Nature, culture and history go hand in hand in Cuba's central province of Cienfuegos, creating a unique tourist offer that is backed up by the leisure industry's infrastructure in the region.
In the capital city, which many call the Pearl of the South, the four-star Jagua Hotel, owned by the Cuban group Gran Caribe, shows its charms after a renovation process that brought back the establishment's original splendor.
For its part, the group Cubanacán S.A. runs the four-star Boutique La Unión Hotel, which underwent a thorough restoration as well.
Cienfuegos is also famous for its singular nature, with such beautiful places as the Botanical Gardens (created in 1901), which covers 97 hectares of land and holds the world's most complete collection of palms.
Aficionados to ecotourism can visit El Nicho by taking an ascending road on the Guamuaya mountain range and crossing the Yaguanabo Valley, south of Alturas de Trinidad, or Trinidad Heights.
In El Nicho, travelers can enjoy the breathtaking view of El Negro fall, where water falls from a height of over 30 meters (100 feet) and hits the rocks in the bottom, forming a whirlpool of foam that creates a persistent fog.
The Cuban chain Rumbos also provides tourist offers linked to nature, including excursions to the Yaguanabo Valley, which has numerous paths, lookouts, caves, forests and landscapes where travelers can be in direct contact with the region's rich nature.
In addition, Cuban rural customs are present at Hacienda La Vega, where vacationers can enjoy horse-riding excursions, attend cattle exhibits, and taste exquisite dishes from the local cuisine, including white cheeses, tropical fruits and homemade desserts.
The Pearl of the South, which is also a stronghold for congress tourism, boasts excellent facilities to hold conferences, and business and working meetings, among other social events, as well as broad infrastructure that includes roads, an airport and transport services.
The La Unión Hotel has a modern Business Center, while the Tomás Terry Theater and the University of Cienfuegos can host any kinds of forums.
Beach lovers can visit Rancho Luna, where a three-star hotel and excellent conditions for scuba diving, due to the breathtaking richness of its sea bottom, await them.
Young travelers prefer the Guajimico Villa, owned by Cubamar, where they can find excellent conditions for nature tourism, nautical sports and diving.
Tours on the Sugar Road, Afro-Cuban night shows, bay trips, excursions to other destinations in the country and visits to the hometown of Benny Moré, also known as the "Bárbaro del Ritmo", will fill any possible gap in Cienfuegos's tourist offer.