| ext">Located in Eastern Cuba on the Northern coast | | | | offering hundreds of sites ideal for snorkeling and |
| where the Atlantic stream abruptly breaks against | | | | diving, including magnificent deep sites like the flooded |
| the coastline is the province of Holguín. The city | | | | cavern of the Tanque Azul de Caletones. Situated far |
| was founded in 1725 by the captain García | | | | from the city Guardalavaca makes for an ideal resting |
| Holguín who had received a portion of land around | | | | place, although you can miss meeting Cubans who |
| that area and built there the first homes. Initially, the | | | | normally only visit the beaches during Summer. |
| city was totally devoted to agriculture, but in the last | | | | Around five kilometers from Guardalavaca, there is |
| 40 years it has developed an industrial economy | | | | one the best preserved archeological spots in Cuba: |
| based in mining and more recently tourism. | | | | the burial ground Chorro de Maíta exhibiting 56 out |
| It’s been said that it was through a point | | | | of the 180 skeletons founded in an expedition in |
| within this area that Christopher Columbus | | | | 1976. A Taínos Village was also built there with 36 |
| disembarked in 1492, overwhelmed by the lush | | | | sculptures narrating the lifestyle of those natives |
| vegetation of the area. And the point is that with | | | | living in Cuba at the time that the New World was |
| more than 41 wonderful beaches, Holguín | | | | discovered. In Banes, you can visit the Museo |
| consolidates itself as the third major touristic spot in | | | | Indocubano Bani with a collection featuring more than |
| Cuba. Pesquero, Estero Ciego, Esmeralda and the | | | | a thousand objects including stone axes, |
| best known, Guardalavaca, with its remarkable hotel | | | | earthenware, wooden and gold pots. There is |
| and services complexes, are some of the best | | | | evidence of human settlements since the 4th |
| beaches in the area. This latter small but fabulous | | | | century B.C. in the Northern part of Holguín, hence |
| stretch of beach is commonly regarded as Eastern | | | | the name the Capital of the Cuban |
| Cuba’s Varadero for its crystalline waters | | | | Architecture. |
| which in the distance turn turquoise-green, and for its | | | | Other nearby and interesting places are Cayo |
| extremely fine sand, almost like powder. | | | | Saetía in the Bay of Nipe, the biggest in Cuba and |
| Guardalavaca and its surrounding hotels specialize in a | | | | one of the biggest of its type in the world, and the |
| more familiar tourism, away from the huge urban | | | | natural park Bahía de Naranjo which combines the |
| centers. In fact, the majority of its visitors never | | | | charm of the tropical forests with the wealth of the |
| leave the beach. Nautical sports and diving in the area | | | | marine fauna. There is also an aquarium with dolphin |
| can easily fill all your time due to the existence of a | | | | and sea lions show. |
| considerable coral reef protecting the beaches, | | | | |