| During the last two decades, the city of Santiago de | | | | spanning different categories and levels of comfort |
| Cuba has developed the necessary infrastructure to | | | | suitable for different tastes. |
| foster the tourism of events and congresses, and | | | | Besides the important and unique Festival of the |
| ecotourism, the city being favored by a mountainous | | | | Caribbean (Festival del Caribe), always held on the first |
| and seaworthy environment allowing hiking, nautical | | | | week of July, there are other remarkable cultural |
| activities, cruising, and health tourism. | | | | activities such as the Aquatic Carnival (Carnaval |
| Santiago is a city to be strolled (carrying enough water, | | | | Acuatico) and the so famous Santiago Carnivals |
| and protecting yourself from the harsh sun rays). Its | | | | (Carnavales Santiagueros). This popular celebration is |
| rolling and narrow streets are full of history and music | | | | included within the three most ancient cultural events |
| and almost every piece of land has some story to tell. | | | | of the island. Particularly, the "Conga santiaguera" is an |
| Particular sites of interest are the Santa Ifigenia | | | | unforgettable show, either when it bustles along |
| cemetery, the Historic Mueseum 26 de Julio (former | | | | Trocha street or Enramada street. In Santiago, you |
| Moncada Barracks), and the Granjita Siboney. These | | | | can visit the Museum of the Carnival, featuring the |
| all are places indissolubly and absolutely linked to the | | | | history and most fascinating objects of these |
| history of Cuba. Santiago also treasures the first | | | | celebrations. |
| open-sky copper mine in the American continent (El | | | | For history lovers, in Santiago you'll find the traces of |
| Cobre) and the first museum in the country (Emilio | | | | numerous Cuban figures born in this land from the poet |
| Bacardí). The Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca (El | | | | Jose María Heredia, to the rebel warrior Antonio |
| Morro), the Basílica del Cobre (where tribute is paid | | | | Maceo (their birthplaces are now both themed |
| to the Virgin of the Charity of Copper (Virgen de la | | | | museums). Other places of significant historic |
| Caridad del Cobre, Patron Saint of Cuba), Cayo | | | | importance are: the Plaza de Marte (whose column of |
| Granma in the center of the Bay, and the Baconao | | | | 20 meters celebrates the Independence of Cuba in |
| Park (Biosphere Reserve) all make for great | | | | 1902), the Bosque de los Héroes (Heros' Forest) |
| excursions. This latter stretches from the city borders | | | | honoring the Che's guerrilla fighting in Bolivia, and the |
| 50 Km of beaches, lakes, and mountain elevations, | | | | Museum of Secrecy (Museo de la Clandestinidad) |
| among which La Gran Piedra and the ruins of French | | | | featuring the main events of the urban guerrilla of the |
| coffee plantations are highlights. | | | | Movimiento 26 de julio supporting the Rebels in the |
| For those who get to Santiago, there are diverse | | | | Sierra, and the Maritime Promenade (Paseo |
| choices for accommodation in the city and the | | | | Marítimo) bordering the harbor and that constitutes a |
| outskirts, from the classic Hotel Casa Granda to the | | | | conference of the Colonial and Eclectic Cuban |
| comfortable Melia Santiago and the hotels in the beach | | | | architecture. |
| area (Bucanero, Villa Coral and the Sierra Maestra) | | | | |