9 Best Sights in Central Cuba, Cuba

East of town lie Cienfuegos's expansive botanical gardens covering 94 hectares (232 acres) and containing more than 2,000 plant species, most of which are not native to Cuba. Created at the turn of the last century by U.S. sugar farmer Edwin Atkins, the garden was administered by Harvard University until 1961, when it was taken over by the Cuban Academy of Science. It includes palms, bamboos, and other tropical trees as well as medicinal plants and a forest reserve that's home to many native animals. Signage could be better here; a guide can point out what you're seeing, although not all speak English.

Tips are greatly appreciated.

The most impressive of Punta Gorda's mansions is the Palacio de Valle, which was built in 1917 by the sugar baron Asisclo del Valle. It's a stunning, sumptuous structure full of ornate relief work, crystal chandeliers, hand-painted tiles, Italian-marble columns, French windows, and carved Cuban hardwoods. Though the mansion's design is eclectic, its foremost inspiration was the Alhambra—the Moorish palace in southern Spain. It now houses the city's best restaurant on the ground floor and a rooftop bar that's the perfect spot from which to watch the sun set.

At Parque José Martí's southwest corner stands the Palacio Ferrer, an elaborate mansion built in 1917 by Spanish businessman José Ferrer and now the Casa de Cultura. The corner room on the second floor was once used by Enrico Caruso, and a spiral staircase leads from here up to a tower that offers a nice view of the plaza. Local musicians and dancers often rehearse here.

Above a fishing village overlooking the narrow entrance to the Bahía de Cienfuegos (35 km [21 miles] south of the historical center) is a Spanish fortress built in 1745 to keep out pirates who had grown accustomed to trading with locals. It's completely refurbished (even the drawbridge works) and has a historical museum with weapons and other antiques. The dungeon houses a bar and restaurant. On your way down, note the small chamber beneath the steps; prisoners were chained and tortured here.

If you're a woman, we suggest you not wear blue when you visit. Local legend holds that the site is haunted by the ghost of a mysterious female figure dressed in a blue gown; given the fort's notorious history, who can say for sure? We wouldn't want anyone to mistake you for her.

You have three ways to get here: take a taxi (or drive) the whole way, looping counterclockwise around the bay; travel overland directly south of Cienfuegos to the Hotel Pasacaballos at the entrance of the bay and take the short ferry that crosses back and forth to the fort all day long; or board the ferry at the south end of Calle 25 in Cienfuegos with departures at 8 am, 1 pm, and 5:30 pm and returns from the fort at 6:30 am, 10 am, and 3 pm.

The city's bright yellow Neoclassical cathedral, with its high central bell tower reminiscent of a minaret, was consecrated in 1870. Its interior is less impressive than the renovated exterior, but it does feature a statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception—the city's patron saint—and stained glass windows from France that depict the 12 apostles.

To the south of the old part of town, Calle 37 runs parallel to the waterfront Malecón, where locals stroll at night. Note the illuminated billboard near the Malecón; it has an image of revered Cuban singer Benny Moré and a line from one of his songs: "Cienfuegos es la ciudad que más me gusta a mi" ("Cienfuegos is the city I like most"). The palm-lined promenade stretches south to Punta Gorda, a point dominated by the mansions once owned by sugar barons and ending in a small park surrounded by water where people gather on weekends to swim and relax.

Most of the important buildings of Cienfuegos surround the central Parque José Martí which contains an impressive marble statue, carved in 1902, of the Cuban revolutionary and intellectual for whom it was named. Near the park's western end is a tiny replica of the Arc de Triomphe, a nod to the city's French heritage, and just south of the Martí statue stands a domed kiosk, where the municipal band sometimes gives weekend concerts. East of the park, Avenida 54 is a pedestrian mall—lined with shops and restaurants—called El Boulevard.

The coast southeast of Cienfuegos has several nice beaches, the nearest of which is the public Playa Rancho Luna, a pale crescent flanked by rocky points 18 km (11 miles) southeast of town. All go by the name "Rancho Luna." It has various hotels, the largest of which is the Club Amigo Rancho Luna. An extensive coral reef wraps around the point directly to the west—you can rent snorkeling equipment at the Faro Luna Diving Center there. A smaller beach, also called Rancho Luna, lies just around the point to the east. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; showers; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming; walking.

The city's principal theater was built in 1889 and named for Venezuelan millionaire Tomás Terry (1808–86) whose fortune funded its construction. If you can't come for a concert or dance performance, you can admire the painted ceilings, statues, and carved hardwoods for a small fee. The small café off the lobby is a perfect place to grab a bite on a hot afternoon.