Cienfuegos, looking for the pearl of the south on Cuba
Cienfuegos is dubbed La Perla del Sur (Pearl of the South), and no doubt, it has absolutely pearl quality. UNESCO inscribed the Urban historic centre og Cienfuegos on the World Heritage List, citing it as the best extant example of early 19th-century urban planning. On the way down to Cienfuegos, we also stopped by the famous Bay of Pigs.
Criadero de Cocodrilos
Now I was on the guided tour on the way from Havana to Cienfuegos. Halfway there, we stopped at Criadero de Cocodrilos, a crocodile farm. I do not normally go to zoos, but this was obviously a stop on the way. The Criadero de Cocodrilos raises the indigenous Cuban crocodile. The Cuban government launched this program in 1962, and many consider it the first environmental protection initiative of Cuba’s revolutionary government. Before the program’s founding, the crocodile species were on the brink of extinction. For me, the surroundings were more fascinating than the crocodiles.
Bay of Pigs
The next stop was the Bay of Pigs, an inlet of the Gulf of Cazones, located on the southern coast of Cuba. The bay is historically important for the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1961. By early 1960, President Eisenhower had begun contemplating ways to remove Castro. And here we are in 2026, 65 years later, the Americans still are trying to remove the Cuban government with Trump as their chief in command. The invasion in 1961 was a U.S foreign policy failure. What will tomorrow bring?
Museo Girón
Further down the coast by the Bay of Pigs, you find the Museo Girón, a museum telling the story of the battle that took place in this area. This museum was founded by Fidel Castro. It is fully demonstrated how the people were convinced of the Revolution, as they took up arms to fight the United States’ invasion, until the arrival of revolutionary troops. This is obviously meant as propaganda, but it gives you more insight into their thoughts and ideas of the day. And which still live in the people’s culture and conviction today.
Cienfuegos
Despite being called La Perla del Sur, it is also known as an industrial city, home to factories and various nuclear/electrical plants. The name Cienfuegos literally translates to “one hundred fires” (cien, “one hundred”; fuegos, “fires”). When you look at the city map, you can see why UNESCO has given it attention for its perfect grid urban planning.
The downtown area contains some very nice buildings, some of which look mostly like they were built for parties, and it also has this small but very charming theatre. Tomas Terry Theatre. It’s a key spot for architecture, history, and culture lovers. This theatre is a National Monument. The building shows Italian influences and a mix of 19th-century Cuban style.
City of contrasts
Even if you can see poverty lurking, the city is very well kept in the historical areas. I will guess this is with UNESCO’s help. But, one must hope that the situation on the island will change, and that they will be able to keep this amazing city alive and thriving for the people, and not as a “film set” and a museum.
Palacio de Valle
Talking about the party, Palacio de Valle is absolutely a party scene. This is a historic villa in Cienfuegos. Built by an Italian architect in the 1910s, with a resemblance to Moorish architecture. The original client of the villa was the Cuban merchant Celestino Caces, who later sold it to Asturian-born Acisclo del Valle Blanco, who completed its construction. Today, the villa is occupied by an upscale hotel and restaurant. The building is full of intricate details.
This concludes my journey from Havana to Cienfuegos, via some very important sights from Cuban history. It is absolutely a city you should visit if you dare to travel outside Havana.
