Gran Piedra, Santiago de Cuba. Cuba

• Gran Piedra Santiago de Cuba. Cuba
• Daily
• 53 22 686393, 686147
• Destination: Santiago de Cuba

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The region of Santiago Cuba, favored by nature, with its steep mountains of great beauty, perfectly preserved environment and numerous historical and cultural values, complete their wealth with unique sites in the Cuban geography. In that area, with high mountain ranges over the island abound traces left by the rich Cuban history, in complement with unique contributions of nature such as the Sierra de la Gran Piedra. Its name comes from one of the most important geological values ​​of the province of Santiago de Cuba, represented in a huge block of volcanic rock, with dimensions of 51 feet long, 25 high and 30 wide, weighing estimated approximately 70 000 tonnes. This flashy place just 16 miles from the Caribbean city in Cuba as part of Baconao Park, declared in 1987, a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. La Gran Piedra, is registered in the Guinness Book of Records for being the rock of its size at higher altitudes in the world, 1234 m above sea level and the third by size worldwide. This is precisely the point of the mountain system which integrates the historical and cultural attractions of the area, which makes this place unique in the Cuban geography. Climbing its 459 steps, surrounded by ferns, orchids and other species in the area, visitors can reach the top of the rock, natural viewpoint, where you have a panoramic view of the south eastern coast of unparalleled beauty, and on the other hand, a splendid view of this part of the Sierra Maestra which is part of the resort mountain. Several hundred species of plants and 222 ferns, 352 orchids, eucalyptus, pine maestrenses, cubenses, cypresses, and a variety of fruit make up the flora. It is noteworthy that among ferns and orchids there is a high value of endemism, 22 percent of which are endemic to the area, which complements the site for nature tourism, to which is added a fauna with 926 species which highlights the Tocororo, Cuban national bird, and butterfly Gretacuba, almost invisible, have transparent wings.

Gran Piedra Map

Gran Piedra is located in Santiago de Cuba

It limits to the north with the province of Holguín; to the west with Granma; to the south with the Caribbean Sea, and to the east with the province of Guantánamo. The province covers a total area of 6 343 21 , Km². You can get here through Antonio Maceo International Airport, also by road from any other part of Cuba, or by sea ─in this last case, requesting the services from Punta Gorda Marina.

Two particular features characterizes Santiago de Cuba that make it exceptional: its hospitality, with people of happy and relaxed temperament and its rich historical-cultural wealth. Its Caribbean identity is evident in its popular music and in folklore manifestations. It depicts the title of Heroine City of the Republic of Cuba for the role carried out by its inhabitants in the revolutionary struggle during the decade of 1950. Privileged by its historical past, in Santiago de Cuba there are two of the Cuban places distinguished by UNESCO with the title of World Heritage: the San Pedro de la Roca Castle and the ruins of the first French coffee plantations in La Gran Piedra. The Santa Ifigenia cemetery , the 26 of July Historical Museum and the Siboney Farm, are places indissolubly linked to the history of Cuba.

Cayo Granma and Baconao Park (Biosphere Reserve) also part of the attractiveness of this region. As a tourist destination, Santiago de Cuba, combines excellent possibilities for the enjoyment of beaches, city and nature tourism for to the places of interest in those three scenarios.

For those who arrive in Santiago de Cuba, there are diverse lodging options in the city and in its surroundings, linked as much to the sea as to nature. With a variety of categories and levels of comfort, it will always be a guarantee for the visitors looking for harmony and soothing rest. There are other things, among so many, that make people from Santiago proud: to be the birthplace, par excellence, of almost all the musical genres of Cuba, a country where the music is soul and root; also, the carnivals that every month of July take place here, are the most spectacular in the country; as well as their rum, the well-known Fiestas del Fuego and the already traditional Festival of the Caribbean.

The region of Santiago de Cuba has the necessary infrastructure to encourage tourism of events and congresses; it also has in its mountainous and seafaring environment the conditions to develop nature and adventure tourism, trekking, nautical activities, and health tourism. But there is nothing better than walk its undulating and narrow streets loaded with history and music at the same time.