Wonderful place!

The grounds are beautiful and the people are super friendly! Off the beaten path, but really safe, the beach is quiet and you can always find a lounge chair. Don’t go for the food or the entertainment...go to relax on the beach, sit under a palapa, snorkel (if bring your own equipment!) and meet the most wonderful people who instantly make you feel like family. I can understand why people return here again & again!

Heaven

Feb 14 we landed into paradise . This is our second time there as we can’t get enough of the beach . The sand is beautiful, always a chair waiting for u , no one takes your towel . The snorkeling was amazing . Hidden treasures near and far into the ocean . Children playing , snorkeling near the sand . Had a great time seeing how safe life should be . I can’t swim but I was in the ocean floating and managed to get to see exotic fish . I even found an octopus by myself . Hubby was proud . The  [... read more]grounds were amazingly kept ,everyday men working long hours to ensure its beauty . Such nice people . Smiling all the time . . Our bungalow was great , private , clean and a lot of hot water . We even had a fridge , The food was 3/5 but we enjoyed it and I gained weight . .if u r fussy , stay home ! They did the best they could with what they have . That’s how we were raised and life was great . The bars had good drinks and I loved going to see Julio and his buddy . . The staff was amazing , waiters always so kind and willing to get u what u need with a smile . Those ladies work hrs . The pool was beautiful with games and loud music . We ate beach people . The massages on the beach were out of this world . Best I have ever had in my life . We love Jibecao. Was an amazing holiday . Felt blessed to be there . Thank u trip central . Nicole and russ mohr

Beautiful Resort!

I stayed in a beautiful cottage facing the ocean! What a gorgeous view. The beach is well maintained and the swimming and snorkeling are great. There is an abundance of beach loungers. And if you want to get out of the sun, shade is provided by trees. The expansive grounds are well maintained. Daily housekeeping excellent. Staff very helpful and friendly. There is an abundance of food. My only suggestion... there is usually a long lineup at the grill at lunch and dinner....perhaps have two che [... read more]fs instead of just the one at the grill.

Cheap and cheerful

the hotel has well-kept grounds and a small army of groundskeepers. all the staff were friendly and helpful and did their best to cope with the shortages that beset our week [generally blamed on the new embargoes enacted by trump]. as a three-star resort, it probably comes low down on the pecking order for resupply. we experienced, at various times, absences of bacon, red wine, dark rum, & coffee! food was plentiful and basic, but the freshly grilled fish and [strangely] calves liver were delici [... read more]ous. the morcilla [blood sausage] at breakfast was a novelty. the kitchen did an impressive job recycling left-overs in salads. there were anomalies - the near absence of tomatoes and the abundance of eggplant. the a la carte restaurant was characterised by attentive service but food no more impressive than the buffet. the small population and large size of the resort meant a low density and a sense of space. this meant there were very friendly relations with fellow guests, and an pleasant ambience that contrasted with the more costly 'memories' next door. we also benefitted from having an onsite transat rep anne-marie [quebecois, naturalised cuban] who proved very knowlegeable and efficient. reefs offshore were easy to swim to and had great snorkelling.

Great value

Our second year at the resort saw some improvements especially with the beach loungers. There are plenty of them now and they are in good condition. There also seemed to be a better meat selection this year with good pork readily available for many meals. Our main reason for selecting this resort is the great snorkeling right from the beach. Unfortunately the weather was not as cooperative this year but the reef doesnt disappoint when it is accessible. As one of only two resorts in the area i [... read more]t is much better base to explore real Cuban life not just through the eyes of a tourist resort. Local restaurants including the unique Tower restaurant provide a great break from the basic resort fare. We also took a tour through local villages including a short ride on the Hershey train. A great way to see "real" Cuba. Anne Marie, the onsite Transat rep is an excellent resource for all local exploring opportunities. Be sure to take the hiking tour over the mountain behind the neighbouring resort. Wear good hiking shoes as the first part of the hike is short but quite steep. This is not a 5 star resort but it is good value especially if you put some of the savings towards a couple off site meals. It is generally clean and has a great friendly staff. Grounds are well maintained. I would recommend this resort to anyone who is looking to explore Cuba amid beautiful natural surroundings. If you are looking for the ultimate party or pampering experience please select a different resort. We will both be glad you did.

Love it

Love this resort it's our 5th time there beautiful beach and nice and quiet. Food is Cuba so go in with realistic expectations I always found something to eat. Rooms were clean but if going definitely get a villa as opposed to a room

"Nice 2nd. visit"

The bungalo,s are great, guiet , but my 1st night had a swarm of bees in my room as there is a dead tree about 10 feet from the front door and had bees living in it, I left the outside and inside light on after supper and when I returned and opened the door ,saw about 75 bees around the inside light and many dead on the floor. I called the front desk and very promptly sent someone to spray, but had to sit outside for two hours with door,window open and fan going to get the smell out.After that d [... read more]id not leave any lights on and put a towell under door at night. The grounds are well kept and beautiful and the beach is lovely with new beach chairs over last year. The snorkleing in great, but the water was churned up with the winds. Went on the catamaran in Varadero one day, always a thrill for me. The food was not the best, but you won,t starve, as I found breakfast the best. Went twice to the restaurant up the road for lobster, very good. There are a lot of people who come back every year. Also I found that there were more Locals this time, so may not go again around Valentine.s day. A nice time and the weather for 9 days , beautifull and warm not a drop of rain.

The best

This resort is one of my favorite it only rates as a 3 star but the fact that most of the resort is made up of separate small bungalows it gives you the feeling you have the place to yourself the staff are excellent rooms are cleaned daily and are spotless and everything works as it should this is a smaller resort and fairly quiet but the entertainment every night is top Notch food is average good selection for every meal

Super pour le prix

C’est un petit resort tranquille et bien entretenu les chambres sont propres Mais vieillot un peu. Le personnel très gentils et serviables. Le buffet manque un peu de choix mais il y a toujours quelques choses de bon.C’est un bon rapport qualité prix ! Très satisfaite

Nice place

We were 3 adults in a bungalow. The room was nice and big and had 3 beds. We were disappointed by the number of things that the resort ran out of. Examples: No toilet paper most of the time, Ran out of napkins at the resort, ran out of vodka, ran out of beer at the lobby bar, no coffee liquor and a number of other things. The buffet was the same everyday. They ran out of coffee cups and coffee at the buffet a couple of times.This was our 4th time back to the resort and found that the place is re [... read more]ally deteriorating. Many handles on the toilets even in the rooms were hanging off and water pressure was very low. The ground have been coming back real nice after the hurricane and are looking pretty nice. The tables at the bar were not being wiped properly and it always smelt like sour milk because the concrete was never hosed down. The people are still very friendly and try their best with what they have. We decided that this would be our last trip to this resort. This is unfortunate because we have always liked it there. Would not recommend this resort. Sort of got turned off.

I really liked it!

What makes this place stand out for me is the lack of crowding and the abundance of natural shade -lots of trees to hide under. The available bungalows are much more inviting than an ordinary hotel room. Fairly quiet. Note that this is not a fancy resort, but it has all the basics.

Fun and relaxing with friendly staff

This resort is for both relaxation and adventure seekers. I loved the balance I got - I tried snorkelling for the first time which was really amazing. They also offer diving, paddle boat, catamaran, kayak, and guided hikes. You can visit Havana and nearby caves. The rooms are spread around the resort so you kind of feel like you're in a secluded area no matter where you are. Food - I have no issues with Cuban food. I'm also vegetarian so I always find things. However, it really depends on you [... read more]r needs. From what I saw, there was always fresh fish being cooked on the spot. The fact that there was no butter, limited milk, and lack of other things, has nothing to do with the resort, but with Cuba in general. Come with a simplistic mind, and this resort will surpass your needs, like it did for me. There are cats and dogs, they will be friendly, so if you're an animal lover this is great, otherwise, you can ignore them. I fed them daily and left water outside for them as they are all dehydrated and the dogs especially drank all the water. One complaint I have is that there is black mold in the rooms - not a pleasant thing, and not healthy. I hope the resort fixes this. Otherwise, rooms were good. hot water was instant! I was in #17 which is kind of in the middle and closer to the restaurant. Beach is amazing, you can usually find a lounge chair, and water is beautiful. You can walk over to the memories resort next door and swim into the water to snorkel, there are a lot of beautiful fish nearby. On our beach, you needed to swim a bit further out in front of the boats, totally worth it to see the coral and fish. I highly recommend this resort!

Great Christmas Vacay

I can understand the mixed reviews about this resort but for us it was great. The rooms are dated but clean and the sprawling grounds make up for any issues you might have. The food is just okay, I didn't go hungry but didn't really enjoy any good meals there. Except the a la carte restaurant. The bar staff, the room staff, the activity staff and the rep for Transat were all amazing. The beach was beautitufl and uncrowded which is what we were looking for. Never a problem finding chairs o [... read more]r even shady spots. There were jellyfish that closed the beach a few days but that is no fault of the hotel. Pool was beautiful and never busy and plenty of chairs there as well. We felt totally safe there and would go back.

Resort from Hell

Room smelled like sewage and was in overall terrible shape. Too many locals hanging around the property. Staff were super unfriendly and only made an effort if you spoke Spanish. Waste of money!!!!!!

Beautiful place

My husband and I really enjoyed our stay here. Beautiful beach and very relaxing . The staff were all very friendly and helpful. We will definitely return. The rooms were not updated but they were clean and comfortable.I highly recommend Eddie for a guided tour in a classic car to Havana.

Coral reef is the main bonus

I have been to this resort four times over the last 6 years. Number one reason I go back is the coral reef. Very beautiful real coral reef that you can snorkel all day. Swimming pool is right by the beach, which is very convenient. Service is ok. Food is all right for a week. Facilities are clean but old and sometimes just smell and moist. The biggest issue is there are bed bugs and fleas. All tourist were bitten, especially on the legs. All four times I was there I noticed everyones legs we [... read more]re bitten. The only time I was not, was when I brought a spray from Food Basics and sprayed thoroughly the entire bungalow. Raid spray did Not work and I was bitten by the fleas the last time. I did catch one flea to prove.... Lol Bring a good spray. Maybe even two and have a nice vacation. Otherwise you will pay dear prize by scratching and itching afterwards. Also mind where you walk in the water. There are rock fish that are poisonous knee deep by the beach. That's expected due to the reef life.

Clean, friendly and quiet resort

The hotel is kept very clean by the staff. The mattresses could use updating. My room needed to be fumigated for sand fleas, probably because the previous guest let the cats/dogs from the resort in the room. Nothing like waking up to bites all over! The food in the buffet was ok, a lot of fish and liver on the grill. The a la cart made me unwell and the food at the a la cart seemed to be prepared days in advance. The mixed salads in the buffet were not very appetizing Overall, the staff w [... read more]ere friendly and polite, working hard to make your stay pleasant. The bungalows and the resort overall has had some good upgrades over the years. The poor food choices could be improved upon for sure.

S A D ! Perhaps NOT that great of a resort anymore !!!!

I had only one problem in that resort - the local Cubans who were coming to stay for the weekend!!! Some of them were rude and obnoxious, littering around the pool area, jumping in the pool with their clothes, in the restaurant never waiting in line for their turn, extremely loud with their boom-boxes and God forbid somebody tries to tell them that their behavior is not appreciated - they look at that person as if they want to rip them apart!!!!! If this continues I will never go back to Vil [... read more]las Jibacoa !!! SO SAD ! ! !

Nice resort on a nice beach

Snorkeling was excellent if you like depths to about 40ft. Lots of channels, overhangs and swim-thrus in the reef. Lots of nice coral and very many fish. Find the 2 cannons and anchors. Didn't bother with Scuba - I can explore more while snorkelling. They go from shore or with a catamaran or pedal boat. Lots of coconuts

Great Time

This is our first all inclusive resort and trip to Cuba. We travelled with seasoned travellers who have returned to this resort several times. It is a nice quiet place, beautiful seemingly private beach (we felt alone on the beach always!). The staff were always very pleasant and friendly. This is not a party resort, although you can have a good time too. The food is what I expected in Cuba and was prepared for based on other travellers; I was never hungry, always able to find something to eat [... read more], but if you are looking to be “wowed” by the food, you will be disappointed, although I’ve heard this about all of Cuba.