tourists.
See
[edit]- 1 Plaza De San Juan De Los Remedios. The central square of the city
- 2 Museo de Las Parrandas. Museum celebrating the history of the city's parrandas celebrations
- 3 Museo de la Musica Alejandro Garcia Caturla. Museum dedicated to the early 20th century artist Alejandro Garcia Caturla
- 4 Museo de la Agroindustria Azucarera. A museum outside of the city dedicated to the history of Cuba's sugar industry
Do
[edit]Las Parrandas de Remedios is the main event of the year in Remedios. Celebrations happen throughout the week leading up to Christmas, however it all culminates on December 24th with a showcase of what the two competing neighborhoods have created during the years. While people start partying and shooting off fireworks much earlier during the day, the official start of the events is at 21:00. On top of the light shows and floats, the central part of the city gets filled from all around Cuba and a few tourists, with people enjoying the food, drinks, music and entertainment set up down multiple streets surrounding the main square.
Fireworks are also set off throughout the week of celebration, and starting in the afternoon of the 24th there are intense firework shows that continue through the night, ending in the morning of the 25th. As the central square gets filled with smoke and ashes rain down from the sky, locals will stay out celebrating until the early morning.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- 1 La Pirámide. Anonymously located upstairs, this restaurant serves a Cuban take on Italian food
Drink
[edit]- 1 El Louvre. Located right on the central square with outdoor seating, this bar serves beer and cocktails at very affordable prices, and also offers pork sandwiches as well as Cuban pizza in the afternoon
Sleep
[edit]Hotels
[edit]The city has two centrally located hotels:
- 1 Hotel E. Barcelona.
- 2 Hotel E Bausa. .
Due to economic factors and with few tourists staying in Remedios, many previous homestay hosts have left the city, leaving many existing online listings outdated.
List of casas particulares in Remedios:
- 3 El Chalet, 29 Brigadier González. A nice house close to the main square with a separate entrance for guests and a large rooftop terrace. The rooms are US$20 per night, breakfast is $5 per person, and they can also serve dinner for $10 per person. Jorge speaks no English but is very helpful.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]- Head across the 45-km causeway to Cayo Santa Maria or make the three hour trip to Cayo Coco to the east and enjoy the beaches and all-inclusive resorts
- Travel inland to Santa Clara and visit Che Guevara's Tomb