Living Cheaply in Havana - Real Havana: Explore Cuba Like a Local and Save Money - page 146

ticular . If you are just looking to take a dip in the ocean and don't really care for
traveling outside the city, you can always visit one of the many mini-beaches that
line the shore in the Miramar neighborhood. These beaches are rather rustic;
most of them have no sand at all. They are mostly just rocky paths leading to the
ocean. But for a quick dip, on a hot day, that's all you need. If you are more ad-
venturous, you can also just swim off the Malecon. It's a rocky area, so you have
to be careful, but if you find a spot where other locals are doing it, stick with them
and you should be fine.
Low-Priced Places to Visit
While you can definitely have a fun time in Havana for free, there are also several
great locations to explore, which, despite costing a bit of money, are still very eco-
nomical. As mentioned before, Havana is generally a very inexpensive city, espe-
cially if you stay away from the most touristy areas. That being said, for a few of
the locations listed below, there are two tier pricing options: one price for locals,
and another price for foreigners. In most cases the foreigner price is still a great
bargain. Nevertheless, I suggest always trying your best to pay the Cuban price.
A simple trick is to ask a local to buy you an entrance ticket and offer to pay for
their ticket as well. Instead of paying 5 CUC you can pay just a few pesos (MN)
and pretend you are a local.
Ferry to Regla or Casablanca
As mentioned in the Havana Suburbs section , taking the ferry to the town of Re-
gla, located just on the other side of the Bay of Havana, is always a fun expedi-
tion, and the price is only 0.2 pesos (MN). The ferry terminal is located in Old
Havana, at the corner of San Pedro and Santa Clara streets. There are actually
two ferry routes operating from this terminal. While the Regla line is the most pop-
ular, you can also take the ferry to the Casablanca terminal, also located on the
other side of the Bay. At this terminal you will find the Hershey Train Station.
Ride the Hershey Electric Train
For those travelers who want to break free from Havana for a while and enjoy the
view of the Cuban countryside, a short ride on the antique Hershey Electric Train
is a perfect option. The train departs 3 times per day and can take you as far as
the city of Matanzas. For a shorter trip, I recommend simply getting off in the
small eastern town of Santa Cruz del Nord. It's about an hour and a half from
Havana, and the train fare will only cost you 1.40 CUC. Refer to the section on
Riding the Hershey Train for more details.
Christopher Columbus Cemetery
The massive Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, located at the corner of Zapata and
12th Street, is truly a sight to see. It sprawls over 57 hectares and is covered with