1 Explore the Colonial City of Camagüey
This city is located in central Cuba and is the third largest in the country. It is one of the first villages founded by the Spanish and was a prominent center of cattle breeding and sugar. The town developed along an irregular pattern of large and small squares, winding streets, and irregular city blocks, which was unusual for a Latin American colonial town. The city’s historic center displays excellent examples of urban settlement isolated from major trade routes. Its architecture reflects a number of styles, including neoclassical, art deco, neo-colonial and art nouveau.
2 Visit Che Guevara’s Mausoleum
On a hill overlooking the city of Santa Clara is a 22-foot-high bronze statue of Che Guevara. The city was the site of the last battle of the Cuban Revolution, and it is known as the “City of Che.” The government began to construct a memorial to Che in 1982, which was officially opened in 1988. It comprised the statue, a museum about his life, and a large parade ground. It did not include the mausoleum, however, as Che was executed in Bolivia in 1967 for leading a failed insurgency against the government. His body was dumped into an unmarked mass grave until it was rediscovered in 1997. His remains and those of six others found with him were returned to Cuba with military honors in October 1997. Visitors may not bring personal effects into the memorial complex, which includes a museum housing Che Guevara’s gun, binoculars, water bottle, medical certificates, and photos of the man smoking cigars and playing golf. The site also features an eternal flame that was lit in memory of Che by Fidel Castro
3 Take a Tour of the Bay of Pigs Museum.
This museum tells the story of the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion. It is located in Playa Giron. It includes displays of military equipment and photographs of the men involved in the fighting here. On a road leading to the site, there are small monuments to those who died defending from the attack. It is possible to find a guide to show the headquarters from which Fidel Castro directed his forces. The museum offers an interpretation of the incident from the Cuban perspective and provides information about a turbulent time in the country’s history.
4 See the Archaeological Museum in Banes
This museum is home to the only known gold figurine created by aboriginals in Cuba. Near the town are aboriginal burial grounds at a place called Chorro de Maita. The remains of a European were found here as well. A reproduction of a village that predated the arrival of Columbus offers an intriguing view into the distant past. The region around the city of Banes is rich in aboriginal history and forms part of the lands of the Araucos, who were neighbors of the Tainos. The city experienced a “golden age” during the 1920s due to the booming sugar industry and became home to many cultural and educational institutions.
5 Enjoy Natural Wonders at Ciénaga de Zapata National Park
Ciénaga de Zapata National Park is a region of multiple ecosystems ranging from mangrove forest to beds of seagrass to coral reef barriers to the Cazones Gulf, an underwater canyon area that is home to groupers and porgies. This region was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2001 and is one of the wildest and least inhabited areas in the Caribbean. It is a great birdwatching zone where the Tocororo, Cuban’s national bird can be found, along with the Cuban Pygmy Owl and the Cuban parrot.
