With a population of 440,000, Santiago de Cuba lies on Cuba’s Southern coast. Founded by Diego Velasquez in 1514, Santiago served as Cuba’s capital until 1553. In 1953, Fidel Castro attacked the barracks at Moncada in Santiago, starting the revolution against Batista.

Today, Santiago, Cuba’s second-largest city is a seaport that ships sugar, rum, and tobacco products, as well as iron, manganese, and copper ore from Cuba.

Highlights a tour of the city include Parque Cespedes, Morro Castle, San Juan Hill, and the Caney Rum Factory- the oldest in the country. Santiago has some of country’s highest temperatures, although the average summer temperature is about 27C.