I’m going to Santiago!

More than a verse by Spanish poet Federico García Lorca, this is an invitation to discover one of the most fascinating and authentic cities in the Caribbean. Santiago de Cuba, founded in 1515, is a destination where history, culture and nature intertwine with the soul of its people. As the Cuban region with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Santiago treasures exceptional values that captivate any traveler. 

Santiago is the cradle of revolutions and traditions. Its historic center, with cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, houses jewels such as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and the House of Diego Velázquez, the oldest in Cuba. Nearby, the French Tumba La Caridad de Oriente, declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and the Castle of San Pedro de la Roca, an example of 17th-century military engineering also included on the UNESCO list, watch over the bay.

And if you want to take in the history of the Cuban revolution, you must visit the Moncada Barracks or the Granjita Siboney to take a trip back in time.

The Caribbean nature and culture of this area offer other attractions. Settled between the mountains and the sea, Santiago offers unique landscapes. La Gran Piedra, with its viewpoint at 1,225 meters above sea level, and Baconao Park, a Biosphere Reserve, are attractions for ecotourism lovers. Meanwhile, Santiago’s carnival, the most famous in Cuba, overflows with congas, color and that mixture of African and Spanish rhythms that define its identity. 

The people of Santiago de Cuba carry the Caribbean in their smiles

However, it is the warmth of its people that distinguishes the city over and above the rest. The people of Santiago carry the Caribbean in their smiles, their hospitality is legendary and they go out of their way to greet visitors and narrate their land with pride.

In this creative city, music beats without pause. From a coffee at the Balcón de Velázquez to a get-together at the Casa de la Trova, diverse melodies inspire, impress and invite all to dance. Son, bolero and salsa are the soundtrack of a city that resonates with passion. 

“I will go to Santiago,” for its history,  its people and that magic that only Santiago has. A destination that, as Lorca wrote, is not described… it is experienced. The upcoming celebration to mark the 510th anniversary of its foundation this July 26 would appear to be an excellent opportunity.