Attractions Nearby Cienfuegos, Day Trips and Excursions

(Cienfuegos, Cuba)

Getting hold of an old car and taking to the Cuban highways is one of the quintessential experiences of the place. There are several appealing attractions within reach of Cienfuegos that you can take in, from beaches and nature parks to ancient towns.

The Playa Rancho Luna is one for beach lovers. This leading resort is a short drive south of Cienfuegos and is the best beach in the area, while also down this way is the Delfinario dolphin attraction and Jagua Castle (Castillo de Jagua). Further south again is the beautiful Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes. Of note, both Trinidad and Santa Clara are popular nearby towns within easy driving distance.

Delfinario (Dolphin Centre / Dolphin Park)

Address: Rancho Luna, Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 0432 548 120
The Delfinario is one of the must-see nearby attractions for those with kids. Located approximately 20 minutes to the south of Cienfuegos and at the Rancho Luna resort, the Delfinario ranks amongst Cuba's best and resides on the coast, where it puts on dolphin shows daily. Performances take place at 10:00 and 14:00, and include a dance contest and kisses with the dolphins. Visitors can also swim with the dolphins for an additional charge. There are sea lions here as well, and a restaurant with hefty prices indicative of this type of extremely popular tourist attraction. Of note, the Castillo de Jagua is also nearby.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discount for children

Topes de Collantes National Park (Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes)

Address: El Nicho, Cuba, CU
Tel: +53 0432 540 330
This stunning nature park, a few kilometres to the south-east of Cienfuegos, is known for its jungle, mountains and waterfalls. The Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes makes a good escape from the city on hot days, with the Parque Altiplano being its most interesting facet and having the best facilities. The highest mountain is the Pico de San Juan (at 1,150 metres / 3,770 feet) and this can be hiked, while the Salto de Caburni Falls are particularly beautiful. There are separate charges for different parts of the park.
Open hours: 07:30 to 19:30 - daily
Admission: charge

Trinidad de Cuba

Not to be confused with the island in the West Indies, Trinidad, of Cuba, is within reach of Cienfuegos and lies approximately 70 km / 43 miles to the south-east. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has a beautiful central square, the Plaza Mayor, and many old abodes to admire. Trinidad is packed with Spanish colonial character and contains a number of museums, churches and characterful buildings. The Casa de la Musica is one of the town's top attractions, offering live music and dancing, while nearby are the waterfalls and hiking trails of Topes de Collantes.

Santa Clara

Santa Clara is a fun town to visit and is a little more than an hour to the north-east of Cienfuegos. The resting place of Che Guevara is the big draw card in Santa Clara and this attraction comes with a fascinating mausoleum and museum devoted to this revolutionary, along with monuments and statues galore. The Plaza de la Revolucion has a large statue of Che, while cantinas and cafés line part of Main Street.

Caribbean Coast

Address: Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
As you head towards Trinidad, you can enjoy some stunning panoramas of the neighbouring Escambray Mountains and the surrounding countryside. Many coral reefs lie just a short distance from the coastline and offer endless possibilities for scuba diving. There are innumerable attractions dotted along this Caribbean coast, such as the Palmares restaurant at the Hacienda La Vega, and the Cueva Martin Infierno caves, which are said to contain the tallest stalagmite on the planet. You may like to consider staying at the Villa Guajimico, where guests have a choice of beachfront bungalows. This is the ideal place to base yourself if you enjoy countryside treks and scuba diving.

Botanic Garden (Jardin Botanico de Cienfuegos)

Address: Cienfuegos, Cuba, CU
The Jardin Botanico de Cienfuegos is situated approximately 16 km / 10 miles to the east of the city and is amongst the largest botanical gardens in the whole of Cuba. Home to in excess of 2000 plant species and an extensive collection of palms, as well as a large number of different bamboos, the gardens were established at the beginning of the 20th century and are best reached by either taxi or rental car.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Jagua Fortress / Castle (Castillo de Jagua / Nuestra Senora de los Angeles de Jagua)

Address: Jagua, Cuba, CU
The Jagua Fortress is officially named the Castillo de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles de Jagua and is near to the city, being completed in 1745 and therefore almost 75 years older than the city itself. Lying across the lagoon in Jagua and located on the western side of the Bahia de Cienfuegos, this important castle fortress once served as Cuba's number three, after the forts of Havana and Santiago de Cuba, and was built to protect to coastline against both British attacks and the threat of marauding pirates. The castle is today home to a small museum, which displays many intriguing facets of this fortress, such as ancient cannons and information about the military architecture. Ferries head to the castle each day and depart from a dock situated next to the Hotel Pasacaballo.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 16:00
Admission: free