Camagüey

For many, stepping off the bus in Camagüey is a stimulating experience. With intersecting narrow streets and pastel-washed settlements, the second-best city of Cuba is gracious, sophisticated, and overwhelming all at once. Now a palmy sprawl is growing at full speed around its UNESCO-listed historic core. Still, visitors are drawn to the warren of colonial treasures and fashionable cafes tucked away at its heart. If you are in Camagüey, life and vibrancy will find you no matter where you are.

Founded by Spanish colonists and frequently raided by buccaneers of the 17th century, Camagüey is as much a focal point in Cuban history as it is an industrial center. The traces of its adventurous past serve as intriguing easter eggs that surprise travelers at every turn. Bronze sculptors and side-street fountains are everywhere, while clay pots adorn even the most trivial corners as the symbol of the city. As you explore its winding streets, Camagüey’s hidden charms will unfold. Slightly paranoid by the constant pirate attacks, the city’s designers created an array of blind alleys, forked streets, and quaint plazas appearing abruptly at different turns. Wander among them, and you will stumble across hidden bars and restaurants along with riveting art shops. More of Camagüey’s artistic gems await in the museums and galleries, all in the historic center.

Camagüey is mostly about unplanned walking tours and casual sightseeing. This way, its picture-perfect monumental structures become all the more attractive for visitors. Plaza del Carmen is easily the primary site of the city, anchored by the sublime Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen and life-sized sculptors of the local folk.