Casa Nispero gets its name from the Nispero Bay – “Bahia Nispero”, on the shores of which it sits in the picturesque neighborhood of Ciudamar, Santiago de Cuba. The house is surrounded by mangroves on the seashore and by fruit trees and lush vegetation. Avocado, mango, ciruela (plum of the Caribbean), pomegranate, cherry, banana and other trees provide a green canopy that shields the house from the hot tropical sun and keep the surroundings roughly 5°C degrees cooler than in the city. The mangroves are a true testament to the pristine condition of the water in the bay. They provide biodiversity and home to an incredible array of species, as well as costal defense against erosion, flooding and hurricanes. Mangroves have also shown to sequester carbon at a rate two to four times greater than mature tropical forests and are considered essential in fighting climate change. The house is located on the outskirts of the city and enjoys the peacefulness of country-style living avoiding the hassle-and-bustle of the major metropolis that Santiago is. If you are looking for a place to relax and get away from the big city chaos, but at the same time to be in short proximity to the downtown, be with nature and hear the birds singing, this home is your place. The beach Playa la Estrella is within walking distance (approximately 25-minute walk) using the Carretera Turistica road. Along the way, there are many places to access the quiet and crystalline waters of the bay for a swim or to do some fishing from the shore. If you go past the beach on the same road, you will reach the Castillo del Morro (Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca), old Spanish fortress erected between 1638 and 1700 and declared in 1997 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, cited as “the best preserved and most complete example of Spanish-American military architecture”. On the grounds of the Morro you will find a marketplace where local artisans sell their art. You can reach Santiago in different ways: • By taxi - for approximately 10 CUC one-way • By moto-taxi - for 4 CUC one-way. (With the moto-taxi, you catch the ride on a motorcycle siting behind the driver!) • By catching the local ferry (boat) servicing Santiago de Cuba from a stop at a peer located 15-20 minute walk from the house, right before the La Estrella beach on the same road – Carretera Turistica. This boat-taxi will also take you to other interesting and picturesque locations within the bay of Santiago such as Isla Granma. The ferry services Granma Island and Punta Gorda from Ciudamar every hour and a half during the day and there is a ferry to Santiago departing Ciudamar at noon and 5:40PM returning to Ciudamar at 1 and 7 PM respectively. The house has 3 double occupancy bedrooms which means that there is a possibility that you will be sharing it with another 4 guests. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning and queen size beds designed to comfortably accommodate two people. For families of up to four people, we can offer a larger room with a queen-size bed and a pullout bed that sleeps two. The main area is equipped with TV, fridge, gas stove, multi-cooker (Instant pot), pots and dishes for those that are inclined to prepare some meals at home. Freshly prepared breakfast is available with prior coordination for 5 CUC consisting of eggs, bread, fresh fruits and coffee served in the “ranchon” – an outdoor open structure with a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves to protect from the sun while allowing for the fresh breeze from the sea.