The city of Havana has played a key role in the development of the Americas since the early days of European colonization. As a key strategic point in controlling the continents it became one of the most fortified cities in the world, and the largest of the fortresses built here was San Carlos de la Cabana. It is a massive fortress which our guides told us is rivaled only by Dubrovnik’s Old Town, which we have also visited.

To get to San Carlos de la Cabana you actually have cross Havana Bay. Fortunately there is a tunnel that actually goes under the bay to get to the other side. This tunnel is called the Havana Tunnel, and it is considered one of the 7 civil engineering wonders of Cuba (they did not say what the other six were).

San Carlos de la Cabana is still an active Cuban military base, and while we were there we actually saw a parade of the military exit the fortress because we happened to be visiting on the birthday of José Marti, Cuba’s national hero. But, in addition to serving as military base it is also a historical site and museum.

We actually visited San Carlos de la Cabana twice because of how our tours worked out, but neither visit was for very long, so we did not get to see the entire fortress or visit the military museum.

The first area of the fortress you do not need a ticket to enter, you can walk up on part of the wall here. There is also an exhibit of the world’s longest cigar (it is very long) and a cigar and rum store (which of course we didn’t care about, but most people did).

If you cross the bridge from this outer courtyard into the fortress then you need a ticket. Our tour guide on our second day had our tickets, but I do not think they were very expensive, just a few CUC for an adult. Inside the ticketed area you can walk around the streets and up on more of the wall overlooking the bay.

There is a military museum inside the fortress that is included on your ticket, but our tour did not have enough time to visit it.