parque calixto garcia

Great place to see Cadillac cars, shop in the markets and drink some traditional cuban coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice. Everyone is friendly, we used the bank to change some money there seemed to be a problem because they don't often see English money but they overcame this and accepted it.

A traditional meeting place, the plaza was established in 1719. A place to see, eat, meet and to be entertained. The city plaza is a hub of activity. Connected with the next busy square 'Parque de las Flores' by a pedestrian area (bulevar) on a part of Calle Libertad.The square features since 1912 the statue of General Calixto Garcia.This is strictly a Cuban place, as tourist are in minority in Holguin. You recognize the tourist easy, as they are worse dressed than the Cubans. You will also find the best of old american car taxis parked here. A safe area, day or night, as most places in Cuba.La Begonia Cafe/bar is you best place to watch the life on the plaza.The grid like city system helps you orient your self. Calle Libertad (on some maps - Mandulay Rio) and Calle Maceo are two major streets, which run from the 'Hill of the Cross' through the city.

Almost exclusively cubans strolling in the park or sitting on the benches. Super clean - surprising in Cuba - no vendors/jineteros bothering the occasional tourist.

We visited this park while in Holguin last week. You will find a nice place for locals and their kids and tourists to relax and enjoy the ambiance of the area. It's a safe place to hang around and have fun. There's food and drinks nearby too if you're looking for that as well.

the park is the exact center of downtown Holguin. Tons of locals who hang out every night, drinking dancing, having fun. Can't wait to go back

We visited this park in March 2012 during our trip to Cuba. Worth a visit if you're in Holguin. We spent a few hours here chilling in the sun with a nice cold cerveza. It's a lovely place.

I will say that this is the best park of the Holguin City...The city is known as the Park's city...because there is a park ever two blocks.. But this one is kind of all white and is the only one that has the boulevard in one side.. you must visit...

if you are staying in town this is where the clubs, restaurants & bars are. you can people watch & get a good idea of everyday cuban life. nothing out of the ordinary as everything is still old. been to holguin twice. my next trip here i will go to more restaurants & i will check out all the clubs. never had any issues. you get your beggers but i don't have as many issues as others for i am a big guy, have many large tattoos & my hair is usually braided. i'm not the first tourist they are looking to rob but always take caution. limit the money you bring & never bring your credit card or passport out on the town when drinking. the police are lax here compared to varadero & havana. if you are staying in the city then i'm sure your cab fare won't be too expensive. i stay at hotel pernik & it's usually around 4-5 CUC. i have my own driver most of the time. just be smart & enjoy this area. there isn't really much else to do in holguin other then a baseball game or 56km trip to the beach...

Calixto Garcia Park, the central park of Holguin province, is one of the largest in Cuba, you can sit there and enjoy the gentle breeze and also see a whole city passing in front of you.From that point you can decide if you go to the "House of Trova" or "House of Music"

This is the heart of the city A place to find all you could need, like or dislike :-) it is really awsome.

Parque Calixto Garcia is the busiest park in Holguin. It is surrounded by half a dozen bars and restaurants, the Casa de la Musica, a disco, a jazz club, and Casa de la Trova, the newly renovated Teatro Eddy Suñol, a couple of national peso department stores and 2 or 3 CUC stores, the Museo Provincial de Historia, the library, a large art gallery ( Centro de Arte), and the telephone company ETECSA. Street food is available on the north-west and south-east corners. Tourist trinkets are sold on the north and east sides. The streets surrounding the park are often blocked of to set up stages for various cultural events...dance, music, etc. The park is most polished concrete with concrete benches. Different kinds of people gather in different parts of the park...skate-boarders hang out in the south-west corner for example. It is a good place to sit in the shade with a cold drink and people watch. Holguin is plagued by numerous drunks and beggars but a stern side to side finger-wagging will usually send them on their way if the first "No" doesn't do the trick. At night the music venues come alive with young people decked out in Armani shirts. Holguin is not set up for police protection of foreigners and you can be mugged at night so exercise caution.

This could be a beautiful and relaxing place, however with in moments of getting out of the taxi we (myself, my wife and our 6yr old daughter) were swamped with beggars want money. Don't encourage them by giving them any. We did not feel safe and could feel everyone's eyes glaring at us. Little to nothing to buy.

Not Cuba's finest plaza, but still one to enjoy at the evening sun with a frisky Naranja or Cerveza. There are some nice souvenir shops here to scout out as well.

you can see the principal things and commerce of holguin.

good for getting a flavour of the local life in Cuba