Cienfuegos and Santiago De Cuba excursions

[QueenoftheWorld]

We (my husband and myself) used Trinidad Sightseeing  for our private Trinidad tour.  We arrived in Cienfuegos on Azamara Journey Jan. 2019.  Our driver and guide, Sevia (hope I got your name right!) were waiting for us right outside the cruise port gate.  We had a very interesting trip to Trinidad.  The scenery is lovely, and Sevia was full of information.  She is a young married woman with a small child, and we found it very interesting to learn all about what her family life is like.  She was well-educated, very good English, and overall quite pleasant.   We went to a former sugar mill and saw ruins of slave quarters, a sugar plantation, a second stop at another plantation house, a  walking tour of Trinidad, a great lunch, more walking, and then a nice ride back to Cienfuegos.  An excellent full day tour.

[Cienfuegos]

For many people, a tour in Cienfuegos should include the Tomas Terry Theater on the main square. It is on one side of the Jose Marti Park in the city center.  And the  Palacio de Valle, out on the Malecon.  Many tours include both remnants of the age of Cuban wealth, with exceptional woodworking and architecture.  The Malecon drive contains many lovely homes on the waterfront,  brightly painted and very clean.

 

A walk from the cruise ship dock to the Parque Marti in the town center will take about 15 minutes. One street has been converted to pedestrian use, with craft makers carts in the street. I don't know if that's a cruise ship day event, or a regular practice.

 

(I took a long walk into neighborhoods that tourists rarely see.  People were generally friendly, I didn't feel unsafe at any time.  Saw a number of older schools, closed churches, and many old but un-restored vehicles. In general, these areas are working class and densely packed.  The early 1900s architecture was stunning.  Some buildings have been restored and painted, most have not.)

 

[pbenjamin]

The street with the crafts is Santa Isabel, starting at the southeast corner of Parque Jose Martí.  Definitely recommended.  Teatro Tomás Terry is on the north side of the park.  Note that the theatre is not air conditioned and can be somewhat stifling if it is a hot day.

[denirose]

On 5/19/2018 at 8:49 PM, Cali girl said:

Following this thread for a March 2019 cruise.

Which cruise are you doing?