| Location
and How to Get There |
Baracoa
is on the northern coast of Guantanamo Province, over 620 miles
(1000 km) east of Havana. You can get there by flying Gustavo Rizo
Airport, which hadles small and medium-sized planes, or by driving
along the Moa-Baracoa highway or the La Farola viaduct, which links
Baracoa with regions to the south. This last is an impressive feat
of engineering that winds among mountains 1968 feet (600 m) above
the sea level and has nine bridges that hang out over precipes.
Activities
include swimming and sunbathing at the beach in complete privacy,
swimming or boating on any of the many rivers, and excursions along
the coast and inland. Because of its climate, its unspoiled natural
attractions and its immense tranquillity, Baracoa is a perfect place
for getting a really good rest.
| Nearby
Places Places of Interest |
Baracoa
(founded in 1511) was the first Spanish settlement in Cuba. Its
name is aboriginal and means "land of waters", but this
is also a land of cacao, coconuts and minerals. The area has interesting
traditions, history and legends. The town is quiet, with some attractive
architecture-several houses dating from the 19th century and a systhem
of colonial fortifications that includes Matachin Fort (now a museum
of local history, the natural scienes and archeology) and La Punta
Fort (now a restaurant).
Baracoa
parish church contains a cross that is silverplated at its extrimities
and is a real treasure- the Parra Cross, the only remaining one
of the 29 that Columbus had erected on shore during his voyages.
Explore the beautiful rivers in the area: the Duaba, the Miel (Honey),
the Yumuri and the Toa. This last is the largest river in Cuba;
it is fed by 71 tributaries and has several waterfalls, such as
El Saltadero, over 55 feet (17 m) high. Go boating between the tall
cliffs at the mouth of Yumuri River.
Inland,
the Yunque de Baracoa (Baracoa Anvil) is a mountain that rises to
1765 feet (538 m) above the sea level. Named for its shape, it dominates
Baracoa's skyline. The Cuchillas del Toa is a preserve of the biosphere.
Many people believe that Ivory-billed Woodpeckers (Campephilus principalis
bairdii), whch has been declared extinct, still live there. It also
includes the largest rainforests in Cuba, which contain precious
wood trees and several valuable species of animals, such as the
solenodon; a tiny frog that is thought to be the smallest in the
world; and Cuban land snails (Polymita picta), that are the most
colorful ones on earth. Here too, you can see over 900 species of
endemic flora, including around 360 that are found only in this
area.
Baracoa
also has over 50 important archeological sites. According to the
experts, it was the largest center of development of Cuban-Indians'
culture. Moreover, this is the only place in Cuba whose inhabitants
have features showing their Indian heritage.
Visit
the Duaba Farm for a delecious Cuban lunch after seeing how cacao
is turned into chocolate. Or go up in the mountains of Guantanamo
Province to see the Stone Zoo - perhaps the only one of its kind
in the world - where Angel Inigo, a farmer who taught himself how
to sculpt, has worked on stones in their original places, creating
around 400 stone animals.
From
Baracoa you can also go on an excursion to Maisi, at the easternmost
tip of Cuba, to see its impressive marine terraces, which are among
the largest in the world. This is an area of caves and cactus where
you'll be surprised by the quick change from the rainiest area in
the country to the driest one, which is known as Cuba's semi-desert.
On the way back to the capita of the province, stop off at the Malones
Lookout Point for a good view of the Guantanamo Naval Base.
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