Just noticed a Shorex excursion for Santiago in My Journey Planner….Same price as original Fathom excursion ($129 – see below). Shorex’ is one hour shorter.
Would appreciate input from anyone who has taken either of these. Shorex’ excursion sounds more detailed, but could just be the way the info is written.
Thanks!
Santiago: Birthplace of Revolution (SHOREX EXCURSION)
Spend the day in Santiago exploring the city’s rich and storied past, embracing the spirits of Cuba’s heroes of independence. Your day will include visits to Santiago’s Revolution Plaza and San Juan Hill to learn more about the Spanish-Cuban-American War and see the site of the infamous Rough Riders charge. Afterwards, travelers will visit Moncada Barracks and museum , Parque Cespedes, and Santa Ifigenia cemetery, exploring sites specific to Fidel Castro’s July 26th Movement and his final resting spot. This full day tour including lunch provides incredible insight into the Cuban war for independence and the Cuban revolution.
On raised legs, the statue of Antonio Maceo and his horse glimmers in the Caribbean sun. The Bronze Titan is formidable even in statue form, made more ominous by the 23 giant machetes piercing through the ground. Gathered around the eternal flame honoring Maceo’s life and legacy, your local guide will explain the role of General Maceo in freeing Cuba from Spain, before providing travelers free time to explore the exhibits housed in the plaza. Host to an array of parades and political, social and cultural events, Antonio Maceo Revolution Square has become an icon in Cuba’s second largest city.
Situated between an aging ferris wheel and the formerly named Leningrad Hotel, San Juan Hill provides a remarkable perspective on the war that cemented Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy and has dominated pages of American textbooks for decades. Looking down from the top of the hill, it is hard to imagine the bravery and courage of the Cuban and American fighters who stormed the Spanish at this decisive battlefield of the Spanish-Cuban-American War. The monuments to the American and Cuban soldiers who fought here are sombering, and the tomb of the unknown soldier is a touching memorial to the ideals of independence. With historic cannons and a watchtower, San Juan Hill provides beautiful views and historic perspective.
Focusing on a different era and revolution, your excursion will also include a visit to Moncada Barracks with a guided tour from a local expert. The site of Castro’s July 26th attack, the Moncada Barracks attack is widely accepted as the start of the Cuban revolution. The yellow building, still pockmarked with bullet holes, was converted into a school before a section was dedicated to preserving the history of the building and its role in the revolution. The museum itself contains details on the Moncada Barracks attack, while highlighting the valor of the revolutionary fighters. Seeing the strong fortifications in person, only serves as a greater reminder to the commitment of those who first laid siege to this building.
Following in Castro’s footsteps, visit Santiago’s city center at Parque Cespedes. Surrounding the bronze bust of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, the man credited with starting Cuba’s war for independence in 1868, Parque Cespedes encapsulates the romanticism of Cuban daily life. Cubans buzz in and out of the plaza, walking, talking, hustling, and flirting. Music wafts from the surrounding corridors and street musicians alike, seemingly coming from everywhere and anywhere. Even the trumpeting angels atop the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción seem to be in on the activity from their perch towering above the square. Between the former San Carlos Club and the beautiful rooftop terrace bar of the Hotel Casa Grande is the Ayuntamiento, where Castro famously delivered his victory speech on the balcony in 1959. Exuberant and energetic, Parque Cespedes captures a piece of life in the former capital of Cuba.
The final stop on your excursion in Santiago includes a visit to Santa Ifigenia cemetery. Full of mausoleums and monuments, Cuba’s New Orleans style cemeteries are full of oddities and symbolism, intermingled among the maze of grave sites. While Ifigenia is the final resting place of some of Cuba’s important figures such as prominent members of the Bacardi family, it is the memorials to Jose Marti and Fidel Castro that make this site so special. The tomb of Jose Marti includes an eternal flame and a ceremonial changing of the guards. The monument honors the Cuban land and people, with intricately crafted effigies representing the provinces of the island. Next to Marti, a recently created tomb in the shape of a corn kernel marks the resting place of Fidel Castro’s ashes.
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Explore the Magic of Santiago Featuring El Morro
Your visit to Santiago will feature lunch at a local restaurant and a visit to the site of the Battle of San Juan Hill. As you drive through the city keep an eye out for sites like the Antonio Maceo Revolution Square, and Plaza de Marti. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, a coastal fortress locally known as “El Morro”. Experience and learn about the music and religions of Eastern Cuba at Parque Cespedes or the Catedral de la Ciudad. Spend a portion of the day visiting a community arts center dedicated to preserving the identity of Santiago’s people. You will either learn about the importance of dance in Santiago at the Cutumba and Macumba, you will be inspired by the voices of the Coro Madrigalista. Other travelers will visit one of the famous music clubs of Santiago where they will be welcomed in to learn more about the sounds unique to the eastern side of the island.