• Submitted by: manso
• Travel and Tourism
• 12 / 19 / 2010

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By Archie Blazer. 18/12/10. Everyone thinks they've discovered the world and everyone reinvents the wheel. There is absolutely nothing new in the posting below; it begins with the highly inaccurate statement that "Even though in the past Santiago de Cuba was not properly developed for tourism, things have changed a great deal over the last few years" --then recites verbatim what has been in every Cuban tourguide book about Santiago for the last four decades.

While it is true that ecotourism as a focus, per se, is relatively new, it's been going on since the 1980s and anything new was developed in the 90s....I'm not at all against people encouraging others to go to Cuba and enjoy or learn from what's there; Santiago is one of my favorite cities in the world; the people of Santiago are marvelous. But please -- don't try to sell as something "new" what has been around since time immemorial.\

PS And friends who plan to go to Santiago and really want some ideas that are not in all the guide-books (including the 1990s Time Out Guide that I contributed to) can email me and ask for some suggestions...klw

Places to See in Santiago de Cuba

http://www.traveleverywhere.net/travel/places-to-see-in-santiago-de-cuba/

Even though in the past Santiago de Cuba was not properly developed for tourism,things have changed a great deal over the last few years and now eco-tourism and other attractions are addressed to visitors from all over the world.

This is a travel guide from Tripopedia: http://www.tripopedia.com/places-to-see-in-santiago-de-cuba-335/. It was submitted under Santiago de Cuba travel guides: http://www.tripopedia.com/central-america/cuba/santiago-de-cuba/.

Other attractions are addressed to visitors from all over the world. The most important activities you can try here are hiking, water sports, and cruising.

The weather in Santiago de Cuba can be quite hot, so when you choose to travel around the city make sure that you are properly dressed and that you have enough water with you. The quaint streets of the place are a treat in themselves since they are constantly filled with music while the buildings have their own stories to share.

There are many places you can visit inside the city. For a trip down history lane, it is recommended to try visiting Santa Ifigenia cemetery, a museum located inside Moncada Barracks and Granjita Siboney. These places will teach you a lot about the history of the country and here you will find El Cobre, an open air copper mine that has the reputation of being the first of its kind ever constructed in America.

Emilio Bacardi is another museum that you can visit, and it is also the first of its kind in Cuba. El Morro – a castle filled with history – , Basilica del Cobre – where the people venerate the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, which is also the patron saint of the country – and the biosphere reverse at Baconao Park are just a few of the many attractions you can visit while in Santiago de Cuba. The natural reserve stretches over 50 kilometers of land and includes beautiful beaches, amazing lakes, and mountains. Here you can check out ruins of the old French plantations where coffee was grown.

The city offers plenty of accommodation options whether you want to travel in style or you need budget wise amenities. There are also many hotels located in the beach area and people often prefer them to be close to the beach. Depending on your budget and your requirements you will certainly find a place to check in at that will fit your needs.

Festival del Caribe is one of the most important festivals in the entire Caribbean region, and if you happen to be there during the first days of July you will be able to attend. There are also many events you should try to attend during the summer, such as the Carnaval Acuatico or the Carnavales Santiagueros.

If you really want to be part of one of the oldest festivals on the island do not miss Conga Santiaguera that takes place on Trocha and Enramada streets. Additionally, you should visit the Museum of Carnival, where you can see many objects related to the celebrations exhibited for tourists to view.

Cuba is a place rich in history and Santiago de Cuba is no exception. Jose Maria Heredia, the famous poet, was born here along with Antonio Maceo, the well known rebel warrior. On your trip through history take a minute to visit the Plaza de Marte, the Heroes’ Forest (paying tribute to Che Guevara), and the Museum of Secrecy that commemorates main events in the history of the urban guerrilla. Paseo Maritimo is another place to visit as many buildings here are living exhibits of Colonial architecture.

Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/119695