Valle de la Prehistoria

Santiago de Cuba Province


The oddest in a plethora of bizarre attractions in Parque Baconao, this Cuban Jurassic Park mixes giant Apatosauruses with concrete cavemen and women, no matter that 57 million years separated their existence. Take in the full 11 hectares of this surreal kitsch park with its 200 life-sized concrete dinosaurs built by inmates from a nearby prison.

There is a rather lame natural history museum on-site, as well as a basic Fred Flintstone–style cafe.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Santiago de Cuba Province attractions

1. Museo Nacional de Transporte Terrestre

1.09 MILES

Anywhere besides Cuba, this alfresco car museum 2km east of Valle de la Prehistoria would impress. There's Benny Moré's 1958 Cadillac, the Chevrolet Raúl…

2. Granjita Siboney

4.16 MILES

Had the revolution been unsuccessful, this unassuming red-and-white farmhouse 2km inland from Playa Siboney on the road to Santiago de Cuba would be the…

3. Cafetal La Isabelica

4.76 MILES

The hub of the Unesco World Heritage site bestowed in 2000 upon the First Coffee Plantations in the Southeast of Cuba is this impressive two-story stone…

4. Jardín Botánico Gran Piedra

4.78 MILES

This garden's cool, misty microclimate fosters species of bromeliads, orchids, anthuriums, tree ferns and other subtropical flora you won't encounter in…

5. La Gran Piedra

4.87 MILES

It's worth huffing and puffing the 459 stone steps to the summit of La Gran Piedra at 1234m. The huge rock on top measures 51m long and 25m high and…

6. Comunidad Artística El Verraco

5.82 MILES

This village of painters, ceramicists and sculptors maintains open studios. Here you can visit the artists and buy original works of art. All it lacks is…

7. Jardín de los Helechos

10.48 MILES

This peaceful garden is a lush haven of 350 types of ferns and 90 types of orchids. It's the erstwhile private collection of santiagüero Manuel Caluff,…

8. Loma de San Juan

10.69 MILES

Future American president Teddy Roosevelt forged his reputation on this small hillock where, flanked by the immortal rough riders, he supposedly led a…