Considered the easternmost province of the island of Cuba, there are countless things to see and do in Guantanamo. As well as being the Cuban province with the greatest amount of historical heritage, its location makes it a true natural paradise.
From a city that has both high historical and cultural importance, as well as a wide range of beaches and nature, Guantánamo is one of the most visited cities in Cuba. It is also just a few kilometres from Baracoa, another of the country’s urban jewels prized by the locals. Are you going to miss it?
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What are the best things to do in Guantanamo Cuba?
1. Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Ricci
Located inside the José Martí Park, this small church is a great attraction for locals and travellers alike; in fact, it is considered the smallest cathedral in the world.
Consisting of three naves decorated with numerous stained glass windows and a beautiful bell tower, this cathedral tops the list of the top places to see in Guantánamo de Cuba. To complete your visit, you can also visit the interior of this symbolic building, which is well worth a visit!
2. José Martí Park in Guantanamo Cuba
After your visit to the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Ricci, we recommend a stroll through the beautiful José Martí Park. Formerly known as the Plaza de Armas, it is currently one of the most striking spaces in the city.
In this park you will be able to enjoy a pleasant stroll among dense trees, and you will come across different iconic constructions, such as the sculpture of José Martí, or the famous shell and its fountain. One of the most pleasant visits in Guantánamo.
3. Guantanamo Market
The Guantánamo Market is one of the most iconic buildings in the city on an architectural level, and was designed by the famous José Lecticio Salcines, who gave its façade a neoclassical style.
Being one of the main places to see in Guantánamo, you will enjoy the market’s beautiful façade as well as its interior, divided into four areas completely dedicated to commerce. Don’t forget your camera!
Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter, completely free to use, easy and practical. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most by adding them to your route map.
4. Punta de Maisí
If you love nature, you cannot miss this corner of Guantánamo de Cuba. Punta de Maisí, one of the most renowned destinations in the area, has several natural wonders.
There you will find the famous Terrazas de Marinas, also known as the Escalones de Gigantes; these huge rocks emerge from the sea and reach a height of 460 metres. To end your visit, don’t forget to take a dip in the turquoise waters of the impressive Pozo Azul. A true natural paradise.
5. Plaza Mariana Grajales
The Plaza Mariana Grajales is a place that is sure to leave you speechless, especially for its magnitude. It is mainly characterised by the group of sculptures made by various renowned local architects and sculptors.
Inside you will also find one of the most important monuments in Guantanamo: the Monument of the Heroes. Depending on the time of year you travel to Guantánamo, you can attend one of the cultural events that usually take place in this famous square. The square is also completely covered with grass, making it an ideal place for a stroll.
6. Salcines Palace in Guantanamo Cuba
The Palacio de Salcines is one of the most iconic buildings in Guantanamo, characterised by its eclectic architectural style typical of the 20th century.
Located in the historic centre of the city, it is a real architectural jewel made up of three floors with a beautiful dome on the top. It is crowned by a sculpture well known by the locals called La Fama. You can enter and enjoy a magnificent Art Gallery exhibiting a wide variety of local works.
7. Cueva del Paraíso Archaeological Museum
This natural archaeological museum, located in Baracoa, is one of the most important natural sites in the province of Guantánamo in Cuba. Located inside a cave, it is divided into three different rooms.
In each of them, you can discover different types of objects, utensils and even ways of life of the first civilisations of the area. You will feel like a real explorer as you stroll through a journey full of historical value, an adventure not to be missed!
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to do around Guantanamo Cuba
1. Visit Maguana Beach
If you are looking forward to spending the day at the beach, in the province of Guantánamo you have the ideal place to do so: Maguana Beach.
Although the accessibility is not ideal, as it is a two-and-a-half-hour drive, it is definitely worth a day trip. Being an authentic white sandy beach with crystal clear waters, it is very popular with the locals. You can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere in a truly paradisiacal setting.
2. Climb to the summit of El Yunque
Famously known as El Yunque, this imposing 575 metre-tall mountain is one of the most visited natural spots in the province of Guantánamo in Cuba.
It is a protected natural park located 10 kilometres from Baracoa, and its most characteristic feature is the impressive mountain with its flattened summit. It was named after Christopher Columbus, who compared the shape of this natural element to that of a working anvil. You can book your excursion and immerse yourself in a route full of incredible flora and fauna – quite a spectacle!
3. Bay of Guantanamo Cuba
Located on the southern coast of the province is the imposing US naval base at Guantanamo Bay.
Considered the third largest bay in the world, you can enjoy unbeatable views of this place if you head to the town of Caimanera. A real gem to behold on your trip to Guantanamo.
4. Baracoa
Baracoa, also known as the Primate City, is considered the oldest colonial city in Cuba. This place is one of the greatest treasures in Guantánamo de Cuba, mainly due to its historical and natural importance.
Nestled amidst lush vegetation and towering mountain massifs, this small town not only offers a myriad of small streets full of history, but also has great nature. Between its crystal clear beaches and beautiful national parks, Baracoa has become a must-see on your trip to Guantánamo.
5. Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
This national park is not only one of the most important natural sites in all of Cuba, but also its flora and fauna is highly protected due to the great value of its biodiversity.
Having been declared a World Heritage Site, this enormous territory covers more than 70,000 hectares. The park, as well as offering an infinite number of places where you can go on long free or guided routes, also offers camping areas and accommodation. Get to know the secrets of the forest in depth while you enjoy a nature that will leave you speechless.
Things to do with children in Guantanamo Cuba
Guantánamo is an ideal destination for travelling with children, especially because of its wide range of natural attractions. They will have a great time discovering the city, but even more so exploring the different corners of nature that this beautiful province has to offer.
1. Discover the Zoológico de Piedras
A great way to start your trip to Guantánamo is to spend the day at the Zoológico de Piedras. Located just 24 kilometres from the city, this is the ideal place to spend some quality time with the family.
Unlike classic zoos, here you won’t find real animals, but stone ones! This site houses more than 426 pieces created by the famous sculptor Ángel Iñigo Blanco, distributed in an exotic and conditioned landscape that somehow manages to immerse you completely in the environment. A real adventure that both adults and children will enjoy.
2. Enjoy Blanca Beach
Despite being almost 4 hours away from the city, Playa Blanca is still one of the top recommendations for your trip to Guantánamo.
It is not surprising that this beach is one of the most popular in Guantánamo province, considering the incredible crystal clear waters it offers and the huge variety of plants and wildlife that surrounds it. You can always spend the night in Baracoa if you prefer to make the journey there even more cost-effective.
3. Visit the Boca de Yumurí
Children love outdoor adventures and, luckily, Guantanamo offers a huge amount of places you can enjoy all together.
Among them is the Boca de Yumurí, located in the municipality of Baracoa. This incredible natural spot is mainly formed by the Yumurí River, which flows between impressive stone canyons. We recommend an excursion to the Isla de las Almendras, located at the mouth of the river, which will delight the little ones!
If you want to know what else to see in Cuba read our post: Things to do and see in Cuba
Itinerary for your trip to Guantanamo Cuba
Here is our map with the places we recommend to visit in Guantánamo so that you can organise your trip easily and quickly. You can also add important documents such as tickets, hotel reservations and even invite your friends to be part of the itinerary organisation.
Using Passporter is free of charge and will help you travel in a more organised way. You can organise your trip by registering on the website or downloading the app so you can carry everything in your pocket 🙂
Things to do in Guantanamo in 2 days
- Visit St. Catherine’s Cathedral
- Visit the Guantanamo Market
- Enter the Cueva del Paraíso Archaeological Museum
- Admire the summit of El Yunque
- Stroll through Jose Marti Park
Things to do in Guantanamo in 3 days
- Take a dip in the waters of Punta de Maisí
- Visit the Plaza Mariana Grajales
- Photograph the Salcines Palace
- Spend the day at Maguana Beach
- Stroll around Baracoa
- Visit the Zoológico de Piedras
- Sail around the Boca de Yumurí
How to plan your itinerary of places to see in Guantanamo Cuba?
Sign up to Passporter and plan your trip in the most organised way and according to the days and places you want to see in Guantanamo.
With the app you can:
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Save important information about the destinations you want to visit that you have found on the internet. Just install the Chrome extension and save everything useful for your trip.
- Save your tickets and reservations.
- Organise your route on Google maps with your accommodation as the starting point or any other that you indicate.
- Find out the best travel option for each place.
- Save and publish your own photos and experiences as you go along, so that when someone asks you “How was your trip to Guantanamo?” you can reply “Visit my traveller profile on Passporter!”
If you want to learn more about how to get the most out of the Passporter app, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Guantanamo Cuba
– You can rent a car and drive about 2 hours from Guantanamo de Cuba.
– You can hire a taxi for about 35€ and drive for about 2 hours from Guantánamo de Cuba.
To get to Playa Blanca, you can rent a car. Once there, park and walk across a small wooden bridge that will take you directly to the beach.
A ticket to the Zoológico costs 1 CUC (aproximately 0,80€)
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