Santiago De Cuba, Cuba
Santiago de Cuba may not be as big as Havana but visitors to the island’s second largest city say it rivals the Cuban capital for history, art and culture, and the Eye Witness Guide goes so far as to call it the most passionate city in Cuba.
Tourists on sun vacations are at the area’s all-inclusive resorts are missing something if they don’t do a little exploring, catch a show or take in a baseball game (from January to March). The resorts are about an hour away from the city.
Sandwiched between the Sierra Maestra Mountains and the sea, this historic city of 400,000 is older than Havana and has a picturesque setting on cliffs above the Caribbean. Better yet, most of the colonial buildings and historic sites of its bustling centre are not obscured by some of the unattractive 1950s American buildings visitors see in the capital.
Music lovers will love the city and Tropicana Santiago, styled after the original show in Havana, is every bit as good as and costs less to see.
It’s things like that which make Santiago de Cuba a good choice for people looking to combine a sun holiday with some exploring.
The area is not well known for its beaches, but this cliff-side destination offers great scuba diving and can be a starting point for hiking, biking and some ecological tours of terrific value.
Many of the visitors are lured by the relatively low prices of accommodations and resorts but we seldom recommend Santiago de Cuba unless you are a scuba diver or a budget-conscious traveler interested in some urban Cuban culture.
| Santiago De Cuba Quick Facts |
| Airport Name - | Santiago de Cuba - SCU |
| Distance - Airport to Town - | 15 |
| Possible Hurricanes - | June to October |
| Wetter Season - | May - November |
| Geography - | Fertile, pine & mahogany forest |
| Spectator Sports - | None |
| Museums & Galleries - | None |
| Duty Free Shopping - | None |
| Local Crafts & Souvenirs - | Limited |
| Beaches - | Fair |
| Casinos - | None |
| Golf - | None |
| Bars & Nightclubs - | Limited to Hotels |
| Restaurant Choice - | Strictly limited to hotels |
| Watersports - | Limited to Hotel |
| Self Drive - | Right-hand drive - available |
| Sightseeing & Excursions - | Limited |
| Scuba Diving - | Good |
| Credit Card Acceptance - | Generally accepted in tourist areas - American Express NOT accep |
| ATM Availability - | None |
| Hotel Packages Available - | 11 |
| Water Quality - | Bottled water recommended for drinking and brushing teeth |
| Time Zone - | Eastern |
| Departure Taxes & Fees - | Approx 30CAD in Local Currency |
