Project Description
Cuba’s cultural capital and the city of passion
Santiago de Cuba has been the second most important city historically after Havana, and still remains the second largest. It is in the southeastern area of the island and is an important sea port on a bay connected to the Caribbean Sea.
Founded by the Spanish in 1515, it’s known for colonial architecture and revolutionary history.
The city has distinctive Afro-Cuban cultural influences situated closer to Haiti and the Dominican Republic than to Havana, and those culture are on display during July’s Carnaval, a festival with drum-beating parades featuring colorful costumes and son dancing, a precursor to salsa.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s ashes are also buried at Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in this city.
How to get to Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba lies in the southeastern area of the island. The city has developed at the foot of the bay and is surrounded on land by the Sierra Maestra, the highest mountain range in Cuba.
・From Havana, 12 hours by car (about 890km)
・From Havana, 1 hour and 30 minutes by airplane.
Airplane: 1 round flight per day, 4 times per week
You may rent a car, but renting car is not as easy as you think. It may necessary to book several weeks or months before your trip via online.
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