Sancti Spíritus travel guide

History

The town was founded by Diego Velázquez in 1514. Originally situated on the Río Tuinicúe, it was moved to its present location on the Río Yayabo in 1522 and was sacked by pirates in 1665. The town grew as sugar and livestock became important and its geographical position made it an excellent agricultural market town. In the San Luis valley, or Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills), between Trinidad and Sancti Spíritus, are many ruined sugar mills, plantation houses and slave quarters, including Manaca Iznaga . There are many sites commemorating those who fought in the 19th-century wars of independence, the local hero being Major General Serafín Sánchez Valdivia. At the end of the Cuban Revolution in 1958, rebel forces were led into the city under the command of Armando Acosta Cordero and Sancti Spíritus was liberated on 23 December. Fidel Castro arrived on 6 January 1959 and spoke from the balcony of the library. With the administrative changes in 1976, Sancti Spíritus became the capital of the new province of Sancti Spíritus.

Getting around

The old city can be toured on foot without much difficulty. For excursions by car ask at a casa particular for a private driver, or find one outside the bus station and negotiate a price. Trinidad can be visited as a day trip by bus or car, but it is better to stay in Trinidad and visit Sancti Spíritus as a day trip.

Getting there

There are no scheduled flights to the airport north of town. Main line trains from Havana to Santiago stop at the train station 15 km away at Guayos, but you will be met by taxis, both state-owned and private. The former cost CUC$10 into town, the latter can be negotiated. About 70 km northeast of Trinidad and 80 km southeast of Santa Clara, the town can be reached by road from Cienfuegos, Santa Clara or Trinidad. Long-distance buses come to Sancti Spíritus from both ends of the island, but the bus station is 2 km from the centre, so if you are not up to walking with your luggage you will have to get a taxi.

Local

Horse-drawn buses for short journeys around town.

Long distance

The bus station is 2 km east of town on the Carretera Central. Walk out of town along Cervantes, follow signs to Ciego de Avila along Carretera Central, about 5 blocks past the zoo, the bus station is on your right. Víazul buses on the Havana–Santiago or Trinidad–Santiago routes daily, but you may not get a seat.

Local

Bicitaxis will get you around town if you don’t want a taxi.

Long distance

A private taxi (particular) will take you to Trinidad for CUC$25 or less, and to Santa Clara for around CUC$30, depending on the quality of your Spanish. Find a driver outside the bus station.

Train

Station at Guayos, 15 km north. Taxi into town CUC$10. Touts offer transport and accommodation. Sancti Spíritus is on the main line service between Havana and Santiago and there are additional daily trains to Camagüey, 2-3 hrs, in theory.

Everything you need is on Independencia, a pedestrian street known as Boulevard.

Banks

Banco de Crédito, on the plaza, Mon-Fri 0800-1500. Cash advance on credit cards. Cadeca, Independencia 31, just off plaza, for TCs and currency exchange, Mon-Sat 0830-1800, Sun 0830-1230.

Pharmacy

Independencia Sur at the southwestern corner of Parque Maceo.

Post

Independencia Sur 8, south of Parque Serafín Sánchez.