ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½

These are the best places to travel this summer

±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

Shop

Get even more with a ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ guide.

Getty Images

Plan your trip with Guide, an AI travel planner!

Create a personalized trip itinerary in seconds using artificial intelligence.

Overview

The nation’s fourth-largest city serves up authentic provincial Cuba without the wrapping paper. Though the city of San Isidoro de ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô barely features in Cuba’s tourist master plan, there’s magic and mystery here for a certain type of traveler. There's an overabundance of shiny vintage Chevys, plazas filled with uniformed school children sharing wi-fi and interactions not marred by rushing or selling. Use it as a window to life in the interior: from the religious solemnity of the annual procession climbing Loma de la Cruz to the exuberant cheers pouring forth from the oversized baseball stadium.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Loma de la Cruz or Hill of the Cross in Holguin, capital city of the province of Holguin, Cuba.

    Loma de la Cruz

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

    At the northern end of Maceo, a stairway built in 1950 ascends 465 steps to top a hill (275m) with panoramic views, a restaurant and a 24-hour bar. It's a…

  • Museo de Historia Provincial

    Museo de Historia Provincial

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

    Now a national monument, the building on the northern side of Parque Calixto García was constructed between 1860 and 1868 and was used as a Spanish army…

  • Catedral de San Isidoro

    Catedral de San Isidoro

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

    Dazzling white and characterized by its twin domed towers, the Catedral de San Isidoro, one of the town’s original constructions, dates from 1720. Added…

  • Parque Calixto García

    Parque Calixto García

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

    This wide, expansive square is more about atmosphere than architecture. It was laid out in 1719 as the original Plaza de Armas and served for many years…

  • Parque San José

    Parque San José

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô's youngest park is also its shadiest, dominated by the Iglesia de San José. The cobbled central square is also known as Parque Céspedes, named for…

  • Mirador de Mayabe

    Mirador de Mayabe

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

    The Mirador de Mayabe is a motel-cum-restaurant high on a hill, 10km from ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô city. It has great views of the lowlands spread out below and gained…

  • Casa Natal de Calixto García

    Casa Natal de Calixto García

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

    To learn more about the militaristic deeds of ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô's local hero, head to this house situated two blocks east of the namesake park. The hugely…

  • Plaza de la Revolución

    Plaza de la Revolución

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô

    ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô is a city most fiel (faithful) and its bombastic revolutionary plaza, east of the center, is a huge monument to the heroes of Cuban independence,…

Get a book. Get inspired. Get exploring.

  • $28.99 USD

  • $14.99 USD

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in ±á´Ç±ô²µ³Üí²Ô