Santiago de Cuba is found in the eastern region of Cuba, in a valley robbed to “Sierra Maestra” the largest mountainous area of the island.

WHERE TO GO Céspedes Park, The old Arms Square, the heart of Santiago, surrounded by important and beautiful buildings, among them, La Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral) and one of the oldest one, the House of Diego Velázquez. The park is also surrounded by the Government Palace and Casa Granda Hotel. And very close is Bacardí Museum, Casa de la Trova and Carnival Museum. Other charming cities in the old city are Dolores Square, Antonio Maceo Square, Velázquez Balcony, Moncada Garrison and La Loma de San Juan Historic-Military Park, as well as the Music House, Pico Real Lookout Bar, Enramada street and the area of El Tivolí, a place of cultural traditions. Other sites are Baconao Lagoon, La Gran Piedra, the summit of a cordillera measuring 1,226 m high. And La Isabélica, an hacienda which preserves the typical colonial architecture, whose coffee plantations were recognized by UNESCO as Heritage of Mankind.

WHERE TO SLEEP In Santiago de Cuba: Hotels: Cubanacán Versalles Alturas de Versalles n/n, km 1, Carretera del Morro, Tel.: (53-226) 691016. Meliá Santiago de Cuba: Ave. de Las Américas and Calle M., Tel.: (53-226) 687070. Fax: (53-226) 687170. Horizontes Las Américas, Avenida de Cebreco, tel.: (53-226) 642011 Fax: (53-226) 8-6075. Casa Granda. Tel.: (53-226) 68 6600. Fax 686035. Horizontes San Juan. Tel. - 687200. Gaviota Villa: Ave. Manduley No. 502, Reparto Vista Alegre. In the province: Hotels featuring coasts and nature. Coralia Club Bucanero: Carretera de Baconao, Km 4, Arroyo. La Costa, Santiago de Cuba. Tel.: (53-226) 686363- 67. Daiquirí Villa: at Baconao Tourism Park, Km. 25. Daiquirí, tel.: (53-226) 35-5011. Brisas Sierra Mar: Carretera de Chivirico, Km 60. Guamá. Brisas Los Galeones, Cubanacán Group. Road to Chirivico, Guanamá, Tel.: (53-226) 2-61600. Club Amigo Carisol Los Corales: at 3 Cazonal Beach. Nature environment: El Saltón Hotel, on the north of Sierra Maestra and Horizontes Gran Piedra Villa, Tel.: 686147.

WHERE TO EAT Creole and international cuisine: Santiago 1900 (San Basilio e/ Pío Rosado and Hartman). Matamoros Restaurant, Dolores Square, on Aguilera corner. Tel.:(53-226) 622675. Casa de Don Antonio/Bar del Marques, international food, Calle Aguilera on the corner of Calvario and Reloj. Tel.: (53-226) 652205. Spanish food at Dolores Tavern, Calle Aguilera. (Tel.: 53-226) 623913, El Cerdito, pork meat at Las Américas Hotel. Tel.: (53-226) 642011, and Las Enramadas cafeteria with an around-the-clock service on Calle Aguilera. In the province. Leningrado Restaurant offering Creole food, located at Carretera Siboney and Ave. Manduley. Restaurant of fish and seafood as El Cayo at Granma Cay. Cuban food as Fiesta Guajira, at Carretera Baconao Km. 42/2. Tel.: (53-226)

TRANSPORTATION Rent a car: Cubacar. Autopista Km. 2 and 1/2. Tel.: 54568. Havanautos. And Transgaviota. Gaviota Santiago Villa. Tel.: 641465. For excursions: Cubanacán Viajes. Avenida de las Américas and Calle M. Tel.: 641517. Cubatur. Garzón Ave. and Calle Cuarta. Tel.: 641181. Fax: 687106 and Havanatur, tel.: 652560.

THE NIGHT "Caribeño". A dancing show. Ave. Las Américas and Camino de la Ceiba. Roof Garden. Show and dance the nightclub of Casa Granda Hotel. Tricontinental Disco at Las Américas. "Patio Bar Tropicana". Autopista Km 1. Tel.: 6 41031. Tropicana Santiago show with a starring of over 160 artists from Tuesday to Sunday. Km 1 and 1/2. National Highway. Tel.: (53226) 641031. Also Club 300 music live . Tel.: 653532. Casa del Ron, Rum Museum. Tel.: 623737.

PHONES AND WEB Havanatur, tel.: 66-3713. Cubanatour, tel.: 66-3605. Intur, tel.: 66-2402. More information in www.excelencias.com. and www.caribeinside.com.