The property market in Artemisa: Havana’s western belt

Artemisa became a province in 2011, when the old province of La Habana was split, and much of its market still looks towards the capital. Bauta, Caimito, San Antonio de los Baños and Güira de Melena work in practice as an extended outskirts: single-storey houses with yards and space, at prices far below any Havana municipality.

Mariel is the special case. The Special Development Zone and the port create jobs and a demand for housing and rentals that other towns of Mariel’s size do not have, and it shows in prices around it.

The provincial capital, Artemisa, and the towns along the central highway — Guanajay, Candelaria — are quiet markets of family homes and sales between people who know each other. Towards the Sierra del Rosario, Soroa and Las Terrazas form a small market tied to nature tourism.

The decision to buy in Artemisa almost always comes down to transport: anyone working in Havana needs a realistic sense of how much time and money the daily commute costs. In return, it is where a family gets the most floor area and land close to the capital.

Neighbourhoods and areas

• Artemisa city
• Mariel
• San Antonio de los Baños
• Bauta
• Caimito
• Guanajay
• Soroa

What to check before buying here

• check_circleActual transport to Havana if you will work or study there.
• check_circleIn rural areas, tell an owned home apart from land held in usufruct.
• check_circleWater source: mains, well or tanker, and how it holds up in the dry season.
• check_circleLegalisation of extensions and structures in the yard, common in houses with a lot of land.

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