Sancti Spíritus (168km) small, unspoilt colonial town; Trinidad (61km) the best preserved colonial town; the beach at Guardalavaca (217km); Santa Lucia resort and Playa Los Cocos for beach time, (112km).

Camagüey is 530km by road from Havana (6 hours) or 1 hour by air, 168km from Sancti Spíritus, 205km from Bayamo (2 hours 45mins).

City foundation: Camagüey first week of Feb; street parties.

Carnival: Camagüey, 24-29 Jun.

GMT -5 hours; usually there is daylight saving in the summer but it is a moveable feast.

Camagüey is hot all the year around. The drier season for visitors is Nov-Apr when the weather is usually sunny, mostly dry and less humid. Hurricane and tropical storms are possible Aug-Nov.

Spanish.

You can use sterling cash or a credit card to purchase Cuban Convertible Pesos at banks in Camagüey and there is an (untested) ATM. There are also money exchanges (cadecas) for cash transactions. The rate of exchange for euros tends to be less favourable.