Destinations

-Havana
- Havana City
-Pinar del Rio
- Pinar del Rio City
- Viñales
-Matanzas
- Matanzas City
- Varadero
- Cardenas
Villa Clara
- Santa Clara
Cienfuegos
- Cienfuegos City
Sancti Spiritus
- Sancti Spiritus City
- Trinidad
Ciego de Avila
- Ciego de Avila City
- Jardines del Rey
- Cayo Coco
- Cayo Guillermo
Camaguey
- Camaguey City
Las Tunas
- Las Tunas City
Granma
- Bayamo
Santiago de Cuba
- Santiago de Cuba City
Guantanamo
- Guantanamo City
- Baracoa
Holguin
- Holguin City
- Guardalavaca
Isla Juventud
Cayo Largo

The Cuban chain of islands, which is 42,854 squares miles (110,992 square km), consist of the main island is 744 miles (1200 km) from east to west, the largest island in the Antilles-the Isla Juventud and around 4195 other small and bigger islands.

It is a common knowledge that the Cuban sea is excellen. The high degree of conservation of its coral formations and powder white clean beaches. It has a nice subtropical climate, the lovely warm water cooled by the winds, so temperture range between 75.2F and 84.2 F (24C and 29C.). There are an average of 330 sunny days per year, with a few clouds.

The main tourist resorts (including the ones on the cayos of Jardines del Rey) have international airports, and the very good hotel infrastructure is complemented with a wide range of extra hotel facilities (car and bus rentals, marinas, scuba-diving centers, beauty parlors, fitness centers and more.), entertainment all day and night long, Tours to nearby cities and other must sees, medical attention, and family and honeymoon packages.

Many places on Cuba's coasts are already famous: Varadero, Guardelavaca, Esmeralda, Santa Maria del Mar, Santa Lucia and Ancon Beaches, which are loved by tourists from all over the world, and Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo, Largo del Sur, Santa Maria, Las Brujas and Cyo Levisa.

But there are other places-anonymous as yet or little known-virgin beaches which are not the exception but rather the rule. Large or small, they are waiting to be discovered on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, a preserve of the biosphere; the coasts in the center and eastern parts of the country; and in tranquil Baracoa, at the eastern extreme of the island. You can enjoy them to the full in complete safety. There's nothing quite like walking along a beach for hours with nothing to disturb you.

Guardalavaca, Playa Esmeralda Beaches & Cayo Saetia The close to 50 beaches in Holguin's 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. Guardelavaca Beach Is a shell-shaped and over half a mile (almost a km) long. It is near several sites of great archeological and natural interest. Esmeralda Beach 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 great 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. Cayo Saetia 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 & How to Get To Cayo Saetia 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. - Guardelavaca Hotels >> Havana Province Beaches East of Havana City & Beaches Bacuranao, Megano, Boca Ciega, Santa Maria and Guanabo Beaches the last two are the largest and most popular-are over eight and a half miles (around 14 km) long, white white sand of coral origin and clear, warm, green-blue water. There are many options for accomodations and services, including the Tarara Marina, which has facilities for scuba diving and other water sports. The adjacent seabed is facinating, with abundant Flower Coral (Eusmilia fastigiata) and Brain Coral (Diploria spp.) and a profusion of vividly colored fish that live near coral. In the deeper water, you can see turtles, Blue Marlins (Makaira nigrencans), Tuna (Scombridge) and Sword fish (Xiphias gladius). In general, the city's long shoreline is excellent for scuba diving -there are more than 70 diving sites in this area 62 miles (100 km) long and nearly two miles (3 km) wide, including some sunken ships which have been declared a part of Cuba's historic heritage. Four international scuba diving centers serve the capital. Farther east, in the province of Havana, beautiful Jibacoa, Tropico and Puerto Escondido Beaches, their white sand bordered by lush vegetation and cliffs up to 328 feet (100 m) high. On the seaward side by incredible turqoise water. - Map of Havana's Playas del Este >> West of Havana City West of Havana, the Marina Hemingway offers the most complete range of marina facilities in the country. Still farther west, in Havana Province again (city of Havana is bounded by Havana Province to the east, south and west), El Salado Beach, protected by coral reefs, has more scuba diving sites. Location & How to Get There Bacuranao, Megano, Boca Ciega, Santa Maria and Guanabo Beaches are on the northern coast of Cuba around 12 and a half miles (20 km)-just a few minutes' drive-east of Havana, on the way to Matanzas Province. Havana is the main place of entry in the country, either by air-trough Jose Marti International Airport (which has three terminals, plus an Aerocaribbean terminal, and receives flights from more than 40 cities in other countries)-or by sea trough its marina and the modern cruise ship terminal at the port. Tourists visiting other parts of the country can reach Havana by road, rail, sea or air. How to get to Guanabo according to the Lonely Planet: "I took the #400 bus to GUANABO beach last Monday and wrote down the instructions for my sister who will visit next April. The current guide books are not current on this bus. Find the bus shelter on the north side of "Fundicion" between "Compostela" & "Picota" in old Havana . This is east and south of the front of the central railroad station. It is the origin point of this bus and presents the only chance you will have of getting a seat. Find the guy who hands out the little cards for seats, otherwise you WILL STAND the whole way out. Find out who El Ultimo is and follow him/her onto the bus. Lines are RELIGIOUSLY OBSERVED. Do not deviate from his procedure! Sit on the left side to see the shore. Fare is 40 centavos. Frequency in daytime is apprximately 20-30 minutes. Duration of trip is approximately one hour. Other busses serve Playa del Este, but this is the best choice. What to Do There are scores of activities, at the beaches and in the city. They include swimming, sunning, snorkeling, scuba diving and other water sports (windsurfing, pedal boating, sailing and rowing); going on tours along the shore; fishing;, tennis, squash, beach volleybal, tours of the city visits to museums and to other places of historic, cultural and recreational interest, and going on tour packages to other tourist resorts in the chain of islands. Lots of people come to Cuba on health, conference and incentive tourism plans. Others come to attend international festivals or to check out the islands night life in clubs, cabarets, discotheques and nightclubs.

- Havana Hotels >>

Camaguey Province Beaches

Santa Lucia Beach & Cayo Sabinal
	Santa Lucia has 13 miles (21 km) of wide, white-golden sandy beaches bathed by warm turquoise water that is always calm, thanks to an extensive coral reef just a mile and a quarter (two km) from the coast. This reef is the longest one of its kind in the western hemisphere. The hollows and branches of these coral formations from the habitat of a surprising diversity of marine life.

In one area which has 35 scuba-diving sites, you can see ridges nearly 33 feet (10 m) high, and the wealth of underwater flora and fauna is complemented with many sunken ships-some of them dating from the 19th century. Inland, the El Real Lake is an excellent place for seeing flocks of Roseate Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) and other water birds. Santa Lucia is a tourist resort with enormous potential which is being developed in harmony with its gorgeous natural surroundings.

Cayo Sabinal is another jewel. Once a refuge of pirates-like many other islets in the Cuban archipelago it has several miles of intimate beaches of excellent quality, tucked into nooks along the coastline with virgin areas inland that abound in wildflowers and animals. Here, too, you can see the ruins of San Hilario Fort (built in 1831) and visit Colon (Columbus) Lighthouse (built in 1848), which warns mariners of dangers in the area.

Location and How to Get There

Santa Lucia Beach is on the nothern coast of Camaguey Province, in the east-central part of Cuba, around 338 miles (545 km) from Havana. By air, you land at Ignacio Agramonte International Airport, which serves the city of Camaguey, 68 miles (110 km) southeast of Santa Lucia, where there is an airport for small planes. By land, the region is linked to the rest of the country by road (the Central Highway) and by rail.

Or go to the Bay of Nuevitas for sports fishing, scuba diving in sunken ships, seeing colonies of Roseate Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) and watching a great show featuring Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus leucas). At Cayo Sabinal, you can go snorkling, scuba diving and hiking.

- Camaguey Hotels >>

Trinidad Beaches

Ancon and Maria Aguilar Beaches
	In addition to its beautiful natural surroundings and colonial appearance, Trinidad is located by the sea, which has two excellent beaches: Ancon and Maria Aguilar, Ancon Beach is just a little over 7 miles (12 km) from the city. It is two and a half miles (4 km) long, with white sand and green-blue water. Its seabed is ideal for scuba diving.

The Ancon Peninsula is bordered by a narrow shelf of sandy bottom, with colorful patches of coral, ridges up to 16 and a half feet (5 meters) high, tunnels and other features. It has 21 scuba-diving sites, where you can see concentrations of Black Coral (Antipathes spp.), a wide varietay of spnges, gorgonians, Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.) and many kinds of colorfull fish.

Location and How to Get There
The Ancon Peninsula is slightly over 7.5 miles (12 km) from Trinidad (232.5, or 375 km, east of Havana, in the middle of the country). Modern roads link the city to the city of Sancti Spiritus, capitol of the province of the same name, and to the city of Cienfuegos (25 miles, or 40 km, away). A large part of the road to Cienfuegos hugs the coast and offers some beautiful views. There are three national airports in Sancti Spiritus Province. The one serving Trinidad handles the most flights-of small and medium sized planes-and links that city with other important tourist resorts in the country.

What to Do

Activities include lazing in the sun, swimming, snorkling, scuba diving and other water sports; seafaris and excursions to nearby cays; deep-sea and bottom fishing; tours of the oldest part of Trinidad and of its surrounding area, including Sugarmill Valley and Topes de Collantes, in a large area of parks and natural preserves; excursions to Cienfuegos; visits to beaches along the road to that city; and trips to other tourist resorts in the archipelago.

For evening entertainment, there are many recreational options which can be combined with the offers in Trinidad.

- Hotels Trinidad >>

The Islands Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Paredon Grande are also belonging to Ciego de Avila Province, very touristic but beautiful islands…if you want to have the local experience of Cuba, skip this Island, if you want to sea the most beautiful beaches and relax in the Cuban sun....go there. An exceptional scenario for all nautical sports

Las Coloradas, Playa Larga and El Paso are outstanding beaches. In Flamencos Beach (Flamingo beach) they also offer horse rides. Pilar beach, located in the most privileged sector of Key Guillermo, is an example of the supreme of the tropic. It is at the foot of one of the highest sand dunes in the insular Caribbean (15 meters above the sea level).

Very special to see is the largest lake of Cuba "Laguna de la Leche" (the lake of milk) the name is because of the clay bottom creates the color of the water, it is a favorite spotfor water sports.

The cayos (see below) have scenery of amazing tropical beauty, where the lush natural vegetation and man-made comforts combine to create a unique setting that is perfect both for those who love adventure and for those who seak peace and quiet.

Cayo Coco
(143 square miles, 370 km in size) has over 13 and a half miles (22 km) of fine white sandy beaches bathed by turquoise water protected by coral reefs. Ninety percent of its territory is covered with vegetation (mainly forest), and over 200 of spcies of birds-including a colony of more than 30.000 Roseate Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber)- live here. Few other places in the Caribbean can compete with the beauty of the seabed and number of fish in this area. There are four scuba diving centers and 20 diving sites along 20 miles (32 km) of coastline. In its warm, clear water, that is between 16.5 and 131 feet (between 5 and 40 m) deep, you can see Parrotfish (Sparisoma spp.), Grunts (Haemulon spp.), Yellowtail Snappers (Ocyurus chrysurus), Queen Angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris). other Angelfish (Pomacanthu spp.), Anemones (Lebrunia danae), Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) and a great variety of underwater plants.

Playa Prohibida
Located at the end of the key and west of Punta del Cuerno is very near the Cueva del Jabali recreation center, on the coastal strech between Punta del Puerto and Playa Dorada. A road leads from here to the sand dune of Loma del Puerto. The trail of Loma del Puerto is a tiny walkwalkway that allows for the observation of the coastal flora. One can follow it from Playa Prohibida until the very middle of the key, where it seems to stop only to go on along the northern coast all the way to the dune of Loma del Puerto, a peculiar geo-morphological formation resulting from the continued accumulation of sand transported during hundreds of years by the waves and the wind. This is how beautiful, natural, 13-meter high lookout was formed.

Playa Lan Conchas
Located between Punta Caimanera and Punta Rasa is one of the smallest but coziest beaches on Cayo Coco. Near this beach is the Talasotherapy Center a facility that offers different services to improve quality of life.

Playa Larga
Streches from Punta Rasa to Penon de las Colorades where visitors will come across the Rocarena Retaurant.

- Hotels at Cayo Coco >>

Cayo Guillermo
	(5 square miles, or 13.2 square km, in size) is much smaller but just as fascinating. It has two miles (three and a half km) of beaches and the tallest sand dunes in the Caribbean Islands (they reach over 52.5 feet, or 16 m, above the sea level). - Hotels at Cayo Guillermo >>

Cayo Paredon Grande
(Just over 2 square miles, or six square km, in size) is another jewel in terms of beaches and natural invironment. It has a beautiful wrought iron lighthouse (built in 1857) that is over 157 feet (48 m) tall.

Because of their rich biodiversity and beautiful scenery, Cayo Coco and the islets near it are part of the Buenavista preserve of the biosphere. Cayo Romano-300 square miles, or 777square km, in size, making it almost an island-is very close by.

Location and How to Get There
These Cayos are in the Jardines del Rey Archipelago, off the nothern shore of Ciego de Avila Province, in east-central Cuba, 268 miles (432 km) from Havana. Direct flights from Europe and other parts of the Americas put in at Ciego de Avila's Maximo Gomez International Airport, which is linked to Cayo Coco by a highway 60 miles (97 km) long, the last ten and a half miles (17 km) of which are on a spectacular stone causeway bordered by the sea. Cayo Coco also has a modern international airport whith several flights each week. Moreover, a stone causeway links this island to Guillermo and Paredon Grande. Or you can arrive by boat, putting in at the Puerto Cayo Guillermo Marina or at Casana Port.

Weather
The archipelago's main temperature is 26C for the high and 17C the low. June, July and August are the warmest months while December, January and February are the coolest with a main temperature of 20C. Influenced by the sea, temperatures at the keys are milder than in mainland. The seawater main temperature varies from 28 to 30C degrees. The keys have a 90-day rain season a year. The average rain accumulate is 40 inches a year. Two well-defined seasons from May to October and the dry season from November to April. Around 17 km/h winds blow predominantly from the northeast. Ocean waves are usually moderate.

- Weather Cayo Coco >>

The Causeway
On July 26th, 1988 the causeway, linking to Cayo Coco with the mainland was completed, paving the way for the tourist developement of Jardinez del Rey. In 1993, tourist exploitation began, when former President Fidel Castro inaugurated the area's first hotel, built in the style of the first, early 16th century Cuban Colonial villages. The construction of these roads over the sea has not stopped, in spite of the magnitude of the project for a small country like Cuba, besieged by scarcities and economically blockaded. Already connected with the mainland through Cayo Coco, are Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Romano, and Cayo Paredon Grande. A causeway also connects Cayo Sabinal and Cayo Cruz from Northern Camaguey.

Racho Luna Beach
This beautiful beach is near both the city of Cienfuegos-one of the loveliest in the country-and Trinidad, which has been declared a part of the world heritage. The beach has good hotels, ecotourism programs, and scuba diving and other water sports, offering you a fulfilling and relaxing stay.

Location & How to Get There
Rancho Luna beach is 11 miles (18 km) by road from the city of Cienfuegos (capital of the province of the same name). The city has an international airport-the third largest of the country-and is linked to the rest of the country by a system of modern roads. Cienfuegos is in the south-central part of the island of Cuba, 159 miles (241 km) from Matanzas and just 53 miles (85 km) from Trinidad.

What to Do
Activities include sunbathing, swimming, scuba diving, snorkling and other water sports; minature golf; tennis; beach volleyball; tours along the attractive coast; excursions to nearby natural attractions, the city of Cienfuegos (international water sports competitions are held in its bay on a regular basis) and a nearby dolphin center (with dolphin and sea lion shows). In the evenings, entertainment put on excellent shows.

- Cienfuegos Hotels >>

Marea del Portillo Beach
Marea del Portillo Beach is a dark-sand beach located on a spectacular cove, with mountains as a backdrop. A peaceful place with tremendous natural attractions, it is a part of the Sierra Maestra Natural Park. It has a profusion of coconut palm trees and is an excellent place for scuba diving, snorkling and other water sports. There are 17 scuba diving sites in the area. The seabed has tall hillocks sepersted by narrow valleys covered with beautiful invertebrate fossils, forming caves and tunnels where fish, crustaceans and molluks hide. Its treasures include two very well preserved ships of the Spanish fleet that where sunk by the US navy during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba in 1898.

Further west, towards Cruz Cape, there are coral formations, gorgonians, Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.) and colorfull fish-a tropicalparadise that's within your reach from the Maria del Portillo Scuba Diving Center. The area also has marine terraces which reach eight levels on some places of the coast and extend underwater, as well. They are the best-preserved such terraces in Cuba and make dives in this area even more interesting.

Cayo Largo

Cayo Largo is the best jewel in the Los Canarreos Archipelago, off the southern coast of the Cuban mainland. The archipelago also includes 300 other cays (with a total of 38 miles, or 62 km, of virgin beaches) and the Isle of Youth (the second largest island in the Cuban archipelago). Cayo Largo has 15.5 miles (25 km) of breathtaking beautiful beaches with emerald green water. One of them, Sirena Beach, has oolitic sand which always remains cool, no matter how strong the sun. Nearly, there are more than 200 sunken ships dating from between the 16th and the 18th centuries. According to the legend, some of Henry Morgan's treasure is still burried in the area.

The cay has a land area of over 15 square miles (40 square km), first class hotels and services, and virgin nature with abundant species of flora and fauna. The seabed in the area has 32 scuba-diving sites fascinating coral formations, tunnels, steep walls covered with gorgonians and a wealth of multicolored marine life. The water is extremely clear.

Location & How to Get There
Cayo Largo is around 112 miles (180 km) southeast of Havana, 87 miles (140 km) from the Isla Juventud and 77 iles (125 km) from Varadero. You can get there by air-many flights bring tourists from other countries, and domestic flights connect it with the other main tourist resorts in Cuba-or by sea (it has a marina at 21 37'N.latitude, 81 34"W.longitude. For radio communication, turn to HF 7462 or VHF 16).

What to do
Activities include sunbathing, going on yacht and catamaran cruises (with possibilities for living on board in the cays), taking out smaller boats, swimming, scuba diving (for beginners through professionals), other water sports, seafaris to nearby cays (including Iguana Cay, where you can feed the scores of iguanas that live there without any danger), fishing, air tours of the cays, excursions to the inner part of the cay, beach volleyball, horseback riding, motorcycling, taking pictures and observing the fauna. In addition, there is entertainment during the day and at night and many other options that will make you feel both relaxed and entirely fulfilled.

- Cayo Largo Hotels >>

Pinar del Rio Province Beaches

Maria La Gorda Beach
	This beach was named for a woman (Fat Maria) who was supposedly sed on shore here by pirates, who returned here now and again to visit her between forays. Located on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, which has been declared a world preserve of the biosphere, Maria la Gorda Beach has left its rather raucous past behind and is now famed for its senerity and sence of privacy.

The beautiful beach, with fine sand, is five miles (eight km) long. The seabed here is one of the richestin Cuba in terms of biodiversity and has the largest colony of black coral (Antipathes spp.) in the archipelago. At its 39 scuba-diving sites, you can see gardens of gorgonians, sponges, a long wall with grottoes, abnudant marine fauna and artefacts showing that both pirate and merchant ships used to anchor here in the past.

What to Do
Scuba diving (for both professionals and beginners) is the main activity at Maria La Gorda, together with underwater photography, with modern equipment and assistance from divers whose skill is attested to by the World Underwater Federtion (CMAS). However, the area's tranquility, fine white sandy beaches, many coconut palm treesand setting (with great natural and archeological attractions) offer many other options as well: sunbathing, swimming, other water sports, seafaris, lazig around, reading, hiking, ecotourism, bird-watching, nature walks and excursions to other points of interest on the Guanahacabibes Peninsula.

Location & How to Get There
Cayo Jutia is 56 miles (90 km) from the city of Pinar del Rio and about 60 km from Vinales. Take the road that goes to the town called Minas de Matahambre and then the stone causeway.

Villa Clara Province Beaches

Las Brujas and Santa Maria Cayos
Las Brujas and Santa Maria Cayos-together with Fragoso, Cobos, Ensenachos and Frances Cayos-just off the northern coast of Villa Clara Province, constitute an island paradise with over ten and a half miles (17 km) of beaches and virgin nature that are gradually being opened to tourism.

There is a scuba-diving center with 24 well-chosen diving sites, so you can outfit yourself and see agreat variety of coral and fish in its clear water and virgin seabed.

Las Brujas is a tiny islet whose fine white sand, dazzling sea and untouched nature make its visitors feel like Robinson Crusoe. It has over a mile of virgin beaches. Its singlestory cabanas built of a cliff are linked with one another and with the social areas by wooden bridges, so the local animals-which are entirely harmless-can be move around freely. On both Cayos are large numbers of endemic plants and animals.

Location & How to Get There
The Cayos are just off the northern coast of Villa Clara Province, in Central Cuba. Santa Clara, the capital of the province, which is around 62 miles (255 km) east of Havana. They are linked to terra firma by one of the main engineering works in Cuba of the 20th century: an ecological stone causeway built 30 miles (48 km) into the sea, with 45 bridges so as not to adversely affect the ecosystems and sea currents in the area. In addition to this means of access, both Las Brujas Cayo and Santa Clara have airports that can handle small and medium-sized planes.

Baconao
The coast of Santiago de Cuba Province is wild, very warm and apparently untouched, dotted with enticing coves that have beaches of pebbles or sand and backdrops of peaks covered with lush vegetation. This setting of the baconao preserve of the biosphere, whose many attractions include these small but intimate beaches and natural attractions to be bound inland.

The Sigua, Daiquiri, Bucanero and Sierra Mar diving areas extend for many miles along the coast, which also has comfertable hotels and many scuba diving centers with expert staffs and modern equipment. The 73 scuba diving sites are at places where the seabed is well conserved; visibility is excellent because the water is so clear; and there are hillocks, large sandy areas, ridges, drops and impressive walls. Moreover, there are around 70 sunken ships on this part of the insular shelf, including sveral from the Spanish Fleet that ships of the US Navy defeated and sank off Santiago de Cuba in 1898, during the Spanish-Cuba-American War.

What to do
Activities in Baconao preserve of the biosphere an enormous natural park just a few minutes drive from the city of Santiago de Cuba include snorkeling, scuba diving (starting with beginners courses), windsurfing, kayaks, sailing, pedal boating, fresh water sports fishing, horseback riding on mountain paths, boating, swimming both in the sea and swimming pools, electronic and table games, tennis, basketball, beach volleyball, cycling and hiking. In the evenings there is entertainment in bars, around swimming pools and in discoteques, and the nearvu city offers even more options.

The park has an area calles Valley of Prehistory, which contains life-size statues of prehistoric animals and men. Other attractions include and old car museum.

Accommodation and Facilities

There are several 3- and 4 star hotels in the Baconao, all on the coast or at the beaches. The hotels services include buffet and sit-down restaurants featuring different kind of cuisines; grills, bars, swimming pools, jacuzzi's, games rooms, gear for land sports and for scuba diving and for other water sports, cabarets, discoteques, dance classes, doctors on call 24 hours a day, taxis, barbershops, beauty parlors, laundries and dry cleaners, safe and shops.

- Hotels Santiago de Cuba >>