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Guide to Holguin, Cuba
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Holguin
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HolguinHolguin
Cubans are proud of their country, and it shows. Though their cities may not be the cleanest of the world, and you'll certainly have a difficult time scouting 100-floor skyscrapers upon its one-of-a-kind stretch of Caribbean industrial, commercial, and exotic jungle, the vivacious colors of the cultures, the arts, and annual (as well as impromptu) festivals is undeniable and captivating. There's much to see upon its square mileage, but let us focus singularly on the city Holguin, better known fully as San Isidoro de Holguin. Holguin is smaller than the capital, home to a far smaller populace, and hardly a major tourist attraction of the country. Still, it is a provincial capital serving as an important transit hub, a center for regional governmental complexes, and a holding ground for the area's historic findings. But that doesn't mean you have to support Castro, wander the halls of the city's museums, and travel mindlessly by bus or rail to and from area towns and cities. Grab a pack, a cup of Juan Valdez's finest brew, and a saucer-sized fresh-baked patty of home-style bread and traverse Holguin's compact center, befriend some locals, and get treated to a rich and informative tour of their city. Some fluency in Espanol will do you good, of course.
When to go:
Located roughly a hundred miles closer to the Equator than the national capital, Holguin is the host of relatively similar temperatures, though it's position inland provides some protection from strong tropical storms, which can and often arise in the region. If a dark patch seems headed for the area, it's best not to travel to Cuba, as even Holguin's location cannot yield a barrier against a flood of shelter-seeking residents from coastal cities if havoc is to come. If beautiful sunlight is in the cards, however, there's nary a season to show a majority of bleak days.
Getting there and around:
Aeropuerto Internacional Frank Pais, a series of terminals that shine almost suspiciously with cleanliness and modernity amongst a landscape and cityscape abundant with semi-historic highlights, is where all regional flights arrive. The airport lies just over 11km from Holguin, providing travelers with a mandatory trip through the flats and mounds of Cuba. You can hire a taxi for the ride, though price gouging is all too common, making buses the smart choice - albeit a cramped one. There is a mixture of private and public taxis in Holguin. With the former, you have the opportunity to save a bundle. If your destination is en route to another riders', you chance a drastic cut in fare - the more sharing, the better.
Attractions:
Parque Calisto Garcia is, well, quite literally the city's center, therefore, by default, it receives a large amount of daily traffic. It is a memorial founded in honor of a 19th-century Cuban patriot. A few churches are nearby, one being the Igelsia de San Jose, but one site overshadows all: La Catedral de San Isidro de Holguin, an 18th-century Moorish construction. 50 miles from Holguin is the Bahia de Naranjo, a 1,000-hectare (2,470 acre) natural park of wilderness, wildlife, and swampland.
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