Bayamo, Cuba
Swing by Bayamo, cradle of the Independence and find out more about the historical city that changed the future of Cuba
Bayamo, Cuba
© Sol de Cuba
Bayamo, declared Monumento Nacional (National Monument), is the second villa founded in Cuba and the province capital of Granma. Discover the revolutionary history of a city where the Cuban Independence began and its significant past, nowadays available in the heart of every Bayamo man and woman.
In the beginning, the city was an important ranching and a sugar cane cultivation centre. A big part of its trade was smuggling. That is why affluent families looking for the best foreign education for their children were typical in Bayamo.
Its past tells us how Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, a First Independence War hero, let his slaves go as an act against the Spanish colonial government of 1868. The village united and achieved a first victory, which was followed by an act of sacrifice remembered by the entire Cuba. The population was afraid of a new Spanish colonization and before this would have happened, they decided to set the city on fire. A fire that was called queda de Bayamo, taking with it the major part of the buildings and monuments of colonial architecture.
Nowadays Bayamo is a happy city where patriotism and traditions are deeply rooted in its population. Have a nice walk along its wide streets and enjoy the Cuban ambience they offer you.
Its restored buildings will open the doors to remarkable places in Cuba for you, like the Museo de Cera (Wax Museum) at Bayamés Avenue or centric restaurants where you will try out yummy typical food from Bayamo.
Index:
- What places to see in Bayamo, Cuba?
- What to do in Bayamo?
- What excursions can one do from Bayamo?
- What are the best accommodations?
- How to get to Bayamo, Cuba?
- When travel to Bayamo?
What places to see in Bayamo, Cuba?
Bayamo
© Granma Cuba Travel
Bayamo is a city that has gone through many important historical events. In it began the First War of Independence and there “La Bayamesa”, the national anthem, was written and sung for the first time. The Bayamo people are very proud of the patriotic feeling present in the village. A good example of it are the names of some squares, such as the Plaza del Himno (Anthem Square) or the Plaza de la Patria (Homeland Square).
Have fun walking around Parque Céspedes (Céspedes Park), officially known as Plaza de la Revolución (Revolution Square) where the Bayamo people meet. A lovely place full of trees under which you may cool yourself down and it has turned into one of the best squares where to enjoy many open-air concerts organised in the city. There you shall see the superb statue in honour of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, the first President of the Republic of Cuba in Arms guarding the park as well as the astonishing bust of Preucho Figueredo, the author of the national anthem.
Despite the fact that Bayamo is a city with colonial roots, there are few buildings of this category and nearly the entire city was destroyed by the quema de Bayamo fire. You will find only two houses of two floors, 100% colonial style, that survived the fire. One of them is the Casa Natal Manuel de Céspedes (Birthplace of Manuel de Céspedes), declared National Monument which will take you the 19th century thanks to the glorious collection of furniture and personal objects preserved in there and that used to belong to Céspedes and his family.
A building to have survived the fire of 1868 as well was the sublime Iglesia Parroquial Mayor de San Salvador (Mayor de San Salvador Parochial Church), built in the 17th century which is one of the oldest ones in Cuba. Inside it you can observe the only religious mural with patriotic signs from all over the world.
A very pretty point of cultural interest is the Casa de Estrada y Palma (Home of Estrada y Palma). The birth place of Tomás de Estrada y Palma, who was one of the founders of the Cuban Revolutionary Party and the First President of the Republic of Cuba. Visit this lovely home, nowadays the headquarters of UNEAC (National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba), and find in its flowery patio the best of discovering the traditional music in Bayamo.
Whilst having a nice walk on its street you will discover a city replete with happiness and colour, with wide walks where you can rest and observe the Bayamese lifestyle in every corner.
Swing by Parque Chapuzón (Chapuzón Park), a beautiful and peaceful place where Bayamo River grew and, as the years went by, a small coast on the city’s edge. There the youth meet, go swimming and it is a place where the lovely horses drink after typical carriage rides. Without a doubt, it is the ideal spot to cool yourself down after a tropical day in Cuba.
The patriotic feeling, the city symbol and that all the population feels, can be seen reflected in the monuments available on many squares. At the Retablo de los Héroes, a pretty and tree-lined square, we can find many very distinctive busts of the most distinctive Cuban patriots and a statue of Francisco Vicente Aguilera, General Major of Liberating Army, where his remains lie at. At the recently restored Plaza de la Patria, an emblematic place for different events, you may contemplate the splendid monument formed by parts representing the history of Bayamo, since its native origins till the revolutionary era.
The hymn of Cuba has its origins in this lovely city when Francisco de Castillo sang for his beloved one, Luz Vázquez, “La Bayamesa”, the first romantic song in the country that turned into the magnificent national anthem afterwards. The Ventana de Luz Vázquez still remains, a memory of such a memorable act, like a historical monument in the city that you can visit when enjoying Bayamo.
Reminisce the moment when “La Bayamesa” was sung for the first time as an official hymn at the Plaza del Himno Nacional (National Hymn Square) where all village men and women gathered around to fill this patriotic song with love. Near Iglesia de San Salvador there is a possibility of falling in love with the atmosphere of this sunny square, very significant in the city due to the big moment that it saw in the past.
What to do in Bayamo, Cuba?
Museo Provincial de Bayamo
© Enrico Strocchi
The history and the Cuban culture are in charge of activities and visits in the amazing city of Bayamo. Full of museums reminding of its past and paying tribute to its local heros, there you can learn more about the beginning of the Revolution. Also, this province capital is widely known for its pipe organ music and its street parties that will top off your trip.
Dive into the colonial and revolutionary past that changed the future of Cuba at the Museo Provincial de Bayamo Manuel Muñoz Cedeño, an old home of this historical Bayamense figure. By the hands of this musician, the first to orchestrate the national anthem, you will learn more about the history of the city, particularly its colonial era and the First War of Independence. Eye the exposed relics, among which we find glorious embroidered cloths, valuable works of art, old writings and the original full score of “La Bayamesa”.
Another museum where you can find out more about the history of this provincial capital is the Museo Ñico López (Ñico López Museum), declared a National Monument. Located at the old Cuartel Militar de Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (Manuel de Céspedes Military Barracks), guarding treasures in it, such as documents proving the Bayamese past and objects belonging to different historical figures of the city.
If there is one well-known street in this city, it is the Calle General Calixto García, the main shopping street full of locals as well as tourists. Better known as Paseo Bayamés (Bayamés Avenue), the boulevard was restored a few years ago which turned it into a warm and colourful pedestrian street replete with amazing murals making this boulevard a small street museum.
The walk has a multitude of markets where you can buy everything you need. The culture is present everywhere in the city and at Paseo Bayamés you will find the only Museo de Cera in Cuba where you can take pictures with the historical figures of the country or with the exotic fauna you have never seen before. Also, at this happy street you will encounter the Maqueta de la Ciudad de Bayamo (Bayamo City Model) that will help you to orientate the many monuments located in different parts of the streets and it will give you more perspective on the provincial capital.
The walk has many more things to offer. From the gastronomical point of view it is a true temple where you can taste yummy typical Bayamese food of creole origin. They highlight traditional plates, such as the chicharrón de Bayamón, the congrí, the traditional ropa vieja, the tamal en hoja and the famous rosquitas de matahambre that award you the sweetest delights. Without forgetting the coffee, a symbolic product of Cuba, of strong taste, but you can easily make it sweeter with the best sugar cane in Bayamo
A horse carriage ride is a very typical activity that allows you meet better the city in a distinctive way. Enjoy a lovely experience whilst the smallest in the family say hi to you excited by the meek animals.
If you are a music lover, you will get a chance to attend live music concerts at the Casa de la Trova Bayamesa, a lovely colonial building where the traditional Cuban notes gain magnificence. At Guajiro Natural, a large cultural centre where you experience an astonishing cabaret show.
Pop by the UNEAC (National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba), take a seat and get ready for a couple of cocktails whilst romantic boleros fill the glorious and flowery open-air patio of the Casa de Estrada y Palma with good ambience.
The best way to discover Bayamese art is through a visit to the beautiful Casa de la Cultura 20 de octubre where you will find works of plastic arts of artists fond of great talent in the municipality. Also, it is an important centre for the population, as many workshops and formative classes, from dance to IT-classes, take place there.
The party piece of Bayamo is the noche de los sábados with the Fiesta de la Cubanía, a street party where music and dance are truly guaranteed. Have fun there listening to very typical tube organs in this region and dive into the night in charge of the dance. Try out the tasty roast pork and the ostiones, a Bayamese drink made of oysters, delights of the night.
Go play chess and learn the best tactics from chess enthusiasts that will kindly help you.
What excursions can one do from Bayamo?
The geographical location of Bayamo, nearly central in the province of Granma, make excursions to other points in the province, such as the lovely city of Manzanillo or the leafy Sierra Maestra easily accessible. Thanks to these small trips you can take a closer look at the history of this region and its grand significance for Cuba.
Dive into the wild nature by taking the excursion to Sierra Maestra. Explore its great splendour through green paths full of endemic vegetation that will take you to the Comandancia General de La Plata. There Fidel Castro and his acolytes settled and led the Revolution. During the experience you may encounter nice countrymen and comforting rest areas.
Get to know archaeological spots in the region by taking an excursion to Parque Nacional Desembarco del Granma, a place declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Go through its green path surrounded by leafy and thick vegetation till you get to the Museo Las Coloradas. You should include in this experience a visit to the sitio arqueológico El Guafe, replete with natural caves where we find the pre-Colombian ídolo del agua.
Discover the natural caves of Parque Nacional Desembarco del Granma through Morlotte-Fustete excursion. Dive into the cueva de Fustete and eye the different rock formations housing in it, such as stalagmites and stalactites. Go and enjoy the green paths surrounded by coastal vegetation till you get to the mind-boggling Hoyo de Morlotte 77 metres deep.
The remarkable landscape of terraces of the El Samuel excursions is waiting for you. Enjoy the amazing sceneries and observe the different morphologies of the terrain. Go through the ecological path till you get to the cueva El Samuel, where it awards you astonishing views to the Caribbean sea.
Take the Las Yeguas excursion, visit the Alto del Vigía and enjoy lovely panoramic views of the Marea del Portillo Bay high up. Carry on this beautiful path till the Las Yeguas cascades formed by five waterfalls, cool yourself down under it and relax a bit after the excursion.
The coastal locality of Marea del Portillo offers you many aquatic activities, such as snorkeling near the splendid coral barrier surrounding the coast or the deep-sea fishing on the high sea.
What are the best accommodations in Bayamo, Cuba?
One of the best accommodation options is to stay in a casa particular (private house). Whether for one night or for your entire stay, this experience will top off your trip in a great way. Get to know the Bayamese daily life, their lifestyle and at the end of your trip you will leave Bayamo with a bunch of authentic histories and a myriad of tips.
If you fancy staying in a hotel, you have many hotels at your disposal that will cover all your needs.
Of colonial architecture and with a centric location, the Hotel Royalton, owning boutique category, is a tasteful accommodation option. One of its main charms is the open-air terrace on the ground floor that immerses you at the beautiful Céspedes Park.
The Hotel Islazul Sierra Maestra is a perfect complex for families that has a big open-air pool. Inside the complex you will find all the necessary comforts to enjoy the visit to the city.
For tighter budgets, the Hotel Escuela Telégrafo is the idyllic place of accommodation. With a big contrast between its colonial outside and its modern inside, recently improved, its terrace will award you all delights a Bayamese night has to offer you. Its staff consisting of hotel and catering business students will take care of you.
Outside the urban centre of the city we find Villa Islazul Bayamo, a hotel of 100% rural splendour and a big pool from where to admire the fields surrounding the villa. Enjoy the peacefulness this small complex is offering you away from the provincial capital.
How to get to Bayamo, Cuba?
Bayamo is the capital of the province of Granma, in the southeastern Cuba. You are able to travel there easily by using different modes of transportation, as it is well connected with the rest of the country.
If you come from another country, your best option would be to take a flight to Aeropuerto Internacional José Martí (José Martí International Airport) in Havana and then go to Bayamo. The fastest way to get there is by plane, flying to Aeropuerto Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Airport) in Bayamo that receives flights from Havana twice a week.
The second most reliable option is to fly from Havana to Aeropuerto Internacional Frank País (Frank País International Airport), in Holguín, to then take a bus or a private car to Bayamo.
Another possibility would be to take a coach from Havana to Bayamo that has way more flexible timetables than the planes. The coach journey takes around 14 hours or you could take a private car that allows you to stop in lovely villages and adore their amazing sceneries along the way.
Additionally, if you are already in Cuba, the only available modes of transportation are the coach, the passenger lorries and the private car.
You could travel by coach from the most remote places, like Varadero, the heaven of Caribbean beaches and rest; Trinidad, a colonial villa declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO; Santiago de Cuba, a glorious city with true Cuban charm: and Holguín, the lovely city of infinite beaches and sceneries.
A very good choice would be the passenger lorries from other points of the Granma province, such as Manzanillo, the Perla del Guacanayabo or Pilón, a tiny maritime municipality of astounding vegetation not far away.
When travel to Bayamo?
Bayamo has a humid tropical climate with warm temperatures which turn this city, like the rest of Cuba, into a place for fun surrounded by free open-air activities.
The region of the province of Granma has clearly divided climatic seasons. Whilst the rain season, humidity and sultry weather accompanied by typical heat go from May till October; the driest season, warm but lacking that humidity and clear skies is from November till April.
The city is home for many events and celebrations throughout the year. Its the most important local party is the Heroica Quema de Bayamo on the 10th of January, where the village remenisches the fire of 1868. This act is being commemorated at a celebration with artistic and sports events filling the city with emotion.
The Festival de Música Popular Sindo Garay takes place in Bayamo mid-April where you can enjoy a competition of ballad and traditional Cuban music. The perfect occasion to adore this art and discover new provincial talents.
At the end of July the colour and the music fill the streets of Bayamo with carnivals. Enjoy the big and beautiful floats going through the city accompanied by music groups showing you the rhythm of these days of celebration. Happiness fills squares and parks. Enjoy the fireworks show covering the sky with colour every year at the end of the festivity.
Mid-October the entire Granma gathers together to celebrate the Fiesta de la Cubanía, where values and traditions of the province coming from the heroes are being commemorated. There you will find handicrafts fairs, typical books and traditional products from the region. Go and have a nice walk on the streets of Bayamo and adore the sonorous concerts and the surprising open-air art exhibitions.
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