State of the Tourist Poles following the Passing of Hurricane Irma
CUBAN EAST:
- All facilities in the destinations of Baracoa / Guantánamo / Santiago de Cuba / Granma and Holguin are in operation.
- The cities were not severely damaged by the hurricane, so the infrastructures are already recovered.
- All roads are transitable and there are no damages to tourist transportation, whether buses of for rental.
- The road from La Farola to Baracoa is transitable and undamaged.
- All beach hotels in the tourist pole of Holguin are open and receiving clients.
CAMAGUEY:
- The tourist pole of Santa Lucia is recovered, with the exception of Caracol. Recovery works are underway and the pole is expected to be ready on September 28. Opening schedule will be updated soon.
- City hotels are all unaffected and in operation.
- The city is recovered, clean and has electricity.
CIEGO DE AVILA, CAYO COCO and CAYO GUILLERMO:
- It was the region where the Hurricane Irma hit the hardest; consequently it is the most affected tourist pole in the country.
- CAYO COCO: This pole was directly hit by the hurricane; hence, it is the one with the largest damages to the hotel infrastructure, which cuts the operations in the pole for the rest of the summertime. Currently, works are undergoing to put these hotels back in operation for the high stage of tourism that starts on November 15. Some hotels may re-open before the expected date. This will be timely and officially informed.
- CAYO GUILLERMO: the facilities suffer less damage than the ones in Cayo Coco. Recovery works are underway and the pole is expected to re-open before the beginning of the high season on November 15th.
- CIUDAD DE CIEGO DE AVILA: Intense recovery works in the external areas of the city and in the cleaning of the city are currently underway. Significant advances have been made and the entire infrastructure is back on operations. The roads are transitable including those linking the neighbouring Poles.
CIENFUEGOS / TRINIDAD:
- Beach hotels in Trinidad are in operation with running water and electricity. They were not affected by the hurricane.
- City hotels: Iberostar Trinidad / La Ronda / Las Cuevas : All ready to receive costumers.
- The city of Trinidad is clean and the entire infrastructure is fully working.
- The entire structure in the city of Cienfuegos is ready to receive clients. Infrastructure is in operation and the city is clean.
- All the hotels in Cienfuegos are in operation.
- The roads leading to the center of the city are all transitable and restored.
- All the roads communicating the center and the east regions are transitable.
- The facilities in Topes de Collantes were not damaged and its entire infrastructure is operational, including the hotel.
- The Topes de Collantes / Trinidad highway is transitable and without affectations.
SANTA CLARA:
- CAYO SANTA MARIA: Heavily hit by Hurricane Irma, affecting the general infrastructure of the Santa María Key.
Recovery works are heavily focused in the restoration of all hotel facilities before the beginning of the high season. Several facilities suffered damages only in their common areas and services. Re-opening of some areas may happen before the scheduled time. This information will be updated in a timely manner.
- In the same way, recovery works are being carried out in the infrastructure of the cities of Remedios and Santa Clara. Updates on the advances of the works will be provided in a timely manner.
VARADERO:
- Recovery works at breakneck speed. The center of the city is already recovered and clean. Some areas of the city still have difficulties with electricity.
- The road between Havana and Varadero is transitable and without obstacles.
- The Varadero Hotels undergoing recovery works will gradually re-open. However; some hotels will remain closed until further notice:
1. Melia Peninsula Varadero.
2. Kawama
3. Turquoise
4. Villa Cuba
5. Las Morlas.
6. Paradisus Varadero.
7. Villa Tortuga.
8. Sunbeach
9. Puntarenas
The Marines in Varadero are ready and receiving costumers for tours.
HAVANA:
- Cleaning and sanitation works are carried out in the entire city without affecting the general infrastructure. Only the facilities located on the North Coast suffered damages due to the heavy penetrations of the sea. Consequently, the following facilities are closed:
1. Aquarius Club
2. Chateau Miramar
3. Riviera (expected to be ready by 30/09/17)
4. Hotel President (Estimated ready to receive clients starting today Friday 15/09/17)
5. Villa Tropico, work on its recovery for November 15.
- The rest of the facilities of the North Coast of Havana, such as Memories Jibacoa, Club Arenal, Meliá Cohíba, Club Atlántico and Copacabana are operational, recovered and receiving their customers.
PINAR DEL RIO:
- The Tourist Pole was not damaged in any of its facilities, nor its hotel infrastructure or extrahotel facilities. The entire pole is in operation.
- The Cayo Levisa and the Cayo Jutias were not affected at all.
- The roads to Cayo Levisa from Viñales city and the North mountainous roads that connect with Soroa, Las Terrazas are transitable and without affectation, theywere not affected by the hurricane.
- Viñales Valley and the City of Pinar del Rio are operational and were not affected by the hurricane.
- The Maria La Gorda resort is operational and without negative effects derived from the hurricane. The roads to Maria La Gorda are transitable and were not affected by the hurricane.
All the facilities damaged and affected by the Hurricane Irma are being closely monitored in order to guarantee the correct services to our visitors and customers.
This information will be updated frequently and made available to the public, tour operators and agencies. Regarding the re-opening of the keys, it is expected they will be ready for the beginning of tourist high season, which begins on November 1st.
(EmbaCuba Países Bajos)