What to see in Cienfuegos, halfway between Playa Larga and Trinidad

Our time in Cienfuegos was fairly brief, as we had opted to spend just one day there and stay longer in Trinidad or Playa Larga.

Located 228 km southeast of Havana and about 1h15 drive from Playa Larga, the town of Cienfuegos is inscrite in Unesco World Heritage. It’s not one of the highlights of this trip, but it’s considered the one of Cuba’s most beautiful colonial cities. Personally, I found the city lacking in life and bustle, preferring Havana or Trinidad, which have an authentic charm all their own. If you’re passing through, you’ll get a great overview of the city in just one day. With a bit of hindsight and depending on what you want to do, we recommend a maximum of 2 days to discover the major attractions of Cienfuegos and the surrounding area.

What makes this city such a popular stopover for travelers? because Cienfuegos, nicknamed the “Pearl of the South”, is located in the Bay of Jagua and boasts a historic city center. Cienfuegos was founded in 1819 by immigrants from France and Louisiana. When you arrive here, you can still feel the French roots with its 19th-century colonial architecture, quite inspired by French architecture.

WHAT TO SEE IN CIENFUEGOS

__________________

• El Bulevar with its street lined with shops and colorful facades that descends to the Parc José Marti, a pretty colonial square in the heart of Cienfuegos that invites you to relax with its many benches, kiosks and gentle atmosphere. The square is surrounded by the Tomás Terry Theatre, a beautiful colonial building, but also the Musée Provincial and The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

• The Paseo del Prado lined with pretty, colourful houses, and further south, the Malecon and the waterfront for a stroll around the bay, or to meet Cubans who have come to relax here for a beer. The Malecon leads to Punta Gorda, which we couldn’t get to for lack of time, but which would be nice for a swim and a rest.

• Away from the center, the Palacio Azul recognizable by its blue color and transformed today into a hotel and the Palacio del Valle which is now a restaurant.

• If you like exotic plants, the botanical garden located 17km from the town of Cienfuegos has a very good reputation, boasting over 2000 varieties of plants ranging from palms and fig trees to cacti and bamboo. Excursions from the city are available if you don’t have your own transport, or ask for a cab.

• Rancho Luna located 18km from Cienfuegos, is a small seaside resort with a lovely beach. It’s not the most beautiful of course (I prefer the one from Cayos Levisa) but it may be worth it if you want to dive and discover coral reefs.

• El Nicho: we would have liked to stop at el Nicho, a 1-hour drive from Cienfuegos, before heading for Trinidad. This natural park in the Escambray massif boasts a series of magnificent waterfalls and natural pools, but it takes time to discover this magnificent place. We realized it was too late and didn’t have time to spend on this natural site, which is very popular with the locals. Admission costs 10 CUC/p to stay for the day. From Trinidad, El Nicho is really too far and not worth the effort.

• Avoiding scams in Cienfuegos

• As everywhere in Cuba, there are a few scams to avoid. Many touts want to take you to their brother’s or cousin’s restaurant. They take a commission for taking you there, and they’re not necessarily the best restaurants in town!
• When you receive change, check that it’s in CUC and not CUP. Coins and banknotes look alike, but on CUC banknotes there are no portraits, only monuments.
• This scam is often found elsewhere, such as in Trinidad, but many cabs will tell you that your casa no longer exists or that the reservation has been cancelled… obviously they want to take you to someone they know in order to earn a small commission.

Where to sleep?

Where to eat?

Where to have a coffee or a drink?

Please note that Cuba is not a cheap destination and you will need a modest budget to visit the island. If you would like a quote for this destination, please send your request to contact@mademoiselle-voyage.fr. For those who want to go in August, you need to plan ahead. We often start making reservations for our clients in January, as this gives us more choice in terms of casas and allows us to find a car quickly. We invite you to read all our other articles on Cuba:

• Havana: 9 things to do in the capital
• Baracoa, Cuba’s best-kept secret
• The Viñales region and the Cayos Levisa and Jutias
• The practical guide to everything you need to know before travelling to Cuba
• What to see and do in Cienfuegos
• Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of Cuban identity
• Trinidad, the colonial pearl and its waterfalls

Don’t forget to pin the article on Pinterest so you can find it more easily &##x1f5a4;