Attractions of Cuba

Havana

Cuba's capital city is one of the most beautiful, vibrant and unique cities in the world. Havana boasts the finest collection of colonial architecture in Latin America, having suffered little damage in the independence and revolutionary struggles, and crumbling buildings stand side-by-side with exquisitely renovated structures. Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) within the old city walls is built around the four main squares - Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza de San Francisco, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de Armas - each totally distinctive with the Plaza de la Catedral one of the most beautiful and atmospheric squares in the world. There are many impressive colonial buildings along Calle del Obispo, the main shopping street, and the Paseo del Prado. The Museo de la Revolucion located in the former Presidential Palace contains a comprehensive account of the revolution, including the hull of the 'Granma', the boat that brought Castro back from exile in 1956. El Capitolio is one of Havana's most spectacular buildings, while the Plaza de la Revolucion in the Vedado district contains the famous Che mural and the Jose Marti Memorial tower, offering spectacular views of the city. The Malecón extends for 7km along the sea front - lined with Art Deco buildings, it attracts many Havanans in the evenings and is a nice way to stroll back to Habana Vieja. A tour of a Cuban cigar factory, such as the famous Real Fabrica de Tabacos Partagas near El Capitolio, is also an important part of the Havana experience. Much of Havana's appeal however lies simply in the undeniable atmosphere and rhythm of the city which is impossible not to get caught up in. There are endless bars to listen to the intoxicating Cuban 'son' music, try your hand at salsa dancing and sip a classic mojito or cuba libre. Other options include the numerous jazz clubs and opera and ballet at the magnificent Gran Teatro de La Habana.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Old Havana and its Fortifications

Bay of Pigs

The Bay of Pigs on the southern coast of Cuba was the site of the US-sponsored invasion by Cuban exiles in 1961. Attempting to overthrow the Castro regime, the invasion was a spectacular failure. A small museum at the nearby Playa Giron commemorates the abortive effort.

Cienfuegos

Cienfuegos was founded as a Spanish colonial town in 1819 but was soon influenced by an influx of French settlers. The harbour town became wealthy as a trading centre for sugar cane, tobacco and coffee. Its historic centre combines colonial architectural influences with modern Latin American design and urban planning from the 19th century. Attractions of note include the Government Palace (City Hall), San Lorenzo School, the Ferrer Palace, the former lyceum and the Parque José Martí, with its elegant Tomas Terry theatre and Casino.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Urban Historic Centre of Cienfuegos

Santa Clara

The historic university town of Santa Clara was the site of the last major battle of the Cuban Revolution in December 1958. Che Guevara and his small band of soldiers attacked a heavily armoured train carrying arms to Santiago and defeated the numerically superior government troops. The defeat led to Batista fleeing the country, paving the way for Castro and Guevara to enter Havana. Today the Revolutionary Plaza contains the imposing Che Guevara Monument, the mausoleum for the revolutionary and his comrades who died in Bolivia. The Armoured Train Museum tells the story of the fateful final battle.

Trinidad

The historic colonial town of Trinidad is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric in Cuba, a must see on any trip to the island. Founded in 1514, it was the third Spanish settlement in Cuba and became one of the bridgeheads for the conquest of the American continent. In the 18th and 19th century, the town prospered with the sugar plantations in the nearby Valley de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills). Today, the town seems little changed from these colonial times and is a joy to wander its cobblestoned streets, admiring pastel coloured houses, old Chevrolets and impressive church buildings. The bell tower of the Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra Bandidos offers great views of the town and surrounding countryside. Around the central Plaza Mayor lies the Santisma Trinidad Church and several museums set in old colonial buildings. In the evenings the Casa de la Trova offers traditional Cuban music and dance. The surrounding region offers the chance for hiking, horse riding, visiting an old sugar plantation or relaxing on the sands of Playa Ancon.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios

Located close to the town of Trinidad, the Sierra del Escambray mountains are an area of beautiful natural landscapes with good opportunities for hiking. Highlights in the region include Embalse Habanabanilla, Cuba’s highest lake, the Salto de Rocio waterfall and the Guayanara River valley, as well as walking through farmland, local villages and pine forests.

Viñales Valley

The Viñales Valley in the Piñar del Rio province west of Havana is one of the most beautiful areas in Cuba. The valley is dominated by spectacular mogotes - karst-like conical towers of limestone up to 300 metres high formed by millions of years of wind and water erosion. Interspersed amongst these are the lush green fields of tobacco and sugar cane that form an important part of Cuba's economy. Traditional agricultural techniques are still used to maintain the best quality tobacco for Cuba's famous cigars. The valley is ideal for exploration by foot of its natural and cultural uniqueness.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Viñales Valley

Cayo Levisa

Cayo Levisa is a small coral island off the north-west coast of Cuba. Renowned for its fishing, white sandy beaches and snorkelling in its coral waters, the island is a nice spot to relax after exploring the country, away from the tourist masses at the larger beach resorts.

Located on the western tip of Cuba in the forest-covered Parque Nacional Guanahacabibes, Maria la Gorda is a remote beach resort which offers excellent opportunities for diving and snorkelling with many species of coral and tropical fish. Nature treks through the forest offer the chance to see the many species that live in this biosphere reserve while turtles can be seen on the beaches between May and September.

Camagüey

One of the first Spanish settlements in Cuba, Camagüey was founded in 1528. Known as the 'City of Churches' due to the high number of religious buildings, Camagüey developed and irregular urban plan of winding streets and alleys and irregular blocks of buildings, unusual for a Latin American colonial town based on flat land. The town centre has numerous architectural styles including neoclassical, neo-colonial, Art Deco, Art Nouveau and rationalism. Attractions in the town include the bustling farmer's market and the house of Ignacio Agramonte, the cattle rancher who led a revolt against the Spanish in the late 1860s, while all around the town you will notice tinajones - large, earthenware jugs which used to store water during drought periods.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Historic Centre of Camagüey

Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra

The Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra is a spectacular national park found amongst the Sierra Maestra Mountains, Cuba's largest range, which is famous as the base for Cuba's Revolutionaries in the 1950s. Comandancia de la Plata, the secret hideout of Castro and Guevara and base of Radio Rebelde which fed information to the revolutionaries, lies high in the mountains in lush jungle landscape and can be reached by a 3km hike from El Alto de Naranjo. The site includes a small museum, field kitchen and the command centre from where Castro planned the revolution and its aftermath. The park contains tow of Cuba's highest peaks, Pico Turquino (1972m) and Pico Cuba (1872m), which offer spectacular views of the region from their summits.

Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba is the country's second city, located on the east of the island. Founded in 1514 it served as Cuba's capital until it was abandoned in 1553 when the capital was moved to Havana. Further settlement by the French and African slaves gave the city a unique cultural mix that make it one of the most interesting places in Cuba. Santiago is the centre of Cuban music and its bars and nightlife are legendary. The city has been the epicentre of revolution for centuries and it was here in 1953 that Fidel Castro and his followers attacked the Moncada Barracks, a disastrous assault but one which kick-started the revolution. Six years later on January 1st, 1959, Castro returned to Santiago to proclaim the success of the revolution. The Plaza de la Revolucion has a monument to the Independence heroes while the impressive Santa Ifigenia cemetery contains the grave of independence hero Jose Marti. Outside of town the Castillo del Morro fort is one of the best preserved in Cuba and commands excellent views over the harbour and the Sierra Maestra Mountains.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba

Baracoa was the site of the first Spanish settlement in 1512 and Christopher Columbus himself arrived here 20 years previously. Located on the easternmost tip of Cuba, Baracoa is a quaint, sleepy town surrounded by tropical mountainous jungle. It's a great spot to relax after travelling through the country and to explore the surrounding mountains and learn about life in this remote part of Cuba. A hike to the summit of El Yunque (575m), the anvil-shaped mountain mentioned by Columbus in his diaries, will take you through coffee, banana and cocoa plantations as well as thick forest with numerous bird, reptile and butterfly species.

Desembarco del Granma National Park is situated in and around Cabo Cruz in south-east Cuba. It contains the world's largest and best preserved systems of marine terraces above and below water as well as coral reef, seagrass beds and mangroves. Its unique ecosystem is home to a large and diverse number of plant and animal species, including over 500 plant species of which 60% are endemic.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Desembarco del Granma National Park

The coffee plantations of the 19th and early 20th century in south-east Cuba highlight the traditional agricultural techniques in the rugged slopes of the Sierra Maestra and shed light on the economic and social history of the Caribbean and Latin American region.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the South-East of Cuba

Alejandro de Humboldt National Park in eastern Cuba is one of the most biologically diverse tropical island sites on earth where complex geology and varied topography have resulted in a huge number of endemic plant species.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Alejandro de Humboldt National Park