Our first visit was in Nov 08 & we will definitely be enjoying a return trip. This is a beautiful area and a perfect getaway for those who appreciate an adventure and something other than the oversized, overindulgent resorts that seem to be the norm.
We found the staff to be very friendly and always willing to help.
Chivirrico is a wonderful little town, very friendly folks....warm and happy to talk and show you around. The beach is very private & beautiful, and the walk down and back up again is not a bother at all. We actually made the beach/town walk up to 4 times a day!!
We are very low maintenance travellers and don't expect perfection.....as long as the facility is clean and the staff is friendly and accomodating, we're happy! Meals are also not a priority for us, so we don't really miss a buffet where we are more apt to overindulge......haven't found a hotel in Cuba with 'stellar' food at any time. The food was quite good for a small facility, and the wait staff was excellent. We also ate with the locals in town and absobed some of the local culture. After an evening visit to Sierra Mar, we were happy to return to Los Galeones and much prefer it to the larger resort. This hotel and the area are a definite two thumbs up from us, can't wait to return!! We also took the full day bus trip into Santiago......gave us an idea of where to go for the next trip.....although next time we will be renting a car. Don't like the fact that at each stop the locals mob the tour bus and are quite annoying. You don't find any of this in Chivirrico, the locals never ask for anything at any time and it's much easier to blend in. This area of Cuba is very beautiful and the poor road conditions only add to the total adventure. Truly a photographers paradise. Not everyones 'cup of tea' which makes it great......not going to ever be overcrowded. Enjoy!!

I stayed at this Hotel between January 22 - 29 2009.

I made good friends with staff at the hotel. We had a lots of fun. But despite that, and as much as it makes me uncomfortable to say so, Brisas Los Galeones is really not a good pick for your vacations. I travelled a bit in Cuba, my family...even more and for the price...there is a LOTS of better options.

FOOD: Good at best, ok most of the time and sometimes just plain bad. No buffet here (exept morning). You will be presented a 'menu' for dinner and supper. Which consist of Soups, salads, and 4-5 main dishes. Take note: 2 or 3 of those 5 are almost always not available and the menu is often the very same several days in a row.

Of course, you can take the shuttle for Sierra Mar and enjoy the buffet there. Even tho its not that great and definetely not worth the 1 hour trip (30 minutes each way) it does provide something different. Keep in mind tho theres only 2 bus per day which means you will end up spending most of the day at Sierra Mar or end up taking a Cab at 8$ (Cuban convertible pesos) each way.

HOTEL: Small, nice and quiet. Everything is at hands reach. OH! Exept of the beach which is down the hill which means you will have to go down, and up !!!, the 300 stairs. I didnt mind at all..i even enjoyed it. But the rest of my family had to struggle. Rooms are...well i guess there ok. Bar is small and not very efficient at all. (more on that later) Pool is ok and close to everything. Keep in mind that the town just down the hill as SEVERAL roosters which will go on a rampage from 2-3AM to 6AM so bring earplugs or suffer the consequences.

SERCIVE (everywhere exept the beach where it is very good) :

THE major downside for the Brisas Los Galeones.

Some of them are arrogant, rude, dont smile, and even make disrespectful noise or comments when you have the guts to ask for a drink that is something more complicated then a rum & coke. They will make you feel very cheap for asking it or will simply reply that an ingredient is missing even tho it is RIGHT there. I know because i often just went on the other side of the bar in order to make it myself since they were so reluctent.

This can go all away when you make friends with the 2-3 that are ok. But if its not their shift or you just dont want to "befriend" them in order to get good service prepare yourself for quite a nightmare. The managers are especially not friendly at all. Brisas will definetely get an email from me regarding this issue.

The beach staff are a lot better. If you do go there make friend with Yaomar and Elismer (who cleans the beach each morning) they noth treated us like friends and even invited is to eat or go around and we had lots of funs.

Despite it all, i had a very good time. But only because i was with 5 of my friends and family.

Its a pitty because the surrounding mountains are very nice. I think this hotel could become very nice if it could get in the right hands.

TORONTO - (a rewrite - lost original and this is a synopsis)

No way, I won't go. Its time for my annual trip outta here and I after much thought, Galeones will never be again.

I don't believe one should have to 'work' at having a vacation -- I'm already city/work fried...I don't want to compromise on selfish indulgence. I will not again.

Food - abysmal

The bar: Day 2, ran out of lime/lemon, out of beer 1/2 the time, no mint -- oops.,

BBQ on the private beach? - never mind. Didn't happen until the final day when everyone was too sick to enjoy it. Some pandemic had attacked our hotel and its sister hotel down the road -- 2.5 days out, I was.

Private Beach? so neglected that one afternoon down there, pretending you're Robinson Crusoe is quite enough.... tiki bar, long deserted, BBQ -- same; beach itself, very dangerous with natural detrius -- not good for bare feet.

Rooms were swell. Staff changed me after the first nite because they felt my room was not up to snuff. And they were quite right. Didn't have to say anything though -- good work with that. Clean too. Enjoyed the daily staff -- the few without guile.

Staff -- how gullible are you all? I read the reviews before I went down. I knew one was to stuff their suitcases with gifts for the needy staff and families..... or, the black market -- and even that's okay. who cares. Me, I do, I care when I feel I'm essentially paying twice for a mediocre vacation. This giving of toiletries, clothing, etc.,.... is not good will, it is posturing and guilt absolving -- exploitation is exploitation. You're doing it. Live with it. Cuba is the most corrupt vacation destination I've ever been to.

I fear that I must skip the horse ride story (highly recommended!) and advise all travellers to do whatever they feel necessary to protect their money. My Canadian dollars were stolen from my safe. Cuban money left behind. My Canadian dollars, in a separate purse, inside my vault were missing when I packed up to leave on the last day. Perhaps taken while packing, grabbing a coffee (great coffee!!!) 5 mins. out of the vault, in my knapsack.
All rooms have ground/hillside accessible balconies.

I'm not going back.

I stayed in Brisas Los Galeones for one week in April 2008, and I would like to write unbiased review, to help fellow traveler (I find some reviews of this hotel are simply exaggerated):
- The best part of the vacation is the true beauty of this part of Cuban coast. Going to the hotel from airport is very exciting, scenic ride (the road is in dire need of repair, as stated in other reviews).
- The hotel itself is very small, on top of the hill, and the view is fantastic. Waking up and hearing farm animals across the hill was very charming. However, my bed was very uncomfortable, and if I had it four years ago, when I was battling my injured back, I wouldn't be even able to use it. Air-conditioning is very noisy - useless when you are trying to sleep. Watter pressure is very low, sometimes non-existant.
- The food: much better than in factory-style hotels. The best I had in my three trips in Cuba. I found some of the dishes still too heavy (avoid bacon).
- The beach - after you descend 300 steps, you discover secluded paradise. However, bring watter shoes, otherwise, going into the watter will be near-impossible. The first four days of my stay, the sea was very rough, which made swimming very dangerous.
- Entertainment: live music in the evening, in dining room. All musicians I heard were simply brilliant. After that, unfortunately, there is nothing else to do but drink.
- Trips: take one at least. Get out of the hotel, and Sierra Maestra will overwhelm your senses with joy. If you want to do something on your own, be aware: roads are horrible, and taxis are hard to get.
- Conclusion: this could be one of the best tourist destinations in Caribbean. However, some serious investments are needed, to make it a true gem. This way, it will stay popular with less-demanding, low-paying, senior tourists from Canada.