Camagüey Travel Guide

  Che on a building
by twilightmuse
  • Che on a building
      Che on a building
    by twilightmuse
  •   Camagüey
    by twilightmuse
  •   Camagüey
    by twilightmuse
  •   Camagüey
    by twilightmuse
  •   Camagüey
    by twilightmuse

Pro

Luchonda profile photo

 Very nice and clean city 


Con

Darkwind profile photo

 Not as busy as Havana!! 


In a nutshell

devillush profile photo

 Great for taking some time out to meet some locals. 

 

Explore Camagüey

Things to Do  

Ignacio Agramonte's Legacy!

Ignacio Agramonte's Legacy!, Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  Ignacio Agramonte, born in 1841 in Camaguey province, is a local hero and revolutionary leader from the first War of Independence with Spain. He has quite a track record, and is dubbed "the daredevil of the Wars of Independence" for his "attack now, think later" style... 

La Iglesia de la Soledad

La Iglesia de la Soledad, Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  La Iglesia de la Soledad is another beautiful, historic and centrally located church in Camaguey. Local revolutionary hero Ignacio Agramonte was both baptized and married there. You can see it from most of the downtown streets, sort of like a watchtower. The site has had a... 

Explore on Foot!

Explore on Foot!, Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  Part of the intrigue of Camaguey is it's unique urban layout; if you have a day or two there, it's worth taking some time to just wander around. Designed to confuse and irritate pirates, the streets of Camaguey don't follow your typical grid pattern, but twist and turn into... 

Need Internet?

Need Internet?, Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  Most books and sites we read before leaving listed available Internet access at Islazul, and at the Hotel Colon. When we visited Camaguey in May 2007, neither of these places had Internet access anymore.We did find Internet access at a large telecommunications store on... 

La Iglesia Nuestra Senora de la Merced

La Iglesia Nuestra Senora de la Merced, Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  Head through the centre of town one block off Maceo and you'll find La Iglesia Nuestra Senora de la Merced. It's one of the most beautiful and my favorite of the old churches in Camaguey. If I remember, the story is that one day, back in the 17th century when the plaza was... 

Casa Natal

Casa Natal, Camagüey

 Luchonda Says:  On the left the Casa Natal de Ignacio Agramonte - the famous patriot died in a battle in 1873 at the age of 32.Actually a museum showing the original furniture and a lot of documents concerning the war of independance - some personal belongings like his 36 calibre Colt... 

Hotels  

Islazul Gran Hotel

 38 Opinions

Restaurants  

I wish I remembered it was so bad here: Beyond awful

I wish I remembered it was so bad here: Beyond awful, Camagüey

 socheid Says:  There's an 'Italian' place on Maceo (the curved drag in the city centre) in which I ordered a plate of spaghetti. Naively, I sat back to relax while expecting to wait 10 - 15 mins for my dish to be cooked. The plated spaghetti was in front of me in 60 secs with some tomato... 

Bodegan Don Cayetano: Laid back, cheap and tasty

Bodegan Don Cayetano: Laid back, cheap and tasty, Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  We came across this tavern on our first visit into the city centre of Camaguey, and after a whole morning of hot bus travel we were starving. This place has these long bar-style bench tables extending onto Republica street that make it a nice place to drink a... 

Hotel Colon Restaurant: Hotel Restaurants are all the same somehow...

Hotel Colon Restaurant: Hotel Restaurants are all the same somehow..., Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  By the second day we were in Camaguey, clouds filled the sky and rain came pouring down. Since we stayed a little ways out of the city centre and didn't want to get soaked, we decided to have a quick lunch at the restaurant in the nearby Hotel Colon.It was an oddly... 

Moises perez estrada: Paladares restaurant

Moises perez estrada: Paladares restaurant, Camagüey

 Luchonda Says:  The paladares we visited - taxied by bike cycles - just the basic - a poor but CLEAN entrance - some cages for the pet and some cages for the birds !But very nice people and - excellent food Lobster - well prepared in a special sauce - some local drinks the inhabitants had... 

MOISES PEREZ ESTRADA: Do not miss Local Game watching

MOISES PEREZ ESTRADA: Do not miss Local Game watching, Camagüey

 Luchonda Says:  An experience and must to do in Cuba - go for particular diner - reserve one day before the diner so that the inhabitants can buy the food at the local market. No no - no misunderstandings - nor the tiger or a good friend of mine are on the menu.But both were hungry !! 

Nightlife  

Camagueyan Night: You're all invited!
ainsleigh profile photo
ainsleigh 104 reviews

Every Saturday night, Camagueyans take to Maceo Street and party. There's salsa dancing and live music, and an added perk is that it's free! We checked it out earlier on in the night and had a good time watching the dancing and chatting with locals, but since it was starting to really rain we headed off a little earlier than we otherwise would have.

Things definitely picked up even more after we left, because when we got back to our casa, we could still hear the music and the people getting louder way into the morning.

Written Jan 3, 2008

Address: Downtown, on Maceo and Indepencia

Related to:
 Arts and Culture
 Music

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Transportation  

Viazul!
ainsleigh profile photo
ainsleigh 104 reviews

"Viazul" is the tourist-oriented long distance bus service offering trips to and from many cities in Cuba. They're a pretty comfortable smooth ride, and we watched Bad Boys II in Spanish!! The buses we took also stopped now and then for food and bathroom breaks.

A trip from Havana to Camaguey is about 36.00 CUC and will take about 8 hours; Santiago de Cuba to Camaguey is about 20.00 CUC and will take 7 hours. You can check out the schedules and prices online on their website. The Viazul station in Camaguey is on the edge of town, and a taxi into the middle of the city will cost around 4.00 CUC.

Written Jan 15, 2008

Website: www.viazul.cu

Related to:
 Backpacking
 Budget Travel

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Local Customs  

Tinajones

Tinajones, Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  Tinajones are rounded clay earthen pots that were used to transport goods and help solve the area's water shortage by collecting rain. Traditionally they were placed half-buried in the ground so that water would stay cool. People would try to keep up with the quantity and... 

Go for lunch or diner - PARTICULAR

Go for lunch or diner - PARTICULAR, Camagüey

 Luchonda Says:  Local people will invite you to have diner or lunch at their private accomodations - just go for it - no danger - just excellent food and atmosphere !Cost : the average - quality : better than in the government restaurants - so what ?People in the picture : just 6 satisfied... 

What to Pack  

Packing List
Darkwind profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Darkwind 155 reviews

Luggage and bags: Bag packing would be a good idea,and very easy for the long ride there!!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Summer stuff,sandals or hiking shoes!!

Written Oct 4, 2002

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Off The Beaten Path  

Visit the rural areas, let animals visit you

Visit the rural areas, let animals visit you, Camagüey

 ainsleigh Says:  We stayed in and explored mostly rural neighbourhoods, like La Vigia, 9 de Abril and Guernica. Most of the houses, especially as you approach the outskirts of the city are clearly farming operations, and there are animals like roosters and donkeys walking right beside you.... 

Transit station - Rancho Toa

Transit station - Rancho Toa, Camagüey

 Luchonda Says:  Transit station upon the way to CienfuegosA nice little place with a private bar - offering local cocktails of fresh fruit - mixed with rum if you want.Price : average a dollar - as usual in CubaLook at the trees - just marvelous and representing for some Cubans the power of... 

Favorites  

Narrow City Streets

Narrow City Streets, Camagüey

 devillush Says:  I was told Camaguey was built with extra twisty streets to confuse pirates. It's a beautiful city to relax in and get to know some locals. I met a wonderful Cuban lady here who introduced me to her family and friends. 

Nueitas, was one of the most...

Nueitas, was one of the most..., Camagüey

 Darkwind Says:  Nueitas, was one of the most important Havens all around the country and a major industrianl town with a pop of about 35.000 people till 1989.Nowadays the ramshackle townlooks as if it has suffered through four decades of devastation and desolation.I grew up there when it... 

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Map of Camagüey