Central Cuba

Introducing Central Cuba

What central Cuba lacks in dramatic scenery it makes up for with a host of gorgeous colonial towns, including the single most-visited place on the island, the utterly lovely Trinidad. While the beauty of Trinidad remains incontestable, there’s also a good choice of far less visited gems in central Cuba such as cultural Santa Clara and gorgeous backwater Remedios.

Of course central Cuba is also home to the mother lode of Cuba’s tourist industry, the megaresort town of Varadero, which, while not covered in this book, is still where approximately half the tourists arriving in Cuba are heading. There are excellent stretches of beaches across the north coast, as well as some good pockets in the south. You’ll also find good hiking in Topes de Collantes and important historic monuments including Che Guevara’s solemn last resting place in Santa Clara. So central Cuba shouldn’t just be seen as a region to get through on the way to Oriente – stop off as much as you can and you’ll be amply rewarded.

By car or bicycle, you have the choice of the Autopista, a multilane highway that makes for fast driving, or the Carretera Central. While the latter is certainly more scenic, the driving can be laborious as you dodge horse carts, goats and tractors. From Havana there are daily Víazul (www.viazul.cu) buses to Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba (stopping in Santa Clara) and Remedios. There’s also a service between Trinidad and Santiago de Cuba.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009