SUNNY AND SLOWER-PACED, CUBA’S SOUTHERN COAST IS A RICH SLICE OF COLONIAL HISTORY.
Squeeze sugar cane. Filter juice through crushed ice. Swirl in fresh lemon juice. And enjoy guarapo, the classic Cuban beverage that tastes best when sipped in a slice of shade overlooking the bay in Cienfuegos. A guarapo is a great way to launch a visit to Cuba’s Caribbean coast and a helpful reminder of the role that sugar played in local history. Enjoy that natural jolt of energy as you explore this in a region of Cuba that couldn’t be more different than Havana.
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos contradicts what you think you know about the Spanish colonial history of Cuba. Founded in 1819, this city was settled by immigrants from France and Louisiana. Even today, the pastel city wears traces of Paris and New Orleans on its sleeve. The historic town center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it’s an incomparable place for strolling. While here, you’re almost always in earshot of a street music performance, and it takes minimal persuasion to enjoy a private concert from one of the city’s choral groups.
Travel Through Time in Trinidad
Down the coast, 500-year-old Trinidad is as close to time travel as you’re likely to come. As if it were still 1850, farmers trek into town via donkey cart and horseback. Bread-makers bike through the early-morning streets, ferrying warm loaves to housewives. Find a sweep of stairs or a café to sit for a while, then go for a walk amid vivid mansions and ornate public buildings built by vast sugar fortunes. For balance, head out of town into the beautiful country, specifically the slopes of the lush Escambray Mountains past coffee plantations and a waterfall. Feel free to stop and cool off in the clear waters, as pictured above on tour. For country hospitality, you can’t top our local friends who welcome you with lunch waiting on the patio when your walk ends.
Soak Up The Cuban Coast
Because you’ll be in the neighborhood, make time for the beach at the infamous Bay of Pigs. A small museum commemorates the Cuban victory, but these days the real attraction is the bay itself. These waters contain what is probably the finest reef habitat in all of Cuba. With a naturalist and a snorkel mask, you can get a remarkable look at striped goatfish, peacock flounder, and a finned kaleidoscope of other species. If you want a well-rounded understanding of Cuba, the calm, colorful and very colonial vibe of the Caribbean coast is an essential part of your trip to the island.
How To See Caribbean Cuba
Join Classic Journeys on our handcrafted 7-day/6-night Cultural Walking Adventure to Cienfuegos, Trinidad & Havana. Our expert local guides will show you all about life on the Caribbean side and introduce you to Cubans from every walk of life. Enjoy chatting with vintage-car restorers in their workshop (and going for a ride in Havana), snorkeling in the Bay of Pigs, meetings with artists, chefs, historians, musicians, and dancers, and much more!
