CIENFUEGOS, CUBA
Cienfuegos, which translates to “100 Fires”, is a quiet, coastal town often referred to as the “Pearl of the South”. Known for its French colonial architecture, Cienfuegos is often erroneously thought to be named after Cuban revolutionary, Camilo Cienfuegos. In fact, the city got its name long before he was born; it is named after José Cienfuegos - Captain General of Cuba in the early 1800s. Travelers often stop here on their way to Trinidad looking to experience some Caribbean serenity!
Attractions:
Historic Centre of Cienfuegos: This UNESCO Heritage certified part of town is a beautiful place for a stroll. Four spots to check out in the area are: Parque José Martí, Catedral de Cienfuegos, Arco de Triunfo, and Cementerio La Reina.
Topes de Collantes: Located between Cienfuegos and Trinidad, this nature reserve is made up of five parks (El Nicho, El Cubano, Altiplano, Codina, and Guanayara). If you only have time to visit one of the five from Cienfuegos, go with Parque El Nicho. It is a 90-minute colectivo ride from town and is known for its beautiful natural pools and waterfalls. The most popular trail to hike here is called “El Reino de los Aguas”; it is a 1-mile loop and should take no longer than an hour even if you stop to take a lot of photos. There are two ways to get here. The first is to see it on your way to Trinidad - which is my recommendation. For 20 CUC, a colectivo will take you from Cienfuegos to Parque El Nicho, wait for two hours as you explore, and then continue on to Trinidad. The second costs the same but takes you back to Cienfuegos. The park is open from 8:00am-5:00pm and has a 10 CUC entrance fee.
Catch a Sunset at Punta Gorda: If you walk 30-45 minutes south along Paseo El Prado (or Malecón de Cienfuegos), you will reach the Punta Gorda neighborhood. Visit before dusk to ensure you catch the sunset among the beach-side homes. If you want a drink, Club Cienfuegos has a perfect view of the water. If Punta Gorda is too far, you can also watch the sunset right in town at Muelle Real. The “Royal Dock” formally accepted cruise ships from all over the world but is no longer in service. Here, there are many benches to enjoy the view.
Playa Rancho Luna: A 25-minute colectivo ride is all that separates Cienfuegos from the Caribbean Sea! For 20 CUC, you will be driven from town center to this white sand beach. The area is very low-key and is a nice place to spend a few hours.
Jagua Castle: To get here, you’ll need to take an hour ferry from Muelle de la Patana. Be prepared for the ferry to be crowded though as it’s a form of public transportation for locals. You’ll only need an hour to explore the castle; entrance costs 1 CUC.
Other spots to check out include: Palacio de Gobierno, Laguna Guanaroca, Jardín Botánico de Cienfuegos, and Tomas Terry Theatre.
Accommodation:
Economico - Centrico y Cubano: This casa particular has the feel of a hostel with dance classes (salsa and merengue), a spacious main area, and Spanish lessons. It is centrally located (10-15 minutes from town center and the bus station) with Wi-Fi, home-cooked meals, and laundry. Through the front desk, you can also book day-trips to local attractions.
Transportation:
The Cienfuegos Bus Station is 15 minutes on foot from town center. At this bus station, you can find colectivos heading to Trinidad, Havana, Viñales, Varadero, etc. The prices I list below can be bartered especially if you are traveling in a group and can fill up the entire vehicle. If you would rather be picked up from where you are staying, colectivos can be booked through your casa particular as well.
Trinidad is 1.5 hours by bus from Cienfuegos and costs 12 CUC; buses leave four times daily at 11:45am, 12:05pm, 4:00pm, and 5:20pm. The colectivo ride is 1.5 hours and costs 15-20 CUC.
Havana is 5 hours by bus from Cienfuegos and costs 20 CUC; buses leave twice daily at 10:15am and 11:15am. The colectivo ride is 3 hours and costs 25-30 CUC.
Varadero is 5 hours by bus from Cienfuegos and costs 20 CUC; buses leave twice daily at 8:30am and 4:00pm. The colectivo ride is 3 hours and costs 25-30 CUC.
Viñales is 8-9 hours by bus from Cienfuegos (indirect; via Havana) and costs 32 CUC. Unfortunately, the bus route requires spending a night in Havana because of how the bus schedules are laid out. The earliest bus from Cienfuegos to Havana leaves at 10:15am and doesn’t arrive until 3:15pm while the latest bus from Havana to Viñales leaves at 2:00pm; therein lies the problem. For this reason, I recommend taking a colectivo if you plan to make this journey. The colectivo ride is 5.5 hours and costs 35-40 CUC.
I would not recommend this but you could also take the bus from Cienfuegos to Havana (5 hours; 20 CUC) and then take a colectivo from Havana to Viñales (2 hours; 20-25 CUC). The full journey would be 7 hours and cost 40-45 CUC which is longer and more expensive than the direct colectivo.
Santiago de Cuba is 15-17 hours by bus from Cienfuegos (indirect; via Santa Clara) and costs 53 CUC. The first bus from Cienfuegos to Santa Clara is 1.5 hours and costs 8 CUC; buses leaves once daily at 4:00pm. The second bus from Santa Clara to Santiago de Cuba is 12.5 hours and costs 45 CUC; buses leave three times daily at 1:45am, 9:50am, and 7:00pm. This route is too lengthy for colectivos.
Santiago de Cuba is easier to reach from Trinidad; a 13-hour bus leaves daily at 8:00am and costs 33 CUC.
Jaime González Airport (CFG) is 10km (6 miles) from the city center and accessible via taxi; there is no public bus.
Taxi: The ride is 20 minutes and costs 5-10 CUC. Be sure to agree on a price before you leave the airport.
Thank you, Elisa, for the terrific shot at Topes de Collantes! And thank you, Ohia, for sharing your photos with me!