Center, near Parque Cespedes	25 casas
Terrazas de Vista Alegre	11 casas
Reparto Sueño [section in rebuild]
Other casas in town centro.	10 casas

Metropolis of the Oriente, second largest city in the country, scene of an original, extroverted and mezclada culture, the ciudad where most uprisings took place (1868, 1895, 1898, 1953, 1957), Santiago de Cuba also boasts the largest afro-caribbean contingent in Cuba.

Having fled the Haitian revolution of 1791, some 18,000 coffee plantation owners (French families such as the Vidaux, Dallest, Lafite, Lombard, Bourzac, Manet, Préval and Lemoine) and their slaves settled here where they found an independent spanish colony, well-protected (El Morro fort built in the 16th century) and in dire need of cheap labor - the city only had 20,000 residents - which was not arriving fast enough from Africa.

Its geographical location, like that of Kingston, Jamaica which it likens, makes it a veritable boiler in summer when humidity slows even the most hardy of visitors down. The city's reputation as a hustler (jinitero) haven is now, it seems, a thing of the past.

Yesterday the Rebel, Hospitable Today, Heroic Forever [Rebelde Ayer, Hospitalaria Hoy, Heroica Siempre]

DISTANCES Baconao, 48 Baracoa, 193 Bayamo, 120 Camaguey, 331 Chivirico, 80 El Cobre, 20 Gran Piedra, 23 Guantanamo, 61 Holguin, 155 La Habana, 858 Manzanillo (by coast), 245 Mayari Arriba, 55 Siboney, 15 Trinidad, 588

MAPS & LINKS

Map - Palma Soriano to Guantanamo and the coast

Map - Bayamo to Santiago region

Supermap - Port & center up to La Moncada

Supermap - Repartos (burroughs) south of center

Map - The city : large street plan

Map - The city : detailed streets

Map - Repartos Sueño and Vista Alegre with casas

Map - Reparto Santa Barbara

Map - Region and small towns

Map - Bay area undetailed

Map - The coast, east of the city

Map - Region and west of the city

Schedule - Cuban trains

Schedule - Bus La Habana, Holguin, Bayamo, Ciego, etc

Schedule - Bus to/from Baracoa and Guantanamo

Island-wide bus connections (horariodebuses.com/cu)

Currency - Daily exchange rates

5-Day weather forecast (Wunderground)

What's on in music (Casa de la Trova, Musica, Patio)

All that's natural in Santiago province

POPULATION 493,840 (2007)

PLAYAS
Beaches closest to Santiago are located 19 km east, along a 33-km stretch of coast between Siboney (see our page here) and Baconao, 48 km from here. La Poseta de Juan Gonzalez, 20km away along the coast : waterfall and lake for freshwater bathing.

SERVICES
Cubataxi 65-1038 : ask for Che (Osvaldo Bez), a super guy and part-time beekeeper or his buddies Daniel "Italiano" or Eugenio Borrero, best taxistas in town • Internet connection at Etecsa, facing Museo Bacardi • Clinica internacional, Vista Alegre, 64-2589 • Cubana airline 69-1014 or 69-1865 : greet agent Wesme Pila Beltran at main airport counter : a fully-bilingual graduate of Youth Canada World. • Casas all full ? Try these small hotels : Hostal Basilio (Basilio 403, e/Calvario y Carniceria; tel (22) 65-1702) : doubles incl. breakfast from 54cuc; 8 rooms in newly-restored old colonial; or Gran Hotel Escuela on Enramada, corner of San Félix : basic doubles for 30-40cuc; tel. (22) 65-3020 : part of the local hotel school with 15 rooms to rent. Both accept credit cards, offer in-room fridge and a/c.

Catedral and bahia from Hotel Casa Granda rooftop © sogestour •|• Restaurant on Cayo Granma, tiny island in the bay © insay organic.hu

TO ENJOY THE CAPITAL OF THE ORIENTE ...
... take a walk on Enramada (J. A. Saco) street for pedestrians only between 9 and 9 from Plaza de Marte to Corona : used to be filled with smoky cars ... ride a bike on the shaded streets of Vista Alegre ... check out the domino fanaticos of Padre Pico in Tivoli ... spy on pedestrians in Parque Cespedes from the roof of the Casa Granda Hotel ... take in the panorama from Balcon de Velazquez ... bite into a filet of fish on Cayo Granma smack in the middle of the bay : get there by a local bus or taxi (5cuc) to Punta Gorda and switch to the ferry ... find a rare book at Libreria La Escalera where the muy sympatico Eddy will introduce you to a music trio, calle Heredia 265 ... marvel at the energy of dancing kids and aging singers in the cultural spots of calle Heredia ... refresh your eyes admiring the classic paintings in Museo Emilio Bacardi Moreau ... relive recent history in La Moncada and at the Museo de Lucha Clandestina ... slowly sip a cafecito at La Isabelica, facing Plaza Dolores ... remember history at Cementerio Santa Ifigenia. In all, a sound and sight spectacle you will enjoy remembering. In spite of everything, this city's soul manages to stick to yours. The way India does, in a kind of a love-it-or-leave-it relationship.


Quiet Loma del Intendente near Padre Pico © sogestour •|• View of rooftops © Marino San Jose


Enramada street, pedestrian and breathable from 9h to 9h © sogestour •|• Nuestra Señora de la Caridad (Oshun for santeria believers) at El Cobre where Cubans pray the country's patron saint and romantics look for Hemingway's Nobel Prize Medal © William Trumbull


Parque Serrano along Enramada © sogestour •|• Parque Céspedes and Poder Popular where Fidel gave victory speech on Jan. 2, 1959 © Heidi Jonker


Music pioneers at Casa de La Trova © sogestour •|• Señora buying birdseeds © sogestour

TRANSPORTATION
Air Three daily 2h10 flights with Cubana and AeroCaribbean (Tel. 68-7255) from Havana ; fare 120cuc; taxi to town 12cuc. • Rail (see sked link above) The Tren Especial to/from Havana leaves every 2nd evening (Tel. 62-2836 or 7759) • Road Bus Viazul (tel. 62-8484; see sked link above) from La Habana : 6 stops, 3 each day • Car rentals : Via Rentacar 68-7278 at Cubatur across from Casa Granda : ask for Rafael, honest and cool; also : Cubacar 65-3525, Havanautos 65-1056, Transtur 68-7206 • Santiago site with transport info here

Parque Cespedes, La Trova, Enramada the pedestrian street, Padre Pico, Casa Granda Hotel, Museo Bacardi

See Centro casas in sequence.

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CASA MUNDO
Two a/c bedrooms, each with ensuite bathroom
Calle Heredia 308, entre Pio Rosado y Porfirio Valiente. Steps from Casa de la Trova, Casa de la Musica and Parque Céspedes. Tel. (22) 62-4097


In busy, bustling part of center, two bedrooms each with own bathroom © sogestour

CASA NIVIA V
One ventilated bedroom with ensuite bathroom
Calle General Portuondo (Trinidad), #510, entre Hartman (San Félix) y General Bandera (San Bartolomé) near Parque Cespédes Tél. (22) 62-28-93

See Santiago Center casas in sequence.

Click logo to move to next casa.

See Santiago Center casas in sequence.

Click logo to move to next casa.

EVELIO LORA RAMOS v
Two a/c bedrooms with shared bathroom
Calle Lico Bergues 9, entre Barnada y Paraiso, 10 mins. walk from Parque Céspedes and 100 ft from Plaza de Marte. Tel. (22) 62-5937

GABRIEL JARDINES TORNÉS V
One a/c bedroom with own bathroom
Calle Rey Pelayo 110, e/ Reloj y Clarin, equidistance from the city's three center parques. Tel. (22) 65-6435

ROSAURA VAZQUEZ PÉREZ v
One a/c bedroom apartment with own bathroom
Calle San Basilio no. 459 altos (upstairs), entre Calvario et Reloj, in historical quarter of town. Tel. (22) 65-1141

See Santiago Center casas in sequence.

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GISELA y JOSÉ DUHARTE V
Two a/c bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms
Calle Pio Rosado (Carniceria) No 409, entre San Geronimo (Sanchez Hechavarria) y San Francisco (Sagarra), minutes from Parque Cespedes and the tourist centre of town. Tel. (22) 62-5176

See Vista Alegre casas in sequence.

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CASA JULIA V
Two a/c bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms
Calle 6 #407, entre 14 y 17, a few steps from the Alliance française. Tel. (22) 64-3663

CASA GALLART V
Two a/c bedrooms, each with ensuite bathrooms
Calle 6 No 302 corner (esquina) 11, between Sagrada Familia and Casa del Caribe in reparto Terrazas de Vista Alegre. Tel. (22) 64-3307

See Vista Alegre casas in sequence.

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LOS CACTUS V
Calle 10 No.410 entre 15 y 17, reparto Terrazas de Vista Alegre Tél. (22) 64-2611

Double bedroom with air conditioning in a very well kept house whose owner is very courteous and reliable. "The neighbourhood is nicest of Santiago" says Valledolmo.

Refered by Valledolmo, joy.it, 22 Jan 2007. Write to him (in Italian, of course) for details : rilapor_at_inwind.it

CASA JORGE SOULARY V
Calle 13 No 309, entre 12 y 24, reparto Terrazas de Vista Alegre. Tel. (22) 64-3994

In this modern casa, Jorge rents two large comfortable air-conditioned rooms, one with its rare bath tub.

Map of area with casas here.

Other casas of note in town and outside of the ciudad (see you dad), mom.

CASA MARILYN V
Two a/c bedrooms, shared bathroom
Calle Bayamo 30, entre Reloj y San Agustin in a very quiet area Tel. (22) 62-5120

DR. RONALDO RANS V
Calle Aguilera 585, entre San Augustin y Barnada. Tel. (22) 62-2409.

In the centre of the historical quarter, this apartment building dates back from the early 20th century and shows off large rooms which radiate serenity, cleanliness and comfort.

o Shared hot-water bathroom
o National and local travel counseling
o Phone
o Monitored parking.

ODALIS LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ V
Avenida Paseo de Marti 159, entre Prolongacion de Rastro & San Fermin Tel: (22) 63-5006

Adorable casa with a nice green-walled patio, small fountain and vine-covered roof. One could spend hours just talking on and on.

The place's true charm are its hosts with Odalis leading the dance with humour, along with her family. She has had her permit since Feb 07. Rates : 20-25cuc per night per bedroom (2 adults max.). Breakfasts, 3cuc; dinners 6-8cuc.

ERMES DOMINGUEZ V
Calle Felix Pena (Santo Tomás) 455 (upstairs), entre Sagarra y San Gerónimo. Tel. (22) 62-0060.

Large, calm, secure and clean independant dwelling.
o Large, ventilated and air-conditioned bedrooms
o Large shared bath
o Assured parking.

YADIRA y YVAN V
Calle Felix Pena (Santo Tomás) 60, entre Santa Isabel y San Ricardo. Tel. (22) 62-5546 or (22) 62-7420

• Two-story casa moderna
• Two air-conditioned bedrooms with private bathrooms
• Absolute intimacy
• Guaranteed parking.