Castillo San Pedro de la Roca and El Cobre

Explore the majestic fortress, also known as Castillo del Morro, which is perched on a 60-metre-high rock at the eastern entrance to the port of Santiago de Cuba. Completed in 1693, the fortress was originally built to defend against pirate attacks. Stroll through the complex structure with its three moats, several drawbridges and six different levels for the firing range. Navigate through the labyrinth of corridors and climb the 250 steps from the lowest to the highest floor. Learn about its later use as a prison for political prisoners and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Admire the panoramic ocean views from this remarkable example of Spanish-American military architecture.

Enjoy a delicious lunch of local Cuban delicacies, the perfect way to break up your excursion.

Continue your journey to the Basilica Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, located in the lush foothills of the Sierra Maestra. The three white towers with their bright red domes rise majestically into the sky. Inside, the white marble shrine surrounds the 35 cm tall statue of the merciful Virgin of Cobre, the Cuban national saint and patron saint. Learn the miraculous story of how the statue was found by three fishermen in the Bay of Nipe in the early 16th century and how Pope Benedict XV declared the Virgin a national saint in 1916. Explore the Room of Miracles, which is filled with a variety of offerings from the faithful, including a small gold figurine donated by Fidel Castro's mother to protect her son.