Introduction: Cienfuegos Travel Guide
Cienfuegos is small yet remarkable Cuban town located on the Caribbean cost. It displays colourful buildings, wide main streets, and beautiful French architecture.
It was our second stop after Havana and toward Trinidad. It’s a city worth stopping by for a day and get to see a smaller Cuban city.
The city was originally settled by Taino indigenous people but was later resettled by French immigrants from Bordeaux and Louisiana led by Don Louis de Clouet on April 22, 1819. From that on, the settlement successively became a town in 1829, and was renamed after José Cienfuegos, Captain General of Cuba.
Many of the streets in old town reflect French origins in their names.
Table of Contents
Mapping the Cienfuegos Travel Guide
Getting there
Hire a private taxi (American old car) or hop on the ViAzul bus that runs between Havana and Trinidad and stop at Cienfuegos. The journey takes around 4h30min.
Good to know is that there is a train running from time to time from Havana, but trains in Cuba are not reliable and painfully slow. It seems the journey on train would take 10h30min.
Moving Around
The easiest way to move around Cienfuegos is to just walk from one point to another. Taxi are also easily accessible and if you prefer a more traditional way of doing things you can hop on a carriage led by horses. Or even take a Tuk-Tuk back. This would certainly be the best ways to get back to your accommodation after exploring the city.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Cienfuegos is during the dry season running from December to March. At this time, the weather will be warm and dry. Temperature will get from 19°C to 32°C.
The rain season runs from June to October, most people avoid this period as rainfall can happen it a second.
Where to Stay
The best place to stay in Cuba are often the Casa Particulars, to book them you check them out on Airbnb. Another option could be to check out Cuba Booking Room.
If you prefer a hotel you can get in touch directly with:
What to Eat
The best food to try in Cuba are:
- Ropa Vieja: Stew beef
- Arroz con pollo: Rice with chicken
- Frijoles negros Cubanos/Moros y Cristianos: Rice with black beans
- Chiviricos: Fried dough with sugar
- Cerdo asado: Roast Pork
Vegan options:
- Yuca con Mojo: Cassava Manioc with sauce
The best drink to try are:
- Cuba Libre
- Mojito
Things to do in Cienfuegos Travel Guide
Statua de Benny More & Paseo El Prado
Start the day by walking along the Paseo El Prado to discover the main street in Cienfuegos and start admiring the beautiful architecture of the town. Along it, stop at the Benny More Statue, famous for having play music in town.
José Martí Park
From there, head toward the José Marti Park which is the main square in town and where lots of remarkable landmarks are presents (Triumph arc, theatre, cathedral…)
Arco de Triunfo
This memorial honours the thousands of Cubans who fell for the freedom of the Fatherland during the revolution. At the top of the Arc, there is three masts as a symbol of the freedom of emancipation of the island
Teatro Tomas Terry
Declared as a national monument, it is a majestic structure inside and out. It displays Italian influences. The auditorium, in shape of a horseshoe, boasts 950 seats and is decorated with Carrara marble, hand-carved wooden flooring, and a ceiling filled with Classicist-style frescos.
Catedral de la Purisima Concepcion
Also called Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. The building was first opened in 1833 during the Spanish colonization.
Muelle Real
Then, you can walk southward to the peer to admire the Caribbean seas. This place was once a dock where ships coming from the Americas would dock.
Malecón de Cienfuegos
Head south along the Malecón de Cienfuegos to get some more stunning view of the ocean and the city.
Punta Gorda
End your day at the Punta Gorda, the end of Cienguegos and the Malecón. It is a gorgeous place where you can chill for a while and enjoy the beauty of Cuba.
1 Day Itinerary Cienfuegos Travel Guide
This is a 1-day guide, so there is not much itinerary to do. Depending on where you will be staying, you can simply hang around town from one place to another.
For centuries, Cuba’s greatest resource has been its people. – Pico Iyer
