Museo de Playa Giron, Bay of Pigs war museum

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Aug

32635 pts.

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This museum is quite off the path, even if this historic event is world famous!
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The museum of this famous Cold War episode...

My experience, Explo description:

After coming to power in 1959, Castro government began to nationalize lands owned by foreigners and to approach USSR.

The Bay of Pigs attack (Bahia de Cochinos) was an attempted military invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles backed by the United States in April 1961. It was aiming at overthrowing the Cuban government. Planned under the administration of Dwight Eisenhower, the operation was launched by John F. Kennedy administration.

On the morning of Saturday, April 15, six American B26 bombers (painted with Cuban flags) took off from Nicaragua and attacked air bases in Havana and Santiago.

Most of the army and many Cuban civilian aircrafts were destroyed on the ground. Only 9 aircrafts (that were not on the floor) remained intact and played a decisive role in coming days.

On April 17, at 1.15am, the Brigade 2506 landed in 2 different places at Playa Larga and Playa Girón, in the Bay of Pigs, 202 miles southeast of Havana .

Offshore, many cargo ships and other U.S. warships were designed to consolidate the bridgehead. After rough fightings, the invaders were defeated on April 19.

161 Cubans were killed by invaders, who counted 107 casualties in their ranks. 1 189 were taken prisoners.

Playa Giron Museum shows the curious story of the world-famous landing of the Bay of Pigs.

After driving miles of road through wild and wooded areas, we arrived at Giron, a small town with an end of the world atmosphere. Many photos and weapons are exhibited in the 2 rooms of museum.

Outside the museum are exhibited a T 34, a SU 100, a Hawker Sea Fury (Cuban side) and a M41 Bulldog (there were 5 of them on the U.S. side).

My personal recommendations:

On the road, from Giron to Jaguey Grande, you can still notice a few little bunkers and the numerous graves of people who were killed during the fightings…

How getting there:

The museum is located in front of the Villa Playa Giron entrance.

There 2 buses per day (1 to Cienfuegos and 1 to La Havana).

Else, you can rent a car. It is about 4 hours drive from La Havana. And 2 hours from Cienfuegos. The road, going along the sea, is wonderful.

A tip to eat:

There is a restaurant (touristic) in the Villa Playa Giron.

A tip to sleep:

In the local touristic complex: Villa Playa Giron.

Useful information:

Open hours:

9am to 17pm daily.

Visit duration: