OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Caribbean
- Cuba
- Santiago de Cuba
- Castillo de San Pedro del Morro (Morro Castle)
Castillo de San Pedro del Morro (Morro Castle)
Santiago's most impressive structure is poised ominously atop
the cliffs at the narrow entrance to Santiago Bay, about nine miles
(14km) south of Santiago. This enormous piece of military
architecture, a maze of stairways and dungeons, was begun in 1640.
The Morro was rebuilt in 1664 after the English pirate, Henry
Morgan, reduced it to rubble. The castle now houses the Museum of
Piracy, featuring excellent displays on piracy, colonialism, and
slavery. There are old blunderbusses, muskets, cutlasses and Toldeo
blades in glass cases. A UNESCO World Heritage site, and a
fascinating place to visit, visitors to Santiago are encouraged not
to pass this sight up.
Information & Facts
Address
Six miles (10 km) south-west of the city centre, near the
bay
Admission
Language
The official language is Spanish, but English is spoken
in the main tourist spots.
Money
The official currency is the Cuban Peso (CUP), divided into 100
centavos, but the 'tourist' currency is the Peso Convertible (CUC),
which replaces the US Dollar as currency in tourist related
establishments like hotels, restaurants and so called 'dollar
shops'. US Dollars are no longer accepted as payment, and a 10%
commission or more is charged to exchange them, therefore the best
currency to bring along is Euros, the British Pound or Canadian
Dollars. The CUC is almost equal in value to the US Dollar. Some
places only accept Cuban pesos and others only Pesos Convertible
(usually tourist related establishments). Money should only be
changed at official exchange bureaux or banks to avoid scams
confusing the two currencies. Visa and MasterCard are generally
accepted only in major cities and hotels as long as they haven't
been issued by a US bank; Diners Club has limited acceptance, and
American Express is not accepted anywhere on the island. Travellers
cheques are less readily accepted than credit cards, but all major
currencies are acceptable, except for US bank issued cheques. No
US-issued credit or debit cards will work in ATMs, but those
holding other cards issued in other countries should be able to get
pesos at most major tourist destinations. Euro or Sterling
travellers cheques are accepted at Cuban banks and Bureaux de
Change.
Opening Times
Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and on
Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4pm
Time
Local time is GMT -5 (GMT-4 from the second Sunday in March
to the last Sunday in October).