Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Thanks to its international airport, Santa Clara is easily accessible for foreign tourists with daily flights from all over North America. Alternatively, the city can be accessed by car in approximately three hours from the Cuban capital, Havana, via the Autopista Nacional. A daily bus service also operates from Havana and takes around 6 1/2 hours. Santa Clara is also on Cuba's main train line and is connected with both Havana and Santiago de Cuba.
Santa Clara offers a range of accommodations to suit all tastes and budgets. There is a wide choice of hotels and motels in the center of town, like the Hotel Santa Clara Libre, located opposite the city's central park and close to major sightseeing areas, shopping and restaurants. Head to the outskirts of town for a more relaxing vacation and enjoy a stay at the resort of Los Caneyes. The hotel is designed in the style of an Aboriginal village and features family and disabled-friendly rooms.
The city of Santa Clara played an important role in both the independence and revolutionary wars. Consequently, the city is littered with historical sites and landmarks. The most popular is the Monumento Ernesto Che Guevara, home to a museum, plaza and separate mausoleum holding Guevara's remains. The Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindado is another historical site marking the revolutionary Battle of Santa Clara in 1958. The site contains the original derailed train that provided Cuban rebels, including Guevara, with arms.
For an authentic Santa Clara experience, spend an afternoon in the central park, known as the Parque Vidal. Behind the park you'll find the Teatro La Caridad, a pedestrian-only mall consisting of five blocks and filled with a range of shops and restaurants. Art lovers will enjoy the Museo de Artes Decorativas, home to numerous examples of Colonial architecture, furniture and paintings. History lovers will appreciate the Museo Provincial, packed with artifacts and photographs from the Battle of Santa Clara. Finish your stay with a guided tour of Santa Clara's famous tobacco factory where you can purchase souvenirs of their Romeo y Julieta and Partagas cigars.