Hotel Encanto Camino de Hierro declared a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site in 2008, enjoys a privileged location in the historic center of Camaguey, Comfortably settled on the Plaza de El Gallo (formerly Plaza de la Soledad).
This property carries the distinction of being an E Hotel. The "E" stands for encanto (charm) and is used to designate those hotels in history rich cities exhibiting the highest standards of preservation and which promote cultural tourism.
Spend a night in the boutique Camino de Hierro before driving the next morning to the northern beaches of Santa Lucía.
The two story building with wrap-around balconies and a cute sidewalk terrace hints at the magic hiding behind the colonial facade. An interior, tiled patio, de rigueur in colonial times , welcomes visitors into the hushed elegance that is the Camino de Hierro. Soft yellow walls contrast with the green wooden balconies and balustrades here; the addition of lush plants and orchids give it a tropical feel.
The stylish restaurant has a beamed ceiling and the bar is nicely restored with brick niches.
Camagüey (originally named Santa María del Puerto Del Príncipe) was the third city founded in Cuba; in 2014 it will celebrate its 500 th anniversary.
Sightseeing in the city will inevitably bring you to a closer appreciation of the life of the city's hero, Ignacio Agramonte, as there is both a park and a museum dedicated to his memory. The city itself is one of the prettiest in Cuba, full of architectural gems testifying to its colonial past.
Near the train station you can find The Museum of the Birthplace of Ignacio Agramonte. Visit the La Merced church opposite to see its peeling frescoes and the venerated objects stored in its crypt, finally the best of this city is Plaza San Juan de Dios which is an old cobblestones square surrounded by brightly hued, single storey buildings and a lovely yellow church alongside a restored former hospital.