Santiago de Cuba, because of its privileged geographical location in the eastern part of the Cuban archipelago is an open door unto the Caribbean Sea though paradoxically, this is the limit on the south, bathed by its warm waters.

Getting There By sea: In the sheltered Santiago Port, there is a cruiser terminal, but for those who travel on board their own boat, the Cubanacán Nautical Marina supplies all what is necessary for their care, reparation and servicing. By air: Cubana de Aviación, Aerocarib-bean and other air companies regularly fly to the Antonio Maceo International Airport. Santiago can also be visited by way of the International Airport of Holguín. By road: The national highway connects Santiago with the rest of the country, though from the bordering Granma province, By train: From different places of the island, a large number of buses arrive at Senén Casas Railroad Terminal. One of the train lines Sueño Azul (Blue Dream) links the capital of the island with other provinces to Santiago in a comfortable and faster way better than using other train lines.

Climate The warm winds from the south provide a proper climate for tourism with minimum temperatures ranging between 20° C and 24° C and maximum temperatures from 30° C and 33º C. WHERE TO EAT Santiago 1900: A restaurant located at San Basilio. offers both Creole as well as international cuisine in a colonial atmosphere inside a 19th-century house. El Zun Zun: International cuisine. Ave. Manduley No. 159. Phone: (53 226) 4-1369. Matamoros Restaurant: Plaza de Dolores. Phone: (53 226) 22675. Casa de Don Antonio/ Bar del Marqués: On Aguilera street, Phone: (53 226) 42011. Cremería Arcoiris: It is especially recommended by its wide assortment of ice creams. On Aguilera street.

WHERE TO SAY IN THE CITY Santiago has some 1,800 rooms, their designs cannot be compared to any conventional format. Cubanacán Versalles: 61 rooms, 1 suite and 14 cabanas. Alturas de Versalles, Km 1, Carretera del Morro, Santiago de Cuba. Phone: (53 226) 9-1014, 9-1016 and 9-1504. Santiago de Cuba Hotel: A five-star hotel of Caribbean style, located in the very heart of the city with 302 rooms , 3 suites and 30 junior suites, welcome tourists with the characteristic seal of Cubanacán Group. Avenida de Las Américas and Calle M. Phone: (53 226) 4-2634 and 6-1292. Fax: 4-1756. Horizontes Las Américas: Located at Avenida de Cebreco with 68 rooms. Phones: (53 226) 4-2011, 4-2695 and 8-6075. Fax: (53 226) 8-6075. Casa Granda Hotel: This hotel is situated on the Heredia street with 58 rooms and 3 junior suites. Phone: (53 226) 86-600. Fax: 86-035.

WHERE TO EAT IN THE PROVINCE Leningrado Restaurant: Located on Carretera de Siboney. There are two bars, an ourdoors terrace with a dancing ball. Kiam Sang Restaurant: Chinese and Cuban cuisine. Carretera de Ciudamar, Km. 4. Phone: (533 226) 9-1889. El Cayo: Fish and seafood, Granma Cay. El Morro: Creole cuisine. Carretera del Morro, Km 7. Phone: (53 226) 9-1576. Fiesta Guajira: Carretera de Baconao, Km 4 1/2. Phone: (53- 226) 03-9164. La Punta: Offers a specialized menu of Cuban and international food. Carretera de Baconao. Km. 4. El Oasis. Phone: (53 226) 03-9164. San Pedro del Mar: Offers in fish and seafood. Carretera del Morro, Km 7. Phone: (53 226) 91287. El Cobre: Located in the Cayo del Santuario. It is known by its drinks and light food. Finca El Porvenir/ Porvenir Farm: The visitor can taste one of the typical dishes of Santiago: pork roast on revolving sticks along with other specialties of this area of the eastern Cuban countryside. Carretera de Baconao, Km. 18.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE PROVINCE Club Amigo Bucanero: This hotel has 200 rooms. Carretera de Baconao, Km. 4, Phone: (53 226) 2-8130 and 5-4596. Daiquiri Villa: Cubanacán chain presents another offer with this cozy 2-star hotel, located in a privileged landscape. Carretera de Baconao, Km. 25. Phone: (53 226) 2-4849, 2-4735 and 35-5011. Delta Sierra Mar Club Resorts: This all-inclusive 4-star hotel with 200 rooms belongs to Cubanacán-Super Clubs chain. Carretera de Chivirico, Km. 60. El Caney Hacienda: A cozy village located at the town which bears the same name. Balcón del Caribe: Islazul tourism chain has chosen a pleasant natural milieu to build this hotel of 96 rooms. Carretera del Morro, Km 7,5. Phone: (53 226) 9-1011. SHOWS Caribeño: It offers a dancing show. Avenida de las Amé-ricas y Camino de la Ceiba. Nuevo Lido: A place to enjoy a pleasant music. Rancho Club: With a dancing show. Carretera Central. Carretera, Km. 4, 5. Roof Garden: Show and dancing in the night club of Casagranda Hotel. Tricontinental Disco: This discotheque, one of the best known in the area, is found at Las Américas Hotel. Patio-Bar Tropicana: Highway km 1. Phone: 41031 Tropicana Santiago: "The Caribbean Night Club". This facility is one of the most modern and spacious night clubs. The show has over 160 artists. Open from Tuesdays to Sundays. Km 1 and 1 1/2. National Highway. Phone: (53 226) 41031.

WHAT TO SEE IN THE PROVINCE El Caney: It was born with the first Cuban colonists. Conserved a large number of pre-Columbian legends, perpetuated by the Indians. El Cobre: This town is located on a valley of the mountainous massif bearing the same name. The town is a place of peregrination for its Church devoted to the Vírgen de la Caridad. Sigua: This emporium of touristic attractions is worthy of being visited by its cactus garden, its "Fantasy World" with replicas at a real size of the most outstanding characters of the universal literature.. Baconao Lagoon: This is a place of magnificent beauty, not only by its crystal-clear waters and the bright surrounding vegetation, but also by its colorful legends. La Gran Piedra/ The Large Stone: It is the top site of the cordillera which bears the same name, located at 1,226 m high. Near that place there is a site by the name of La Idalia which is a garden of tropical flowers where the impressing Bird of Paradise flower excels. La Isabelica: This is one of the haciendas built by the French who came to Cuba fleeing from the 18th-century Haitian Revolution. This building still preserves the colonial architecture of that epoch and at present has become an ethnographic museum.

TRAVEL AGENCIES AND CAR RENTAL Cubanacan Viajes Tour. Avenida de las Américas and Calle M. Phone: 41891. Fax: 87209. Cubatur. Address: Avenida Garzón y Calle Cuarta. Phone: 41181. Fax: 87106. Havanatur. Calle 8 Nº54, e/ Primera y Tercera. Reparto Vista Alegre. Phone: 24823. Or you can rent a car to choose the route by yourself in specialized agencies as: Cubacar. Autopista Km 2 y 1/2, Trébol. Phone: 54568. Havanautos. With several dele-gations in Antonio Maceo and Santiago airports. Transgaviota. Villa Gaviota Santiago. Phone: 41465.