The Pearl of the South

Often referred to as the Pearl of the South, the city of Cienfuegos is an attractive, maritime city located on Cuba’s south coast.

Due to its proximity to the far more famous town of Trinidad, Cienfuegos has, at least as far as modern tourism is concerned, been cast somewhat in the bridesmaid role, even though it too is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Originally settled by indigenous Taino tribes, in the colonial era the city of Cienfuegos was distinct from the rest of the country in that it was French immigrants, and not Spanish, who made this their home. This French influence is still evident in many of the city’s buildings as well as its street names.

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At the heart of Cienfuegos, and just a short walk from the beautiful waterfront, is the city’s vast main square, Plaza Jose Marti, lined all four sides by grand civic buildings dating back to the colonial era, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the iconic Teatro Tomas Terry.

A short taxi ride from the city centre is Punta Gorda, a narrow peninsula that juts out into the Bay of Cienfuegos and which was once the city’s most upmarket neighbourhood. Even today, this part of the city is still home to numerous beautiful buildings, including the famous Palacio de Valle & Club Cienfuegos, as well as much of the city’s limited accommodation.

Outside of the city, a 40-minute ferry journey takes ones to the Castillo de Jagua which guards the entrance to the Bay of Cienfuegos. Further out still, and popular day trips from the city, are the dramatic El Nicho waterfalls, Guanaroca Lagoon and  one of the oldest botanical gardens in Cuba.

For ideas as to how one might include Cienfuegos in a holiday to Cuba, please refer to our Itineraries page where there are examples of both small group escorted tours and tailor made ideas such as A Taste of Cuba.