Villa Clara, Cuba

Discover the province of Villa Clara, the beautiful Cuban islands full of history and nature

Villa Clara, Cuba
© Leonardo Kerner

Villa Clara is a province located in the central part of Cuba. It is the second-largest producer of sugarcane in the country. And, worldwide, Villa Clara is known for its mausoleum in Santa Clara where guerilla member, Ernesto “Che” Guevara, is buried. This Cuban province is full of culture and history as well as a great place to enjoy virgin beaches, like the Cayo Santa María (Santa Maria Keys) in the Cayos del Norte (Northern Keys).

You can also find the country's second most prestigious university, Universidad central Marta Abreu de las Villas, in Santa Clara.

The city was a strategic place during the revolution as it was where Che Guevara derailed a train full of government soldiers leading to a victory that tipped the scales in favour of Fidel Castro’s movement. After being murdered in Bolivia, Guevara’s body was transferred to this region of Cuba in the 1990s and it is where the failed guerilla leader’s body lies to this day.

Remedios
© Wilder Méndez

On a national level, the Villa Clara is known for its yearly carnival, the Parrandas Remedianas. It is celebrated every December in Remedios. Founded in 1513, the town is the oldest town in the province. It has held up against numerous attacks by pirates, who often prowled along the island’s coast. The dangerous attacks forced residents to move inland for safety. Eventually, a ferocious fire triggered a mass emigration inland to modern Santa Clara. Can still be admired by the colonial vestiges.

Further north, visitors can relax in the crystal-clear waters, enjoy all kinds of aquatic activities, and discover the peaceful islands of the Cayos del Norte of Villa Clara (northern keys of Villa Clara). The most famous islands: Cayo Santa María, Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Las Brujas. All of the islands can be accessed via Pedraplén, a bridge that crosses over Bahía de Buenavista (Buenavista Bay), which is 48 km long. Visitors can stay in Caibarién, a fishing village, in order to move back and forth from the islands.

Embalse Habananilla
© Wilder Méndez

Villa Clara is also home to the embalse Hanabanilla (Hanabanilla Reservoir), the largest artificial lake in the country. It is famous for its high population of fish as well as its fishing competitions. It is a picturesque environment worth visiting. Discover paths that lead you to waterfalls and take a refreshing bath.

We recommend visiting Villa Clara in December during the Parrandas Remedianas festival, one of the best in the Caribbean. However, the island is worth visiting all year round due to its warm weather and magnificent beaches.

Interactive map:

Cayo Santa María

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Beaches:

Santa Clara

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Remedios

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Caibarién

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Villa Clara

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