The
close to 50 beaches in Holguin Province cover close to 25 miles
(40 km) of coastline. Very intimate, they are among the most pictoresque
beaches in the Caribbean and have a warm turquoise water that is
very calm, thanks to the protection offered by nearby coral reefs.
They are bordered by thick vegetation which is typical for thisprovince,
which has 12 wildlife refuges.
Is
a shell-shaped and over half a mile (almost a km) long. It is near
several sites of great archeological and natural interest.
Which
is over 2950 feet (900 meters) long, is protected by extensive coral
reefs, escarpments, cliffs and lush vegetation that provides shade.
The area also contains Pesquero Beach, rich in underwater scenery
and good fishing spots; Don Lino, a beautiful beach which blends
open spaces, architecture and the world of nature in perfect harmony;
and Blanca (White) Beach, another site with very fine sand and unbelievably
beautiful water near Cayo Bariay, the place where Christopher Columbus
first set food on Cuban soil.
Esmeralda
and Guardelavaca Beaches, which have an excellent hotel infrastructure,
share an offshore area around 11 miles (18 km) long which contains
40 scuba diving sites. The seabed is irregular and complex, forming
high hillocks, caves, small valleys and cliffs with vertical sides
which in some places descend gently to form terraces covered with
Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.), other Gorgonians and coral. Many
species of colorful fish live there.
To
the east, near the broad Bay of Nipe, is 16 square miles (42 square
km) in size, and 65 percent of it is covered with forests. The rest
of its territory concists of meadows where American ostriches, antilope,
zebras, deer, wild boars, hutias and wild bulls roam at will. It
has accommodations of its own. Activities include swimming, yachting
and going on safaris in jeeps or horseback.
| Location
and How to Get There |
These
beaches are on the northern coast of Holguin Province, around 500
miles (over 800 km) east of Havana. Access is by road (both Guardelavaca
and Esmeralda Beaches are linked to the city of Holguin and to other
parts of the province by a network of roads), air (flights from
other parts of Cuba, Europe and the Americas put in Holguin's Frank
Pais International Airport) and sea (the Gaviota Puerto de Vita
Marina)
Activities
at Playa Esmeralda Beach include swimming, sailing lessons, scuba
diving, snorkling, other water sports, horseback riding, excursions
along the coast and inland, visits to farmer's houses, miniature
golf, tennis and cycling. At night, choose among the discoteque
and other attractions.
At
Guardelavaca Beach, activities include sunning, swimming, scuba
diving, snorkling, other water sports, beach volleyball, tennis,
excursions on yachts, horseback riding, cycling and hiking.
In
both cases, nearby Naranjo Bay (in a natural park) offers sea lion
and dolphin shows in its aquarium, swimming with these animals,
seafaris, air tours along the shore, deep sea and surface fishing,
seafood and typical Cuban cuisines, hiking and the services of the
Puerta de Vita Marina.
The
Chorro de Maita archeological digs, the largest aboriginal cemetery
in the Antilles that has been found to date, is also in the area,
with a restored Taino Indian village
near it.
Activities
on Cayp Saetia include water sports, yachting, horseback riding,
seafaris through forests and meadows (accompanied by experienced
guides) to see migratory birds and exotic species of flora and fauna.
| Nearby
Places of Interest |
The
city of Holguin is famous of its profusion of beautiful parks. Attractions
include the straight but narrow streets in the oldest part of the
city; many public squares; the Museum of History; the Museum of
Natural Sciensces; the San Isidoro Cathedral (dating from the 18th
century); the San Jose Church (built in 1815); the house in which
calixto Garcia, one of the most important generals in Cuba's Wars
of Independence, was born (now a museum); Cruz (Cross) Hill, an
excellent lookout point, which you reach by climbing a staircase
with 458 steps; and Marqueta Square Cultural Center, which has a
print shop and exhibit and sales areas for handycrafts, works of
art and books. There are several hotels, cabarets, discoteques and
restaurants with a wide range of offers.
Close
to the city, Mayabe Valley offers many options for rest and recreation.
Villa El Quinque and Villa El Cocal are also nearby. These centers
are internationally reknowned for their treatments that combat addictions.
The
province has several points of interest, as well. Gibara is a quiet,
pictoresque fishing village and port with interesting colonial architecture,
a Museum of Colonial Ambience and a Museum of Natural Sciences (which
has particularly a good butterfly collection). The Bariay National
Monument Park, at the spot where Christopher Columbus first set
foot on Cuban soil, celebrates that meeting of Indian and European
cultures that took place over five centuries ago. Banes, called
the archeological capital of Cuba, is the site of the Bani Indo-Cuban
Museum, which has exhibits of artifacts used by the island's first
inhibitants.
Dozen
of species of endemic plants and many species of animals live in
Pinares de Mayari, the northeastern part of the mountains in Holguin.
The area also has 2-star accommodations. Other natural attractions
in the province include the Alexander von Humboldt National Park,
which UNESCO has declared a world preserve of the biosphere, the
Cuchillas del Toa preserve of the biosphere, the Sierra Cristal
Mountains, the Silla de Gibara and Yaguajay Hill.
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