Baracoa was the first settlement that the Spanish conquistadors founded in Cuba (in 1512). Here, visitors to Cuba's easternmost province, Guantánamo, have the chance to enjoy some of the most attractive and best-preserved scenery in the Antilles, in addition to the customs and traditions of its hospitable inhabitants.

Baracoa's mountains and many rivers and streams, which come rushing down to the sea, form an enticing natural setting to which historic and cultural elements contribute their own attractions.

La Farola -the road leading to the city- will whet your appetite for adventure. Baracoa, located in the easternmost part of Cuba, has become one of the top tourist attractions in the province of Guantánamo.

Coconut and cacao plantations are plentiful near Baracoa, but it has some unique attractions, too, such as the Cruz de la Parra, which Christopher Columbus erected in 1492 -one of 29 crosses he left in Hispanic America.

Natural scenery: The Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (in the Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve); The Paso de Alemanes (Germans' Pass), the Yumurí River Valley, Boma and Mata Bays and the view from the natural terraces in the municipality of La Máquina, offer you a scenery that will make your vacation truly memorable.

While in Baracoa, visit the historic heart of the city, which has been declared a national monument; the fortresses of Matachín and La Punta; and the fortified towers of Joa and Cemetery. Climb the Yunque de Baracoa (Baracoa's Anvil); sail down the Miel, Duaba, Yumurí and Toa rivers in an Indian canoe (cayuca, the typical means of transport in the area); and swim at Maguana, Saratoga and Duaba beaches.