Wonderful Staff

Very helpful with any questions, I will return! I love the reef off the beach, I saw lots of different fish while snorkeling. I saw a puffer fish, a barracuda, many smaller colourful fish. I even saw an octopus! I certainly hope the country opens again soon, I wish the world could see the wonderful people of Cuba and experience a nice, safe vacation.

Beautiful Beach and Friendly Staff, but Limited Gluten-Free Food Options

Great experience overall. Beautiful beach and very friendly staff. Service was professional and welcoming. However, there were quite a few issues with food, especially gluten-free options, as staff did not seem familiar with them and choices were very limited.

Repeat Guests

This was our 13th trip to this resort. The staff is by far the best asset. They work very hard and are very pleasant. We enjoy the small size, the beach and relaxing atmosphere. The room was comfortable and clean. We noted more food shortages this year - butter, milk, coffee, ice cream, bacon, cookies. Buffet was the same every day. We miss the a la carte and the repeaters’ dinner. The entertainment was repetitive. The clientele has changed with the majority being Cubans now. Fewer Canadians see [... read more]m to be staying there.

Rapidly declined

Use to consider this place mini paradise but since last year it has become vary run down and poorly managed. Staff are all amazing but place needs some urgent fixing as value for the money is no longer. Rooms are moldy and musty smelling. Blood splatters from mosquitoes all over he walls, sheets and towels, boogers on the wall, paint peeling, mold. My room had no closet doors. A/c filter had so much gunk and mold and looks like haven’t been cleaned in years. Food was always cold, shortages of  [... read more]some basic stuff. Resort is over crowded with local visitors. Line ups at the buffet are just horrible and poorly managed. It was so crowed entire week that they had to close down dining room As it was at capacity on few occasion and run out of food items. It is worse now than post Covid in 2022. Pool looked and smelled worse then swamp

Cozy Resort

Love this quaint little resort! It is very quiet here with all you need. Beach is great for snorkeling, and soaking up the sun. The rooms are dated but kept very clean by the hotel staff. The kitchen staff do their best with what they have and the wait staff are super friendly, especially when you are a returning guest. Only bad thing I have to say, is they are now letting locals come to the resort, which I don't have a problem with but they can be rude at the buffet line and greedy with th [... read more]e food leaving not much for the foreign tourists, hopefully they will find a solution to this. . All and all I would keep coming back!

Homey and so welcoming!

I loved my stay here and 100 percent will be returning. Most of the guests seem to be repeat visitors who are recognized and welcomed warmly by staff. My gardenview bungalo was very comfortable with great air conditioning, very hot spacious shower, comfortable bed, and bar fridge with small patio out front. It is not luxury which is totally fine with me. It had everything required for a very comfortable stay. The dining room buffet had ample selection daily of fresh baked goods and sweets, chees [... read more]es, simple salads, pasta dishes, rice dishes and selections of grilled to order pork, beef, chicken and fish daily. Breakfast offers made to order eggs and dinner the same for pasta. They do open to public and locals so some nights are quite busy and there are longer lines. Lobby bar is well stocked has cappuccino expresso machine and premium liquors. All my service was exceptionally friendly and accommodating. The beach is a 5 min walk from anywhere on resort. Groomed daily and ample shade and loungers for everyone. The pool area is clean and well maintained again with ample loungers and bar area. Grounds were very well maintained. Over all infrastructure is slightly dated but did not phase me the the least. I enjoyed morning walks to tide pools, swam sandy bottom ocean. Travelled alone female felt entirely safe. Can’t wait to return very soon I hope.

Home away from h9me

This was our second time here and it seems that everytime we go it just gets better, we we're very happy with our second home away and will definitely return as much we can . ALL the staff and managers were fantastic helpful and respectful, sunwing representative was very knowledgeable and helpful. The entertainment has improved 100%, the beach was clean, and restful. This time round there issues at Toronto Airport 3x, however we we're delayed on the resort, fortunately we were in great hands  [... read more]with the resort and sunwing representative. ??

Starfish Jibacoa is as close as you get to true Cuban culture

Starfish Jibacoa is not a 5 star modern hotel and that’s exactly what I have enjoyed. The staff always greet and treat you with the upmost kindness throughout your stay. If you’re looking to truly feel, a connection to the wonderful people who work at this resort, to the local community, to the food, beaches, environment, natural habitats and wildlife with stunning sunrises and sunsets. I am always at peace in a setting that’s safe and friendly from the first step. The Jibacoa reception is actu [... read more]ally on the massive and long beach. 23 years I have returned here. Sometimes when the shuttle drops me off and unloads my stuff, I walk 20 feet towards the reception. A quick Hola to reception left of me, walk to the left, 100 feet I arrive at the main small bar (there are only 2 bars, not 5 or more). I order a Spanish coffee, Cervesa and a Pina Colada. I turn to my right and walk 30 feet and I am now on the beach. I continue to walk 200 plus feet towards the ocean stripping off my clothes down to my bathing suit (which I had worn instead of underwear) and swan dive into the ocean. Ahhh! I have arrived to this paradise. (most think I am crazy). Later I will hook into my snorkel gear and swim out to the reef approximately 500 feet off the beach. Next day I connect with the scuba gear and tank and swim under the surface ($30 cdn for a scuba tank). I felt like I could relax and enjoy right with check in and seeing the beach as you walk to your room. If simple, easy and small is what you’re looking for, the Starfish Jibacoa is for you. Dian Rodriguez the public relations manager and his assistant Yanet Hidalgo are always there looking after you.

Starfish Jibacoa

We did not get the rooms we requested but were compromised with different rooms after 2 days. We have been here 5 years ago and the rooms are still the same, quite shabby and dated, big water stains on the ceiling and broken tiles in the bathroom and missing tiles in the floor under the mat beside the bed. The food was the same every day, some days there was no bread, the ice cream was delicious, the wine was not. One day we had lobster! The reason we returned was because of the location and th [... read more]e grounds and the ocean within walking distance of the rooms we had. We had 2 litres of cold water every day! the AC was quiet and worked great. The beds are good. Daily cleaning of the floors and the bathrooms! The beds were made but not changed every day which was fine with us. The staff is extremely helpful and accommodating. The bottom line is we would return to Starfish Jibacoa if we would get the rooms we requested at booking time.

14 times and counting

continuing improvements at this resort as they are always upgrading the grounds and buildings. the staff is what makes this resort the place for us as they treat you like family. NOT for party goers as we come here to relax and enjoy the beautiful landscape and well as the ocean. the food is plentiful

Far Exceeded Expectations!

If you’re looking for true Cuban culture and looking for a connection, the Starfish Jibacoa is the place to go. This is not a 5 star modern hotel and that’s exactly what we wanted. Everyone is different and seek out their own travel experience and if you’re looking for ultra modern and sleek- this is not the place for you and move on. If you’re looking to truly feel a connection to the wonderful people who work at the resort, to the local community, to the food, beaches, environment, natur [... read more]al habitats and wildlife with stunning sunrises and sunsets- click book right now. I’ve been to multiple resorts and this is the first one where I walked off the shuttle upon arrival, and I felt like I was at peace in a setting that’s safe and friendly from first step. I felt like I could relax and enjoy right with check in and seeing the beach as you walk to your room. If simple, easy and small is what you’re looking for, the Starfish Jibacoa is for you. Resort/Grounds/Beach Well kept- lots of seaweed in the am and garbage that floated up from other locations. Many guests helped with cleaning it. However, a tractor combs the beach each morning cleaning the debris. 3 major beach sections. One in front of the lobby bar. One section over in front the 20/21 block rooms. Last one over by the pool area. There were a couple of rope style hammocks to use but certainly could use more if anyone wants to bring some to donate. Sand was nice and cool and the beach was fun for shell hunting. Many tourists were out for 7am for the stunning sunrise daily. Do not miss it, you’ll regret sleeping in. Lots of seats and there was never a day you couldn’t get a beach chair to lazily suntan. The beach by the lobby even has beach service for a period of time. Always wear water shoes as there is a lot of coral (amazing for snorkeling on calmer ocean days). Lots of ocean life- sea urchins, little stingrays, crabs, fish, barracudas and one day a Portuguese Man-O-war washed up dead on the shore and a warning was placed to the guests. Amazing awareness! We were in the ocean water every day but one only because we were on an excursion for the day. There are lifeguards on duty. Armando is a character with the biggest heart. Make sure you introduce yourself! Always cleaned- coconut trees were trimmed and coconuts cut down often to avoid falling accidents. Grass/greenery addressed daily by the many hardworking landscape staff. Walking the entire grounds is accessible and just lovely to see all of the flowering trees, palm and coconut trees, the many birds and resort animals of cats and dogs which are very well cared for. Anna who works in the lobby is one of the most passionate and kind individuals who goes out of her way to get many of them neutered/spayed and treatment as needed. Many of these animals can be adoptable with the right steps if that’s of interest. Emilio would be so happy to pluck some flowers to present to anyone. One of the sweetest men we encountered. 2 pools- One adult/one child (under reno). When we arrived we did notice the pools were less than desirable by comparison to other resorts. The reason for this, they are old. This resort was built in the 60s- I believe- so it’s definitely needing a facelift in a few areas, and the powers that be do know this. Anyone who is familiar with Cuba knows there are shortages and it’s takes much much longer to address certain areas of concern than our home countries. So in both pools, the linings are ripped and separating from the base. During our stay, they announced that they were about to renovate the childs’ pool (which is almost equal in size to the adult pool, just much more shallow). The other major difference between the childs’ pool and the adult pool- it’s accessible. So, this is presumed to be the rationale to address this pool first but we were informed that both are being repaired. They were clean, skimmed and chemical treated daily. I look forward to seeing them fixed up on our next trip. There are seats on the deck around the pool but one suggestion I would have would be more umbrellas/shade producing structures and I think the pool would be used more than it was. The rays of the sun in midday can be quite oppressive. Shade structures that could cast some shade on the pool is definitely a wish list request. There’s a pool bar (not swim up) conveniently located off the adult pool. The staff there were hilarious and lots of fun. The towel exchange hut is located there and they play music during the day there. Sometimes, admittedly I found the music a tad loud but I also recognize I’m an old chick who likes a lower volume. Snack bar by the pool- will discuss more in the food section. Store- There are two stores on the resort. One primarily for tourists. You can only pay USD in cash but can purchase goods with a CDN (non-American) credit card. We did the credit card option as we did not bring USD, only CDN. Lots of rum options, other liqueurs (Vodka, tequila, brandy, beers etc). FYI- the prices of the rum were much more reasonable at this store vs the airport. If you plan to bring some back home, buy it at the store. There are cigars, cigarettes, souvenirs, pop (limited selection this time) and some hygiene items. The second store takes only CUP as payment and is often used by locals to purchase items. I did see a small market at a private residence up the street but we never did make it there to check it out. If you want extensive shopping, you will want to go to Havana. Theatre- There’s a large theatre behind the pool in kind of a hexagon shape. It’s quite large, but dark on the inside. It was not used during our stay which is a shame. Would have been cool to have some entertainment in there during the height of the days’ sun rays as a way to escape the heat. Can have kid friendly activities in there or fun adult ones like a rum tasting, drinking games, dance lessons etc.. The Rooms- There are a bunch of smaller rooms that face the ocean that mostly have 2 double beds, a large bathroom with a shower only (no tub). We stayed in one of these. We had hot water daily. A working safe, air conditioning and some funky local television viewing. But really, how often are you in your room? You have a bar fridge in all rooms. There are larger rooms with a similar layout in the second/third rows behind the smaller older ones. Also very comfortable. There are apartment style rooms that are currently under construction as you enter the resort and we’re told those should be finished in the next 3-6mths. People/Staff- Oh boy, this one is hard to write because almost EVERY SINGLE STAFF member makes you truly feel like you’ve known them for a lifetime. When you hear the cheesy “feels like family” statement, many of us just roll our eyes .. BUT.. here, you REALLY do feel this way. We were actually emotional on departure day because you feel like you’re leaving people you’ve loved for years. Another friend of ours, who is now a somewhat of a celebrity on resort (haha) was visibly emotional when he departed and I truly understand why. You start your trip with people like Anna and Yaraimi at the reception desk. You’ll meet Niurka, Yanet and Dian who help with guest relations and are just all around people pleasers. Dian even officiated a symbolic wedding that took place while we were there. It was truly beautiful. They are fantastic. ALL of the bar staff are just lovely and do their best to make some great drinks but the shortages really affect this. I didn’t get everyones’ name, sadly, but all were just wonderful. Will elaborate more on the drinks in the food/drink section. The men who tend to the grounds are so hard working in the heat of the sun so please don’t forget them when tipping/gifting. The (mostly) ladies who clean your rooms are kind and trust worthy. You have absolutely nothing to worry about and if you need a replacement of something, just let them know and they’ll get it for you. The buffet staff, my lord, some of the most friendly hard working people you’ll ever meet. You’ll meet Grisel with a giant smile and hug as you enter the buffet. You’ll meet people like Jose, Nidia, Ana, Victor, Yianni (I’m sorry if I’m spelling her name incorrectly) who will take care of you at your table. Everyone at the service stations are so friendly and do what they can to make your experience one to remember. The meat/egg station, pasta station, seafood stations sure can take a bit longer as they are cooking the food fresh for you- be patient and tip them. They bust their butts and still smile! I didn’t get everyones’ name sadly but there was only one person to avoid and oddly it’s the head manager of the hotel. My goodness, this man is a miserable sod. Rarely smiling, always frowning, we personally watched him berate his staff in front of the guests, for no real reason (at least to our observation). He’s a typical micro-manager. Walking around on his cell phone all the time and always one of the first to get his own food during the buffet times. His name is Faousy but if you’re reading this- positive reinforcement and constructive criticism when warranted goes much further than yelling, and putting down your hard working staff. People will want to work for you, rather than actively avoid your miserable self. Learn to be kind to your staff. It works, I promise you. Food/Drink There’s one buffet that’s open 0730-1000 for breakfast, 1300-1500 for lunch and 1900-2200 (or 2100? Can’t recall) for dinner service. There are no a la carte restaurants at the moment but there’s a hope for them to return in the future. The food was plentiful, varied and delicious. The people who work in the buffet have got to be some of the most kind, friendly and funny staff- make sure you return in kind and tip with generosity if you can. Tips are not expected but of course welcomed. While the staff cannot exchange CDN coin with their local banks, many of the tourists will exchange the coins for paper currency at the end of their individual stays, which is what we did to help out that staff. CDN/USD and CUP are all welcomed forms of tipping. By the end of your stay, you will truly feel like family when you’re greeted with the biggest of smiles and hugs, Nidia acknowledging you as her “babies”. Such beautiful souls who often work 16+ hour days. Be kind. When was the last time you had to be on your feet for nearly 16 hours straight? There’s a cold items/salad/cereal (for breakfast) station on the left as you enter the buffet. You’ll find deli style ham, sliced and cubed cheese, tons of veggies and sometimes olives and pickles. You’ll also find sauces like mayo, vinegars, oils for salads and some dressings. Next you’ll find a hot food section of multiple stations. In the morning, it’s usually a variety of types of eggs- scrambled, hard boiled, fried, over easy and even poached. At lunch and dinner you’ll find soups, pastas- including a version of baked lasagna, rice (multiple types) and the coveted black beans (a personal favourite). Next to this, there’s often homemade pizzas and paella type rice. Then you’ll encounter the meat station and when I say, they have everything, I mean it. Pork, beef, chicken, calamari. And there’s a staff member who will cook up the meats on the flat top in front of you. They will do eggs to order in the morning. Next in the line, there’s a warming station and they had different items daily. The morning croquettes were truly delicious! They had pancakes and French toast, but the syrup is not what you’re used to. Still delicious. But you’ll also find mashed potatoes, yams, sausage mixtures, lobster pieces, bacon in the morning, you will not starve. Across the floor from this station, is the pasta station where they’ll prep you a portion of pasta with either a red or white sauce with a variety of options. Sometimes they had garlic, pesto, a variety of veggie options, ham lardons and so on. You continue down and you’ll find the bread section and there were no shortages while we were there. Lots of bread, rolls and butter the whole week. Next you’ll find the fruit and dessert area. So many cookies, cakes and ice cream daily. Lastly, you’ll find the seafood station at the end. Almost every night we had lobster whether in pieces at the meat station or freshly cooked half lobster at the seafood station. Many different white fishes made the rotation and fresh calamari on our 2nd last night. Just wonderful! Anyone who says there’s no variety needs to reevaluate themselves. I loved that it was NOT junk like hot dogs, fries, burgers etc. I don’t go to Cuba for food I get at home. Drinks are often the standard you can get at any resort. Wine (red and white), beer (Cristal at the buffet, Bucanaro at the lobby bar), coffee, water, pops and alcohol at the 2 bars. Some days, there was no milk for coffees but many guests bring powdered milk to help. Drink mixes were limited to a local version of Sprite/7Up for the week. Again, this is NOT their fault so be kind. The 2nd last day of our stay, they were able to get lemonade, orange pop and a cola. If you’re looking for fancy fru fru drinks that won’t happen right now during the shortages. If you MUST have certain beverages, bring stuff to make them. Such as tea, sweetener (they had plenty of sugar), water enhancers for those of us who have to watch our sugar content. Lastly, they have a late night food cart just outside the lobby bar for late night eats. We never used it during our stay (I’m an early riser) but I hear it hit the spot when you’re feeling peckish. Entertainment/Excursions Sadly, this is where the resort is lacking. There was a trio of staff- two women and one man- who were apparently the entertainment staff and they did the walking tour. They were friendly and went around introducing themselves but there wasn’t much else. There was some music from live performers a couple of nights and a beach party one night. This can be improved for sure. There’s a little hut over by the pool that says it’s for Animacion but nothing was listed of what to expect to occur in the day. A few suggestions- informal dance lessons, yoga mornings, drinking games for the adults, pool games (once repaired), pool exercises, interactive guest games like a dance contest, or silly activity contest, rum tasting or cigar rolling. The airline excursions or non-hotel related excursions are your only options and most of them surrounded Havana. While I do appreciate the Havana is a huge tourist draw with so much to see and do, not everyone wants to go to the city to experience this culture. It can be very overwhelming with those begging. I respect it’s very hard times in Cuba right now and understand why this happens but a family we were on the tour with was swarmed and that was a bit unnerving. There are water related activities such as fishing/scuba diving for those who are enthusiastic about about that stuff. A local tour to Mantanzas or this Hershey Train I heard a lot about would have been great. Yes, you can hire a private tour guide for this but the prices from some of them were pretty high (personal opinion). I’d love to see a tour of a local farm, closer significant sites in Mantanzas, a local restaurant or market trip. At another resort we’ve frequently they have what’s called a “3 towns” tour and you can see a local school, a local farm, a local site in the mountains to take photos of. There’s opportunity for a horse excursion as we did see horse rides offered on the beach from a private tour person. They also had a private individual offering paragliding which we would have done but the winds were too strong in the last couple of days after we learned about it. Having more tours and off resort options would only benefit the Starfish Jibacoa. A couple of other ideas for guest interaction and encouraging repeat customers that was a very popular option at another similar resort to the Starfish- a repeaters wall and a repeaters dinner. The repeaters dinner was offered to repeat guests once during their stay. Where we sit down family style to a special table served meal as a thank you to guests who come back over and over. Another idea is the repeaters wall. On this wall, there was a local artist employed at the resort who would paint simple scenes on a couple of designated walls for a small fee and include your names and years attended. Essentially, your names are visible and honoured on these walls for all to see. It was always fun to add a new year to your painted scene each year you returned. The last time we saw these walls was in 2019 at this other resort pre-COVID and it was a sight to see and a source of pride. Airline/Transport We flew down on Air Canada Rouge from Pearson Airport in Toronto and the experience was bar none and our first with Air Canada. We had heard some awful horror stories about AC but took the chance as the flight arrives in Varadero just before lunch, a great arrival time. Well, we were not disappointed. The airline departed and arrived on time (or early) for both flights there and back. The AC rep was visible and friendly upon arrival in Varadero. Pointed us to our bus transfer effectively and the commute from the airport to the Starfish Jibacoa is only an hour. There were a couple of flight attendants who were maybe a bit grumpy or having a bad day (benefit of the doubt) but most were friendly. I mean, I wouldn’t want to deal with crappy tourists all day either but it’s the job. A few things to note: Daily, while seated on the beach, there will be people who walk back and forth trying to sell items or request items to be donated. Most of them are just trying to make a living, I get it but some can be a bit pushy so stand your ground. As non-guests, they cannot come up very far from the beach shore so will call you down to sell you their goods. Common goods are cigarettes, cigars, straw hats, beaded jewellery, local fruits like bananas, coffee or services like cutting open a fresh coconut for drinking or hair braiding. Use your own discretion for this. The mosquitoes are ravenous. Bring coils, high deet concentrated repellents as yours truly was their dinner all week. Be mindful of disposing your trash. So many tossed cigarette butts into the sand, or left their empty cups on the beach. Come on people, grow up and be kind to the environment. This trip, most were courteous with their smoking as it’s allowed most places in Cuba (not the lobby inside and not the buffet) but that’s not always the case. I respect that you can smoke, please respect that I choose not to as well and we’ll cohabitate just fine for the duration of the trip. In sum- Our experience at the Starfish Jibacoa was so deeply profound and meaningful to us, we are hoping to return later this year. If you’re not a fancy person, want to meet some amazing people (both staff and guests) and have a fantastic relaxing holiday- you won’t be disappointed. We will be back.

Phenomenal resort and vacation

Best Cuban Resort!!!??? We have been to Cuba over 10 times and this resort blew my husband and I away. Starfish Jibacoa is our new fave! We loved the bungalows. The room was clean,beds comfortable. The little patio facing the ocean was a great place to read or chill ,watch the sunset. We both loved the layout of the resort. Everything was near our room. Beach was right there...a short walk along the walkway. The trees and flora between us and the sand was just gorgeous. The grounds were well  [... read more]maintained and clean. We did not miss a la cartes! The buffet selection for us was incredible. Love the grilled chicken and beef, omelets, and the lobster night was delicious. Best we have had in Cuba yet! The resort had a thankyou toast for Sunwing guests which was so lovely. Yes, there are major shortages in Cuba currently. I really missed the incredible cappuccinos and my mojitos,however the espresso we enjoyed every morning and the creative drinks the bars concocted were fabulous. We ate,drank and were in vacation mode. The staff at this resort went above and beyond. Yanet talked to everyone, sat with us, made our stay extra special. Special mention to Niuka,who was so sweet. Michael and Luis at the Chill pool bar made the best drinks with what they had on hand. Grisel, and the snack bar and the buffet was always welcoming and her smile lit us up. Jonas the young entertainment guy was so sweet. Had a great game of bocce on the beach with him. Finally, the reef right off the beach is by far the best we've been to,aside from the Great Barrier Reef. We snorkeled 5 out of the 7 days,encountering new corals in different areas. The corals and fans were amazing, and the sea life we saw were phenomenal. Yes, there are sand fleas in the sand,and we got bites. We come prepared and the anti itch cream took care of them quickly. The palapas were lovely and there ere enough beach loungers for everyone! The pool area was clean and well maintained. The dogs on the resort pulled at my heartstrings, as we have 2 . Very quiet and chill resort. R & R heaven! We are already planning to book another vacation here for the same week next year! Thanks to all the staff at Starfish Jibacoa! You all rock!??

Friendly Resort

The Starfish at Jibacoa is a wonderful resort for couples or families The staff is very friendly and care to make your stay the best it can be. The food is very much Cuban cuisine but they do try to make food which children will like. They have bungalow rooms or villa style. There is lots of grass to give it a park like feeling and a very large beach with lots of beach recliners i love going to this resort.

Starfish Jibacoa resort

On first seeing this resort it seems a little tired and in need of a refresh, but once you are there for a while you come to realize it's a nice little, quiet resort. The room was in need of an update, but it was always very clean, and the lovely lady that cleaned my room always left a cute little towel animal on my bed! The beach is wonderful, no fighting for lounge chairs, great sandy beach with good snorkeling. The pool was warm and clean, and quite often empty which was nice for a morning [... read more] swim. The food is ok, but you don't go to Cuba for the food, I never went hungry. There were some days where there was no milk, but my friend brought powdered so all was good. The staff was exceptional, always friendly and accommodating. Good wifi in the bar and reception hall. If you are an animal lover, there are lots of cats and some resort dogs to love. Overall I had a good experience here. If you are more into a fast pace resort with music, entertainment, games etc, I would suggest going next door to Memories, which is a more higher end resort, also more costly. For me this was a good experience for the price I paid.

Never disappointed

What can I say that hasnt already been said? This was our second time here and I would recommend it to any who want an authentic Cuban experience in a tropical setting with lots of opertunities within walking or short cab ride distance to explore the area and interact with the locals. Contrary to the concerns expressed by some, there was plenty of food, great service and at an amazing price.

Beautiful resort

Wonderful quiet and cozy resort, beautiful and well-groomed territory, friendly staff. A little "tired" but clean rooms, comfortable beds, new and quiet air conditioners. Excellent beach, corals near the shore, good for those who like snorkel. The choice of dishes in the restaurant is quite decent, a large selection of sweets. It was our first visit to this resort, but we will definitely go back there

Cuban vacation

The hotel where I stayed last November the 14th of the 28th was very nice the grounds were very nice the food was very good and the people that worked at the hotel and resort were excellent that's a beautiful Resort it's a three star but for a three-star you think it would be staying at a Forester but it was a good day and I'm hoping to go back again this April and the only way to acknowledge what I had you have to go there to find out for yourself I'd recommend it for a three-star anyway that's [... read more] my thought

A gem in Cuba that i am hooked on and will return.

Between Varadero and Havanna is a quaint village called Matanzas and The Starfish Jibacoa resort. This was our first trip to this resort. The staff are amazing. The food was great and unlimited with a wide variety everyday. There was wine both red and white that was served at your table at lunch and dinner. There was fresh fruit at the buffet everyday and freshly squeezed juices. This resort is always clean and tidy, and the grounds are vast and well taken care of. There are two grills wit [... read more]h a chef who will make your eggs or your meats anyway you want it. The shish kababs and the fresh fish were cooked on the grill to your liking. Our room which was a stand-alone bungalow facing the ocean was cleaned everyday and fresh towels and linen replaced.  Room was perfect with a very quiet AC. Marten our housekeeper was a joy to chat with and provided us with two bottles of water everyday. Ther entire staff are always focused on the clients' problems and always have a smile that is genuine. This is an exceptionally clean hotel with a beautiful beach for snorkeling and if you take the track behind the pool that leads to the beach you can walk for miles and miles on the beach. Be adventurous and go outside the resort and take in the trails that you can go up the mountains and get to the overlook to see Havana and the beauty of the ocean.  The rooms are simple but very cozy. Tours of Havana and neighbouring towns and villages are easy to get to. There is a local restaurant and a souvenir market just up the road within walking distance and the families that run these little shops are a joy to talk too. It is a quiet resort and I sure liked it a lot. I will return and definitely make this my “go to” resort in Cuba.  The staff treats you like family, and we always felt safe. Thanks to all the staff and friends I met. Had a very relaxing stay at this resort.  

Nice resort to go

The staff are friendly, the foods are good: not many choices but the bakery and ice cream are delicious. Great landscape. The location is one hour away from Varadero airport, and one hour away from capital city Havana which is a must to go for people visiting Cuba.

An excellent resort

This resort is really better than many critics claim it to be. The room/bungalow that we had was obviously dated and because of dampness the walls were shedding paint. Location was an hours drive from Varadero. The resort ,its layout and location were really good. The beach was great. For what we paid, the service and food were well over what we expected. Food was indeed repetitious but there was choice of four/five meats. Two grills going all the time. Bar- Never had a problem with any drinks . [... read more]Everything was available. The only problem we had was the weather. We encountered TWO storms. That's cannot be controlled. In general the staff were excellent throughout the resort. For what you pay compared to other resorts it is definitely a 5 star. If your looking for caviar and stuff you are in the wrong place.