Cárdenas is a small, tranquil city with a big personality. Admire the beautiful colonial architecture that lines its quiet streets, along which bicycles and horse and carriages travel. Explore its pretty parks and fascinating museums and soak up its friendly, laid-back atmosphere.
An authentically Cuban city, Cárdenas is devoid of the mass tourism found elsewhere on the island. Chat with local residents, who are patriotically proud of being the first place in the country in which the Cuban flag was raised.
Start your explorations in the compact and easily navigable city center. In the small Parque Colón, admire the stained-glass windows of the Cárdenas Cathedral, also known as Catedral de la Concepción Inmaculada. Pose for a photograph with the statue of Christopher Columbus which stands in front of the cathedral. Dating to 1862, the statue is considered to be the oldest in the western world. In Parque Echeverría, a nearby prominent park, learn more about the city’s famed 20th-century revolutionary at the Musuem Casa Natal José Antonio Echeverría, which is housed in his childhood home.
Cárdenas has two main claims to fame. Firstly, the city was the site of the first raising of the Cuban flag by revolutionary General Narciso López in 1850. Find the Monument of the Flag that honors this event at the end of Avenida Céspedes. The city is also known for being the home of Elián González, a 6-year-old boy who hit worldwide headlines in 1999 when he was shipwrecked off the coast of Miami, sparking an international debate about his custody. In 2001 Fidel Castro opened a museum in his honor, the Museo Batalla de Ideas (Museum of the Ideological Battle).
Located 11 miles (18 kilometers) southeast of the city of Varadero, Cárdenas is served by plentiful public transportation. The city is also a good daytrip destination, as most of the important sights can be seen within a few hours. If you have time then enjoy a side trip and sample some of the famous Cuban rum at the Arechabala Rum Factory, the original home of Havana Club.
