Things to do in Camaguey

Camaguey is not only the third largest city in Cuba with 321,000 inhabitants, but it is also a very attractive tourist destination. But what to do in Camaguey? This beautiful Cuban place stands out for being located between vast plains, abundant palm trees and two important mountain ranges. The imposing city of Camaguey seems to emerge from the past, with its striking bell towers, labyrinthine streets, and unparalleled squares in the Caribbean.

Continue reading this post to discover what places you should visit in this beautiful Cuban city declared a World Heritage Site in 2008. Here we will give you all the details about the things to do in Camaguey. Read carefully, so that when you visit you only have to worry about wearing comfortable shoes and discovering its charming streets. You’ll love it!

What are the best places to see in Camaguey?

1. Plaza San Juan de Dios

San Juan de Dios Square is undoubtedly the liveliest square you will see in Camaguey. It is surrounded by the typical colorful colonial houses, the Convent-Hospital San Juan de Dios and the Church of San Juan de Dios. The most interesting of this enclave are the many charming stalls installed in the center of the square. There you can find everything from very original souvenirs to pieces of craftsmanship. Go for a stroll and buy some cool stuff!

2. Church of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad

This church is probably the most important one in Camaguey. Its striking yellow and white colors make it a true symbol for travelers who decide to enter the winding streets of this ancient colonial city. In addition, the interior of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad can be visited free of charge. So you can take advantage both to photograph its façade and to get to know it inside as well. It is quite beautiful.

3. Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria

This beautiful cathedral is located in the heart of Ignacio Agramonte Park. You should visit this park, as it is a very lively place of the city where the locals often gather. Regarding the interior of the church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, it can go quite unnoticed at first sight, but we recommend you to go up to its viewpoint. From there you will have an amazing panoramic view of the city.

4. Plaza del Carmen

Without a doubt, another of the landmarks you must see in Camaguey is the Plaza del Carmen. This beautiful square is also surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings and the Church of Carmen. In addition, in the center of the Plaza del Carmen is located the sculpture of “Las Chismosas”, made by the famous local artist Martha Jimenez. It is a most curious sculptural ensemble in honor of the local women of Camaguey. Come and see them up close when you arrive at this wonderful square.

We particularly recommend that you visit the Plaza del Carmen at sunset, as seeing the facade of the church of Carmen bathed in sunlight is a real treat. This church can also be visited inside, although there is a fee and the interior is not worth the trouble.

5. La Casa de la Trova

La Casa de la Trova is the place you have to visit in Camaguey because of its excellence. It is located in front of Agramonte Park and besides being the perfect place to listen to Cuban music, the Casa de Trova has a beautiful blue and white façade. In fact, it’s an old restored colonial house, and its beautiful shapes and colors certainly don’t go unnoticed. Take advantage of the opportunity to take lots of pictures!

If you’re encouraged to go inside to dance, you can enjoy everything from live music to even buy records and souvenirs.

6. Martha Jimenez Workshop

Indeed, Martha Jimenez is none other than the creator of “Las Chismosas”. Visiting her workshop allows all travelers who come to Camaguey to meet the artist, chat with her and even watch her work live. It is a very enriching experience for all art lovers or those who are curious about this craft. In addition, in this workshop Martha Jimenez also exhibits some of her works. You can even take the opportunity to take home a very original and valuable souvenir.

7. Workers’ square

Formerly this square was called the Plaza de la Merced, however with the triumph of the revolution it was renamed to be the Plaza de los Trabajadores (Workers’ Square). It is a key point of the city that you should visit for the number of impressive symbolic buildings it houses. Among them, you’ll enjoy the Santa Cecilia Convention Center. Its hypnotic blue tones are incredible, go for a walk don’t miss it!

8. The main theater

The municipal theater of Camaguey is located in a renovated old colonial building. Upon arrival you can see how its striking red and white facade does not go unnoticed at all. In addition, if you feel like it, you can take advantage of your stay in Camaguey to see a play or a ballet in this beautiful theater. The truth is that its weekend program has very interesting shows. Find out before you go and make a reservation if there is something that interests you.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

Things to do around Camaguey

1. La Playa de Santa Lucia

If you want to go to a beach when you visit Camaguey, we recommend you the one of Santa Lucia. It is a wonderful beach with fine sand and clear waters, you will love the lively nature that surrounds it. In addition, if you feel like it, you can also explore the beautiful underwater world or practice water sports. There are even bull sharks in Santa Lucia beach!

2. The agricultural market of Camaguey

It is located about 4 kilometers from Camaguey but as soon as you arrive you will understand why the trip to the agricultural market is worth it. This is one of the few markets you will find in all of Cuba. It is divided into different zones and you can buy everything there: fruits, vegetables, meat. Whatever you want. But remember that you will have to pay for everything in CUPs (the Cuban currency), they do not accept any other method of payment as in other places.

Things to do in Camaguey in 1 day

If you only have one day to visit Camaguey, there are some activities and places in the city that you can’t miss:

• Visit the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.

• Enter the Casa de la Trova.

• Walk through the Workers’ Square and the San Juan de Dios Square.

• Go to the Main Theatre.

Where and what to eat in Camaguey?

One of the best things to do in Camaguey is to try the delicious dishes of Cuban gastronomy. Cuban gastronomy can be tasted through ventanitas (individuals who serve dishes from their windows), in national restaurants (government-run restaurants) or in paladares (privately run restaurants). Whichever place you decide, you have to try the delicious and hearty Ropa Vieja, made of shredded beef, mixed with tomato sauce, onion, olives, garlic, salt and pepper, and served with rice. Also not to be missed are the Vaca Frita, the Moros y Cristianos, or the Sandwich Cubano. In Camaguey in particular, we recommend:

• Restaurante 1800: Located in the beautiful Plaza de San Juan de Dios. This restaurant offers perfectly prepared local food, it’s delicious! Some customers also point out how good their pizzas are. Price range between 8 and 14 euros.
• Mesón del Príncipe: If you want to try authentic Caribbean food, the Mesón del Príncipe is the place you are looking for. It is a nice and cozy restaurant with very good service. Price range between 7 and 14 euros.
• Restaurante El Paso: This restaurant offers the best Cuban cuisine at a very tempting price. The quality of both the food and the cocktails is great. Price range between 2 and 9 euros.

Where to stay in Camaguey

• Gran Hotel, Affiliated by Melia: This magnificent hotel is located in the historic center of the city of Camaguey. Its rooms are varied and very comfortable, all of them are located around a very cool inner courtyard. The hotel also has a swimming pool for adults and a restaurant-lounge for events that you will love. The average price for a double room for two adults is 87 euros.
• Hotel E Santa Maria: The beautiful Hotel E Santa Maria is located in front of the parish Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, very very central. Its facade presents a nice eclectic style and the interior is decorated with works by Camaguey’s most famous artists. The average price for a double room for two adults is 89 euros.
• Apodaca 12 Hotel Boutique Cuba: It is a restored colonial house and is a five-minute walk from the Plaza Mayor. They make you feel at home at all times and the truth is that the attention in this accommodation is very personalized. The average price for a double room for two adults is 89 euros.

How to organize all the things to do on your trip to Camaguey

• Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we listed in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
• Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you visited on your trip to the app to inspire other users.
• If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Camaguey