Cuba Jan 2007 map
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Ceigo de Avila / Cayo Coco
I travelled to Cuba on Jan 26th to 'spec' out the situation for our Swim & Cycle tours in March. Oannes Swims has partnered with Oye Tours who currently offers cycling programs in Cuba with great success. Click all images to view larger versions.

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Batanga is the Night Club in the Ciego de Avila Hotel. Very hot and pumping on weekends.

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My first ride with the Jan 28th Oye Tour was to Cayo Coco. It's about 120kms, a great day for biking; not too hot or sunny. The group made several stops on the way. I rode about 30km and then rode in the van the remainder of the ride.

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These are a bit out of order as they are pics from the arrival of the Jan 28th Cycling Tour with Oye Tours. Bikes come in boxes and are loaded onto a van for transport to Ciego de Avila, 1hr & 20 min ride from the north coast to the central farm lands.

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The Ciego de Avila Hotel is a basic hotel by Canadian standards. Rooms are private, some with balconies, bathrooms and basic furnishings. It is not a resort property as in found in Cayo Coco, but works. The Ciego de Avila pool is outdoors and 50m. I enjoyed quite a few swims here.

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Downtown Ciego de Avila seems to be held in time, about 1950. There are some wonderful restaurants, it is safe to walk about, mingling with the Cuban people who simply go about their daily routines. Lots of walking, bikes, bike taxis and horse and bugy transportation.

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Swimming in the Ceigo pool on another day, there was a young group training for a swim meet. I met Coach Marcelo, who was glad to meet a swim coach from Canada. He had many questions about swimming and my training techniques. I couldn't help myself, howere, cause I just had to join the workout.

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On another day, a local cycling group joined us for a ride in the morning. It was so good to travel in a pack, my first time! The group took a route to a hilly section of the country side.

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One morning, we cycled to Playa Flamenco. We enjoyed the rest of the day on the beach, having a wonderful dinner of white fish. I took to the ocean and enjoy about 45 min of swimming. The water was about 25 degrees, with a soft surf, white sands... beautiful. This will be a treat for our groups in March.

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Mallajigua is the name of this pleasant calm watering hole, excellent for swimming, just outside the city of Majagua. It is a slow moving river that is cool and clear, such a treat after riding the 24 km in the morning sun. I went with Louis, my guide for the day. You can swim up river more than 100m and back. The experince felt sort of like a secret and some how private. Can't wait to return for more swimming here.

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Piscina Pozo Brujia is an long outdoor public swimming hole. It must be at least 75m long, but only 5m wide. It is fed by underwater springs and is the folding tank for the water before it goes to the sugar cane fields. It was not full the day we went, but I can well imagine the experience as cooling and clear. It is about 40km from the Ciego de Avila Hotel and will be a great spot for a short workout. Looking forward to this experience!

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La Redonda is a famous set of lakes in the area, located about 50km north of Ciego de Avlia. You can rent boats here for fishing or in our case to courier our triathletes about 2km out into the lake to drop the off to swim to shore. The water is a dark red colour due to the natural colour of the soil in Cuba, so will be a challenge for those who have issues with the 'unknown creatures below'. There is a lovely restaurant where they server fish caught from the lake, expresso and my new favorite beer, Crystal.

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The last days of the tour in March will be at the Sol Cayo Coco, all-inclusive resort. Ocean and pool swimming with flat biking options. Lake Turbina is pictured in the last few photos, which is just beside the Ciego de Avila Hotel and looks to be a calm swimming experience. Like La Redonda, the water is dark due to the natural colour of the soil. There is a natural 500m loop in the lake.

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