Cienfuegos

A French-influenced bay city on Cuba's southern coast, featuring a neoclassical old town listed as a World Heritage Site, known as the Pearl of the South.

Cienfuegos is located on a natural deep-water bay in south-central Cuba. Founded in part by French immigrants in the early 19th century, the city features an orderly grid layout, and its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around José Martí Park, you will find the Tomás Terry Theatre, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, and the Palacio de Ferrer, while the Moorish-style Palacio de Valle stands on the Punta Gorda peninsula. Outside the city, you can take a boat to the Jagua Fortress, or visit Rancho Luna Beach and the Guanaroca Lagoon. The dry season from November to April is the best time to visit, with most travelers arriving by road from Havana or Trinidad.

Destinations

• Cienfuegos

Itineraries

• Classic Western & Central Cuba – A loop from Havana covering the valley, Bay of Pigs, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, and Santa Clara.
• Havana, Central Colonial Towns & Varadero – Travel from Havana through three central towns, ending with the beaches of Varadero.