Baracoa

Cuba's first colonial town at the island's eastern tip, backed by flat-topped El Yunque and surrounded by the rainforest of Alejandro de Humboldt National Park and cacao plantations, with a distinctive Caribbean flavor.

Baracoa lies in Guantánamo Province at the far eastern end of Cuba. Founded by the Spanish in 1511, it was Cuba's first colonial town and once its capital. Ringed by mountains on three sides and the sea on the fourth, the town could long be reached only by boat until the winding La Farola mountain road opened in the 1960s, which is why it has preserved unique culinary and musical traditions: fish stewed in coconut milk, cacao drinks and cucurucho, a sweet wrapped in palm leaves, are local specialties. The climate is hot and humid; the Dec–Apr dry season is best for hiking and beaches, while Sep–Nov is the rainy hurricane season. Sightseeing falls into three areas: the old town and the Malecón, easily explored on foot, with three Spanish forts, the cathedral and museums; to the northwest, El Yunque, the Toa River, Maguana Beach and the rainforest of Alejandro de Humboldt National Park; and to the east, along the coastal road, the Yumurí River canyon. Getting there: take a Víazul bus from Santiago de Cuba or Guantánamo (about 5 hours), or a domestic flight to Gustavo Rizo Airport. Plan to stay 3–4 days; most sights outside town require a hired car and an official guide. Supplies and fuel in Cuba are unreliable and power cuts are common, so bring cash and a flashlight.

Top sights

• El Yunque – The emblem of Baracoa: a flat-topped table mountain 575 m high, the 'Anvil' noted in Columbus's logbook.
• Alejandro de Humboldt National Park – A World Natural Heritage Site and one of the most biodiverse rainforests in the Caribbean islands, home to many endemic species.
• Toa River – Cuba's largest river by volume, lined with coconut palms and rainforest, best explored by drifting downstream on a dugout canoe or bamboo r…
• Playa Maguana – The most popular beach near Baracoa, with white sand, clear water and palm trees, ideal for a half-day of swimming and relaxation.
• Río Yumurí Canyon – A river canyon at the mouth of the river about 30 km east of town, where small boats carry you into a lush green valley flanked by steep cl…
• Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción & Cruz de la Parra – The cathedral in the old town centre, home to the Cross of La Parra, said to have been erected by Columbus in 1492.
• Malecón de Baracoa – A seaside promenade stretching along the coast, with crashing waves on one side and colorful colonial houses on the other, liveliest at sun…
• Fuerte Matachín (Museo Municipal) – A Spanish fortress from the early 19th century, now the municipal museum, which tells the story of the first town in Cuba and its 500-year…
• El Castillo de Seboruco – An 18th-century fortress on high ground in the old town, now a castle hotel whose pool terrace overlooks the whole city and El Yunque.
• Museo Arqueológico Cueva del Paraíso – An archaeological museum set in a natural limestone cave, displaying Taíno burial remains, pottery and rock art.
• Fuerte de la Punta – A small 18th-century fort at the entrance to the bay, now home to a restaurant inside its walls where you can eat while looking out over th…
• Finca Duaba – A cacao farm by the Duaba River just outside the city, where you can see how cacao is grown, processed into chocolate, and then taste the r…
• Río Miel & Playa Blanca – A quiet little beach reached after crossing the Río Miel about 2 km east of town, said to bring anyone who drinks its water back to Baracoa.
• Casa de la Trova Baracoa – A small music hall near the cathedral, with live son, changüí and local dance performances in the evenings.

Where to eat

• La Colonial – One of Baracoa's earliest private restaurants, serving signature coconut-sauce seafood in the courtyard of a colonial h…
• El Poeta – A romantic little restaurant behind the cathedral, known for coconut-flavored dishes and homemade ice cream served in c…
• Paladar El Guajiro – A small eatery beside the town hall, where the owner prepares local dishes such as tetí in the traditional style of his…