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 Guardalavaca 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.

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.

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)