Historical & Cultural Landmarks in the Caribbean

The Old San Jan Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Old San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and the historic colonial section of the city of San Juan.

Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve is located on the island of St. Croix. The protected area preserves upland watersheds, mangrove forests and marine environments. It also contains the the only known site where a Columbus expedition set foot on what is now U.S. territory.

This massive series of fortifications on a rocky promontory was built to protect the important port of Santiago de Cuba. This intricate complex of forts, magazines, bastions and batteries is the most complete, best-preserved example of Spanish-American military architecture.

Trinidad, together with the nearby Valle de los Ingenios was founded in the early 16th century but owes its existence to the sugar industry that flourished there and in the nearby valley from the late 18th century to the late 19th century.

Situated on the Caribbean coast of southern-central Cuba, the colonial town of Cienfuegos was founded in 1819 in the Spanish territory but was initially settled by immigrants of French origin. It became a trading place for sugar cane, tobacco and coffee.

Viñales Valley, in far western Cuba, exhibits an outstanding karst landscape, encircled by mountains and dotted with spectacular dome-like limestone outcrops that rise nearly 1,000 ft. The valley is home to an original culture who once worked the tobacco plantations.