The Loma de la Cruz

I describe it as a penance, because it is. There are 465 steps leading up to a hill 275 meters above Holguin, a staircase built in 1950. But it became a must-visit spot in the city in 1790, at which time a cross was erected in hopes of ending the drought, and it's also a pilgrimage destination where annually on May 3rd a mass is held at its summit. Walking up takes about 20 minutes from the city centre, and I highly recommend buying water along the road, particularly in the small park with the plant remains of hurricane "Ike". A 1.5 litre bottle of water will disappear by the time you reach the top.