Must-see attractions in Holguín Province

  • Museo Conjunto Histórico de Birán

    Holguín Province

    Fidel Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926, at the Finca Las Manacas near the village of Birán, south of Cueto. The sprawling ranch, bought by Fidel's…

  • Salto del Guayabo

    Holguín Province

    At just over 100m in height, Guayabo (15km from the Villa Pinares del Mayarí) is considered the highest waterfall in Cuba. There's a spectacular overlook,…

  • Loma de la Cruz or Hill of the Cross in Holguin, capital city of the province of Holguin, Cuba.

    Loma de la Cruz

    Holguín

    At the northern end of Maceo, a stairway built in 1950 ascends 465 steps to top a hill (275m) with panoramic views, a restaurant and a 24-hour bar. It's a…

  • Playa Caletones

    Holguín Province

    A lovely little beach 17km northwest of Gibara, this stretch of white sand and azure sea is a favorite of Holguín vacationers. The town is ramshackle,…

  • Museo de Historia Provincial

    Holguín

    Now a national monument, the building on the northern side of Parque Calixto García was constructed between 1860 and 1868 and was used as a Spanish army…

  • Museo Indocubano Bani

    Holguín Province

    This museum's small but rich collection of indigenous artifacts is one of the best on the island. Don't miss the tiny golden fertility idol unearthed near…

  • Playa de Morales

    Holguín Province

    One day in the not-too-distant future (after it's been Cancun-ized), we'll all wax nostalgic about this precious strip of sand situated 13km east of Banes…

  • Museo Chorro de Maita

    Holguín Province

    This archaeological-site-based museum protects the remains of an excavated indigenous village and cemetery, including the well-preserved remains of 62…

  • Catedral de San Isidoro

    Holguín

    Dazzling white and characterized by its twin domed towers, the Catedral de San Isidoro, one of the town’s original constructions, dates from 1720. Added…

  • Centro de Arte

    Holguín

    In the southwestern corner of Parque Calixto García is this bright gallery, Holguín's best. It shares space with Biblioteca Alex Urquiola.

  • Bioparque Rocazul

    Holguín Province

    Located just off the link road that joins Playa Turquesa with the other Pesquero resorts, this protected park in Parque Natural Cristóbal Colón offers the…

  • Caverna de Panaderos

    Holguín Province

    This complex cave system with 19 galleries and a lengthy underground trail is close to town at the top end of Calle Independencia. Guides are required as…

  • Parque Nacional Monumento Bariay

    Holguín Province

    Ten kilometers west of Playa Pesquero and 3km west of Villa Don Lino is Playa Blanca. Columbus landed somewhere near here in 1492. The meeting of two…

  • Parque San José

    Holguín

    Holguín's youngest park is also its shadiest, dominated by the Iglesia de San José. The cobbled central square is also known as Parque Céspedes, named for…

  • El Cañonazo

    Holguín Province

    There's nothing else quite like this in Cuba. Known as the patriot, Miguel Flores has a quirky collection of homemade satire memorabilia featuring the…

  • Fábrica de Órganos

    Holguín

    Visitors can tour the only mechanical music-organ factory in Cuba. This small factory produces about six organs a year, as well as guitars and other…

  • Parque Peralta

    Holguín

    This square is named for General Julio Grave de Peralta (1834–72), who led an uprising against Spain from Holguín in October 1868. His marble statue (1916…

  • Playa Blanca

    Holguín Province

    Across the bay from Gibara, this small sandy beach begs for bathers. From the Gibara dock, take a local lancha (open boat ferry; CUC$2) across Bahía de…

  • Plaza de la Marqueta

    Holguín

    Laid out in 1848, rebuilt in 1918 and renovated only recently, this gleaming square is dominated by bronze busts and an impressive covered marketplace…

  • Aldea Taína

    Holguín Province

    The reconstructed Aldea Taína features life-size models of traditional dwellings and inhabitants in a replicated indigenous village with limited…

  • Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad

    Holguín Province

    On October 12, 1948, Fidel Castro Ruz and Birta Díaz Balart were married in this unusual art deco church in the center of Banes. After their divorce in…

  • Steam Locomotive 964

    Holguín Province

    Railway enthusiasts shouldn't miss this old steamer built at the HK Porter Locomotive Works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1888, now on display 400m east…

  • Parque Calixto García

    Holguín Province

    A central plaza lined with weird robles africanos, African oaks with large pods. The Statue of Liberty in front commemorates the Spanish–Cuban–American…

  • Iglesia de San Fulgencio

    Holguín Province

    Built in 1850, this church still gleams from its last renovation. Twin cupolas face Parque Calixto García, and its hushed stately interior is worth a peek.

  • Farallones de Seboruco

    Holguín Province

    Speleologists may want to ask about trips to these ghostly caves, designated a national monument, which contain aboriginal cave paintings.

  • Salto de Capiro

    Holguín Province

    A short 2km trail from Villa Pinares del Mayarí brings you to this hidden waterfall in lush forest.

  • Parque Calixto García

    Holguín

    This wide, expansive square is more about atmosphere than architecture. It was laid out in 1719 as the original Plaza de Armas and served for many years…

  • Mirador de Mayabe

    Holguín

    The Mirador de Mayabe is a motel-cum-restaurant high on a hill, 10km from Holguín city. It has great views of the lowlands spread out below and gained…

  • Casa Natal de Calixto García

    Holguín

    To learn more about the militaristic deeds of Holguín's local hero, head to this house situated two blocks east of the namesake park. The hugely…

  • Plaza de la Revolución

    Holguín

    Holguín is a city most fiel (faithful) and its bombastic revolutionary plaza, east of the center, is a huge monument to the heroes of Cuban independence,…

  • Museo de Historia Natural

    Holguín

    You'll find more stuffed animals here than in a New York toy store – everything from the world's smallest frog to the world's tiniest hummingbird. There's…

  • Spanish Fort

    Holguín Province

    At the top of Calle Cabada, this crumbling brick Spanish fort with graceful arches provides stunning town and bay views. Continue on this street for 200m…

  • Biblioteca Alex Urquiola

    Holguín

    In the southwestern corner of Parque Calixto García is the Biblioteca Alex Urquiola, named after a local revolutionary and housing Holguín’s biggest book…

  • Tomb of Calixto García

    Holguín

    The tomb of Calixto García, containing his ashes, is in Holguín's Plaza de la Revolución, as is as a smaller monument to García's mother.

  • Iglesia de San José

    Holguín

    The Iglesia de San José features a distinctive dome with a bell tower (1842), once used by the Independistas as a lookout.

  • Galería Holguín

    Holguín

    Situated in a colonial building, the Galería Holguín displays a revolving cache of good local art.

  • Museo de Historia Natural

    Holguín Province

    Housed in a worn colonial palace (more interesting than the stuffed stuff it collects) is the Museo de Historia Natural. Through barred windows you can…