Cienfuegos

One of the finest, gleaming jewels of the Caribbean, the turquoise-coloured Bay of Cienfuegos sits amongst the ruffled verdant greenery of the surrounding hills like a gemstone mounted on a crown. For centuries, corsairs would sneak through the inlet to attack the city, until the staunch 18th-century fortress, Castillo de Jagua, was built. To get a sense of their journey today, anchor in the bay and kayak around the shoreline.

Even in a city full of madcap, grandiose architectural extravagance, Palacio de Valle still stands out. Masterminded at the turn of the 20th-century by Spanish businessman Acisclo del Valle Blanco, this pink-and-turquoise mansion on Punta Gorda playfully pulls together Moroccan, baroque and Gothic designs to make one startling mega villa. Now a delightful restaurant, if you moor in the bay, you can play “spot the yacht” from its lovely terrace bar.

Stumbling upon these waterfalls is like discovering a lost continent. Surrounded by flora that wouldn't look out of place in Jurassic Park, these stunning cascades in the Parque Natural Topes de Collantes are an easy day trip from Cienfuegos. Y.CO can arrange the details, just pack your camera and swimmers. If you don’t need one, you’ll certainly need the other: there are two swimmable natural pools and panoramas of Embalse Hanabanilla lake.