Villa Paradiso Baracoa — The Gem of Cuba’s Cocoa Country
Some people think I spend too much time on social media. But if I hadn’t participated in the #FoodTravelChat on Twitter earlier this year, I never would have connected with Roberto Jovel, an El Salvadorian now living with his Cuban partner Manuel Riquenes in Baracoa, a small town in the heart of Cuba’s Cocoa Country. Roberto and Manuel are the owners and hosts of a Casa Particular called Villa Paradiso Baracoa, a guesthouse located in the heart of Eastern Cuba.
The views at Villa Paradiso Baracoa are lovely, offering both views of the town and of Miel bay.
villa paradiso baracoa is a beautiful casa particular in eastern cuba
I’d never stayed at a Casa Particular before, though I have stayed at B&B’s and guesthouses in various places including Maui and Costa Rica. A Cuban Casa Particular can be either. It can be a simple room in someone’s house as in a B&B or the AirBnB concept. Or it can be quite elaborate accommodations with incredible dinners at an additional cost, as in the case of Villa Paradiso Baracoa. The basic room charge is about $20/night. What a deal!
Manuel (pictured above) is always up early, cutting up fresh fruit and preparing a beautifully fresh breakfast for guests. The second floor outdoor space at Villa Paradiso Baracoa offers great views while you enjoy your breakfast or dinner.
I was very pleased with my accommodations at Villa Paradiso Baracoa and stayed in two different guestrooms during my five-night stay. Both were terrific, with views of the town and Miel Bay. It was spotlessly clean and quiet, with an international clientele to share stories with. During my stay, I met other travellers from France, Switzerland, and Italy. (Roberto speaks fluent English, Spanish, and French.) There are three guest rooms in total that can accommodate up to eight people.
There are many gorgeous pieces of art hanging throughout the Casa Particular, giving the main part of the house a gallery-like feeling. But Villa Paradiso didn’t start out that way. Roberto and Manuel personally guided the renovation process from an ordinary and fairly modest house in the area, to the masterpiece it is today.
This photo was sent to me by Roberto, and shows the construction of the main floor balcony at Villa Paradiso Baracoa.
Roberto and Manuel adapted the concrete staircases to the limestone rocks at Villa Paradiso. That was no easy task! This one leads up to the Gazebo up the hill that is available for shared use. If you have trouble navigating stairs, this is not the place for you.
Roberto and Manuel adapted concrete staircases to the limestone rocks at Villa Paradiso. That was no easy task, as the villa is situated on very uneven terrain. And they hand painted all the locally made rattan and wood furniture. It is truly a labour of love. But word is getting out! Villa Paradiso Baracoa was even full during the hot humid summer (I visited in July.) So be sure to reserve your room as far in advance as possible.
Roberto (left) and Manuel are super nice guys and the superb hosts of Villa Paradiso.
I truly want to thank Roberto and Manuel for inviting me to come stay at Villa Paradiso. It was one of the highlights of my visit to Eastern Cuba. And thanks again to the Cuban Tourist Board for orchestrating my itinerary, financing my travel costs, and providing me with a driver and translator/guide for the entirety of my trip.
Baracoa is in the heart of Cuba’s cocoa growing country.
Have you been to Baracoa? Have you investigated Cuba’s Ruta del Cacao? Have you been lucky enough to stay at Villa Paradiso Baracoa? Please join the conversation. And stay tuned for more about my journey through Eastern Cuba.
Lovely post, Doreen. Casas particulares are, in my mind, the only way to go when travelling around Cuba. We’ve stayed in resorts a few times, but after a day or two we can’t wait to get back to the casas.
I agree with you, Cynthia. I’ve stayed at some incredible beachfront resorts in Cuba and admit that I DO love being right on the beach. But their food is pretty crappy as it is generic and lacks local flavour. And their entertainment is so watered down compared to what you find in the cities. I feel really blessed to have stayed with Manuel and Roberto at their lovely casa particular in Baracoa.
Hi Doreen,
What a great post and terrific pictures. We have stayed at Villa Paradiso and we loved it. Roberto and Manuel are wonderful hosts and they really love Baracoa, so we have learned so much from them about the best beaches, the farms, the music, great places to hike… we cannot wait to go back.
Hello Katheryne and welcome to Chocolatour! Yes, I, too, felt truly blessed to have stayed with Manuel and Roberto. They are both incredible hosts, and Villa Paradiso was the perfect place for me to stay while researching cacao in the area.
Cuba is on my travel list. Thanks so much for sharing!
I had never known what a Casa Particular meant, so this is some learning for me. The Villa Paradiso Baracoa looks enchanting. I particularly like the place where breakfast and dinner are served. Must be such a lovely experience to have a leisurely meal while feasting on those amazing views. Your posts about Cuba have really unveiled the lesser known facets of the country.
Thanks for your comment, Sandy. That’s precisely what I was attempting to do, with this trip and in my writing. Happy to share my experiences and help people learn more about Cuba.
Love the rustic feel of the place. And the fact that it is clean and organized makes it all amazing. You are quite lucky to experienced it for yourself. I kinda envy you – not just for this place but for the visit to Cuba
That’s when social media really shows its benefits — when you can meet someone that leads to a great experience like you had in Cuba. Villa Paradiso looks like a place I could spend some time especially on that terrace with a view.
That view from the balcony is so mesmerizing Doreen. I don’t know when I will get to visit this part of the world, but when the time comes, I will definitely like to check this place. The hospitality was also very warm it seems.
I’m so bookmarking this for our future trip, Doreen. It looks like a great place! Everything I would be looking for in a first trip. Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh, Man! Now I REALLY want to get back to Cuba, pronto, to enjoy the Baracoa route and this villa. What a find, and such a nice story you’ve presented. Will pin, too.
Thx so much, Kristin. Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
Cuba is on my travel list. I remember the first time i come to know about the country was via this movie called “Soy Cuba” Hopefully, some day i shall visit.
I don’t believe I’ve seen that film. Does “Soy Cuba” focus on the culture of Cuba, or is it a travel film?
Hi Doreen,
“Soy Cuba” (“I Am Cuba”) is a 1964 Soviet-Cuban black & white film about the Cuban Revolution. It used a range of special techniques that made it visually quite striking. Martin Scorsese seems to have taken quite an interest in it. You may recall a poster we have in the larger bedroom where you stayed – it’s the Cuban movie poster designed for the film. You can see that poster on our website photo gallery, on the 16th picture in the gallery: https://villaparadisobaracoa.com/en/gallery/
Thanks for the info, Roberto! I must say that you are an amazing source of info about all things Cuban. I have really appreciated how you’ve increased my knowledge about the flora, fauna, culture and treasures of Cuba as a whole, but especially of your delightful Baracoan region (which I will salute in the upcoming post on this blog, so stay tuned!) 🙂
I’ve been wanting to go to Cuba for years – I really need to get there while it’s still such good value and relatively uncrowded. Villa Paradiso looks like a wonderful place to stay.
Karen, Cuba is one of my favourite island nations. I love the vibrancy of the music and the passion and pride of the people.
Looks like an excellent place to stay in! It always helps to have a friendly and approachable host to make a trip even more memorable! Cheers!
That is SO true, Claire. I think the host is a key component to any homestay, or stay in a very small inn.
Looks like you landed in a winning place. I was in Cuba in February, and stayed in three separate apartments. I’m much less social than you, so that was perfect for me. In all cases, the whole unit was mine, and I had a breathtaking view and deck in Matanzas. My Havana place was cute and cool, and right smack in the heart of Habana Veijo. I felt like the only tourist on the street. I had my own little cafeteria on the corner. They let me take the plate to my apartment and return it the next morning. My final spot was in Santa Marta, a quick bike ride from Varadero. Tiny little cottage with a huge yard, table, swing, etc. to expand the living area.
I will go back, and will do exactly what I did this time. It was gritty, close-to-the-ground travel, definitely behind the well-crafted tourist view of Cuba. The people were amazing for the most part, and really love Canadians. I had one guy on the street ask me where I was from. When I said Canada, he grinned widely and gave me an enthusiastic thumbs up. Great time.
Thanks so much for sharing those details of your trip to Cuba, Wendy. It’s so encouraging to see that adventurous travellers are getting off the resorts and staying in accommodations that introduce them to an authentic Cuban experience.
If you weren’t a writer on social media, we wouldn’t have met! Isn’t it wonderful to discover a place built and managed with loving care? I felt that way at La Torretta in Manarola, Italy. They become magical memories.
Thanks, Rose. So glad that we’ve connected online. I truly look forward when we transfer that friendship into the real world. And I would love to stay at La Torretta. With a recommendation from you I know I’d like it. 🙂
I’ve not been to Cuba. Should I visit (and there’s a good chance I will, now that I’m back in Canada), Villa Paradiso Baracoa will be on my radar. Thanks for the tip about booking early.
You’re welcome,. Nancie. I think you’d enjoy a stay at Villa Paradiso as you are an adventurous traveler, and there is plenty of adventure in the Baracoa area. Stay tuned! 🙂
We would like to thank Doreen and #FoodTravelChat for the wonderful experience! Meeting and hosting Doreen has been a highlight for us this year. She’s a lovely individual whose presence in our house was simply delightful – and of course she loves sharing her knowledge of chocolate, which included tastings (right here on our terrace with the sea view!) of some great chocolates by different artisan chocolatiers from various countries. We learned lots and truly appreciated Doreen’s conviviality, sense of humour and charm (you can tell she must be a great hostess herself!). For those of you who commented on Doreen’s post expressing an interest in visiting us here in Baracoa – thank you so much and we’ll be certainly pleased to welcome you at Villa Paradiso!
Thanks for the very kind words, Roberto, and for being so kind and welcoming me with Manuel and Gladys (your dedicated friend and assistant) for making me feel like a friend the moment I walked in the door. Villa Paradiso is a true travel gem for anyone visiting Eastern Cuba.
Having been the lucky recipient of Doreen’s hosting skill many time, I can confirm that your suspicion is correct. There is nobody who can bring a crowd of people together, and make it all work, better than Doreen.
Wendy, thank you for those very kind words. It thrills me to have people gather and share happy moments. Memories of those moments keep me going. 🙂
Sue Reddel tried to post this comment and it wouldn’t take, so she’s asked me to post it here for her: “Doreen, here’s the comment I tried to enter: #FoodTravelChat is on Twitter every Wednesday at 8 pm ET. We are happy to send folks reminders and have two easy ways to make that happen. Interested food travelers can check out the link below.
http://www.foodtravelist.com/spotlight/join-us-foodtravelchat/
Join Us For #foodtravelchat
Every Wednesday night Food Travel Chat at 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT on Twitter for an hour under the hashtag #FoodTravelChat to chat about Food Travel. foodtravelist.com
You cannot please everyone Doreen and I am sure you will not even attempt to. You are focused and can see the bigger picture.
The accomodation you stayed in (Villa Paradiso) looks as if it embraces the culture; from the art on the wall to the exotic fruits served for breakfast. I would take this over a standard uniform hotel any day of the week.
Hi Phoenicia. Yes, it’s really great to experience this kind of hospitality. That raises the stature of a property way above the formality and sometimes unauthentic quality of the bigger chain hotels.
This looks wonderful – I would love to visit and stay in this area some day. Your hosts look very friendly and wonderful art enthusiasts, which I love hanging out with.
I definitely think you’d enjoy the company of Roberto and Manuel, Noel. They are warm and colourful and very knowledgeable of the area. And Villa Paradiso Baracoa is a very photogenic place!
Villa Paradiso Baracoa looks like a great place to stay. I’ve never stayed at a Casa Particular, but think I would look for that type of accommodation should I make another visit to Cuba.
I think you’d enjoy it, Donna. A friend of mine in ON is using part of her home as an Air BnB and she loves the experience of having guests from all over the world come to stay with her. Her experience with Air BnB guests has been nothing but positive. And I have enjoyed B&B’s at various places from time to time. So I’m glad I finally had the opportunity to give the Casa Particular option a try. It was very positive for me.
Looks like the Villa Paradiso Baracoa is truly a labor of love between Roberto and Manuel. And that love is more than enough to create a masterpiece and a continuing delightful service. You are lucky to have been able to stay there! And the price is so right!
Absolutely, Carol. Villa Paradiso Baracoa is a place that almost everyone would enjoy. Not good for people with mobility issues (as there are stairs) or allergies to pets (they have a cat, dog, and bird.) Or those who only travel 5-star. But for the most of us, it is a super place where you will make good friends of the hosts, and possibly your fellow travellers. 🙂
Such an amazing adventure you must have had in Cuba’s cocoa country. Staying at Villa Pardiso Baracoa looks like a gem, especially with the gorgeous views it affords. Thanks for sharing.
For sure, Jeff. Villa Paradiso is truly a gem. and you can’t beat the price!
Villa Paradiso Baracoa seems like a fantastic place. I fully understand that you loved staying there. Such houses are much more interesting to stay in than yet another five star hotel.
Absolutely, Catarina. I really learned so much more about Cuban culture by staying with people who are living it. And by eating at small, independent restaurants where we were delighted with the cuisine. It is 10x fresher and better tasting than the buffets at those 4-5-star beach resorts.
This looks like a paradise, for sure! Love the photos.
Social media can be both blessing and blasphemy. I think a lot of the outcome has to do with how we engage and how far down the rabbit hole we allow ourselves to go. With moderation, social media extends our reach and broadens our world in miraculous ways, as you so richly discovered!
Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Linda. Yes, social media is a mixed blessing indeed. I spend far too much time on it. But it has made me invaluable contacts and good friends like you. And provided me with incredible opportunities I would not otherwise have found. So I will continue to engage in it, but always do so with a certain amount of caution. 🙂
I’ve never been to Cuba; but Villa Paradiso Baracoa looks like a wonderful, relaxing place to stay.Your comments on the cleanliness, good food and a multi-lingual host are most appealing!
Your return trip needs to be in winter, yes?
Hi, Linda. I think you would love Cuba because of the amazing music. I will have something on that in a future post. Yes, perhaps another trip to Cuba during winter would be amazing. But I have so many other places I really need to visit. Which is why volume II of Chocolatour is taking much longer than anticipated.
Wow, this looks amazing Doreen, and how great to find such a great place run by two gay men in Cuba. Between the food and the views, I’m putting it on my list.
Great to hear from you, Kathy. Yes, I think you would truly enjoy the artistic flair & sensitivity at Villa Paradiso. I hope you get to enjoy it soon.
This looks like an incredible place to have as your base for exploring this part of Cuba. I’m sure the hospitality shown by your hosts to the international guests they attract (wow, to be fluent in several languages!) contributed to your positive review of Villa Paradiso Baracoa.
For sure, Debbie. Manuel is working on his English and is fluent in Spanish. And with Roberto also knowing French, they are well prepared to accept and cater to international travellers.
Cuba has long been on my bucket list, and now Villa Paradiso Baracoa is, too! Thanks for sharing your experience, Doreen–it helps a lot since so few people I know have visited Cuba. Having visited El Salvador, I would love to learn about Roberto’s experiences in the two countries. Looks like I will need to plan a visit!
Thanks for your comment, Lori. And welcome to Chocolatour! Yes, Cuba is an amazing country. I would love to return yet again and continue my adventures as I’ve not yet been to Trinidad (a city in Cuba) that comes highly recommended by my guide. I’ve not been to El Salvador. Will have to ask Roberto what he likes best and least about his homeland. 🙂
So glad you participated in #foodtravelchat and met the guys from Villa Paradiso Baracoa. Our goal on the chat is two connect people with destinations that highlight culinary adventures. Looks like you had just that with our friends in Cuba.
You are SO right, Sue. Can you remind me and others when the FoodTravelChats run on Twitter? I don’t think you send out the auto-reminder that some of the other groups do, and so I often miss them. Thx for stopping by the site, and for being the catalyst that fuelled my trip to Eastern Cuba. 🙂
Very beautiful views from the second floor. It looks like a wonderful place to eat dinner after a long day exploring.
Indeed, Giselle, and welcome to Chocolatour! As an avid traveller yourself, I’m sure you will enjoy the chocolate journeys we share here. 🙂 Villa Paradiso is indeed a fabulous place to relax or regenerate one’s self after a day of touring. I loved the option of having dinner there if I chose to. And the food was delicious!