Located in the municipality of Banes, Guardalavaca is the third most visited spot in Cuba. It is without a doubt one of the must-see destinations in this country. It is famous for its endless beaches of fine sand, including the Esmeralda and Pesquero beaches. In its crystal clear waters there are extensive coral reefs and abundant marine life. This makes it a prime destination for diving enthusiasts.
It is one of the first ports that Christopher Columbus visited, and he was amazed by it. Here you can enjoy the most spectacular beaches in Cuba, and the most outrageously beautiful coral reefs. Are you going to miss it?
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What are the best things to do in Guardalavaca Cuba?
1. Guardalavaca Beach, Cuba
Guardalavaca Beach stands out for its shell-like shape and fine white sand that stretches along the coast of Guardalavaca, Cuba. This beautiful beach is dominated by thick green vegetation, and its waters are surrounded by a coral reef, making its waters calm and serene. It is the ideal place to sunbathe and relax, but you can also try several activities to complete your day. On this beach, you can practice water sports such as windsurfing, diving, kayaking, even boat rides. In any case, it’s one of the key points of this beautiful coast, and an essential stop in Guardalavaca, Cuba.
2. Esmeralda Beach, Cuba
Esmeralda Beach, also known as Estero Ciego Beach, is one of the most representative and popular beaches in the area. Located in the Ciego Caleticas delta, 5 kilometres west of Guardalavaca, it is characterised by its warm emerald green waters. This paradisiacal beach is dominated by cliffs, steep slopes and a great variety of plant species. It is a truly unique place to enjoy. It has different coral formations under its warm waters. However, this beach has an exclusive use for the guests of the three hotels that guard it. In addition, the resorts also offer windsurfing and sailing activities.
3. Pesquero Beach, Cuba
Pesquero Beach, located in the municipality of Rafael Freyre, is a cozy beach that has become famous for having one of the best hotels in the western part of Cuba. It is a paradise where the shallow turquoise waters are perfect for diving. Besides, this beach has a vast coral reef, escarpments, cliffs and a rich and exotic vegetation that covers the area. This is why it has become one of the most popular and renowned beaches in Guardalavaca, Cuba
4. Don Lino Beach
Don Lino Beach is a beach that belongs to Villa Don Lino, Holguín. This is a tourist facility located a few kilometres away from Playa de Guardalavaca, also very close to Playa Pesquero. It is a beautiful 285 metre-long beach whose popularity has been growing over time. It is home to a wide variety of native vegetation, such as cove grapes and coconut trees. This is a special, cosy and idyllic place that you cannot miss if you travel to Guardalava, Cuba.
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5. Rocazul Biopark
The Rocazul Biopark is located on the west coast of the Bay of Naranjo, in the province of Holguin, Cuba. This beautiful natural park, opened in 2005, is home to exquisite flora and fauna located along its numerous trails. It is an essential visit, where you will be able to enjoy four main areas. Also an ideal place for outdoor activities such as hiking.
It has several trails, which offer different perspectives of the park, creating unique spots to remember. The Rocazul Trail is made up of plenty of bluish rocks more than 70 million years old. YOu can find the archaeological remains of the Cuban aborigines. The Loma El Templo Trail has beautiful trees, medicinal plants, animals such as the hutia, birds and reptiles. This is the point where you can discover and observe the beauty of the landscapes described in the diaries of Christopher Columbus.
It also stands out for the Finca Monte Bello. It is a farm that encapsulates the essence of the tradition and culture of the Cuban countryside. This estate has the Casa de Compay Kike, where you can taste the most typical Cuban dishes. You will also find the gardens, specialised in different varieties of coffee, as well as medicinal plants.
The Ensenada El Manantial is another of the key places in the Guardalavaca biopark, Cuba. It is an ideal place to practice different aquatic activities such as snorkelling or sailing. Tours to the spring, to Los Pajaros Key, a natural sanctuary for marine birds, and an excursion to the exciting seabed are also organised here.
6. Bahía de Naranjo Natural Park
The Bahía de Naranjo Natural Park covers 4.2 square kilometres including, among other things, five inland keys. Cayo Jutía, located in the central area, stands out. Among the most striking places in the area you can admire the mouth of the Naranjo River, a group of small beaches where the Laguna Dorada (Golden Lagoon) stands out and where you can go on incredible excursions.
There is also an aquarium between the cays, which can only be reached by boat. The Cayo Naranjo Dolphinarium is located here, an incredible aquarium in the middle of the sea where you can watch shows and enjoy a swim with dolphins.
7. El Chorro de Maíta Museum
The Chorro de Maíta Museum, declared a National Monument in 1991, is a must-see on your trip. Better known as the “Archaeological Capital of Cuba”, it houses exhibitions of skeletons and artefacts from the pre-Columbian peoples of the region. Located in the Cerro de Yaguajay, it is the most famous archaeological site in eastern Cuba. It is definitely one of the things you must do if you are in Guardalavaca, Cuba.
This hill was discovered in 1986 by the Central-Eastern Department of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba, exposing 56 of the more than 100 skeletons, as they were found in the area. Likewise, it is a spot where there is more evidence of the ancient settlement of aboriginal pottery farmers, something very significant in Guardalavaca, Cuba.
8. Aldea Taína, Cuba
It is located in front of the El Chorro de Maíta Museum, and here you will find a life-size replica of a Taino village. This village has houses and figures that recreate the aboriginal way of life of these villages in Banes, Cuba. In addition, the village also hosts native dance performances, preserving the tradition of this part of Cuba and showing it to the world.
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.
What is there to see around Guardalavaca Cuba?
1. Bariay Monument National Park
The Bariay Monument National Park is a place of great historical value for the province of Holguín, because it is the point where Columbus landed in Cuba on the 28th of October 1492.
Located in Cayo Bariay, within the Christopher Columbus Natural Park, the site shows visitors a landscape very similar to the one Columbus found after his first landing in Cuba. Around it, there are geographical features of great value, such as the hills of Maniabón, the well-known Columbus Mosque, features which were already described in the Admiral’s diaries, or the Gibara Saddle in the shape of a horse’s saddle.
On this excursion you will discover the natural harbour with volcanic rocks, the commemorative plaque on the site of the Admiral’s landing, an archaeological museum where there are remains of a 19th century Spanish fort. You can’t either miss the famous monument erected in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ landing in the area. This curious monument represents the meeting of two cultures, the European and the aboriginal, represented by replicas of objects created by the aborigines themselves, which were discovered in excavations carried out in the same place.
2. Gibara
Known as the “Villa Blanca“, Gibara is a charming fishing village. It has one of the most significant colonial architectural ensembles of the province, since its historic urban centre was declared a National Monument. Gibara is a town with a strong sense of culture, and the Museum of the Cuban Colonial Environment is proof of this. Inside a large neoclassical style house, this museum is one of the places you must visit in Gibara, as well as the Church of San Fulgencio.
Gibara, also called “the city of parks” by many, is ideal to immerse yourself in the colonial era, but it is also the ideal place to discover natural treasures such as the unknown Blue Tanks. Another of Gibara’s strong points is its gastronomy. This small coastal town is the place to try authentic Cuban recipes and flavours. The Plaza del Fuerte Restaurant is one of the most renowned and appreciated restaurants in Gibara, so don’t hesitate to stop by and discover the best dishes.
Gibara is a town worth seeing with time, so if you have more than one day for this excursion, we recommend spending the night there. At Passporter we want to offer you the best rated hotels by users with the best value for money, so that you can enjoy your visit to the fullest.
- Hotel Iberostar Ordoño
- Hotel E Plaza Colón.
How to organise what to see in Guardalavaca Cuba?
If you don’t know how to organise your trip to Guardalavaca Cuba, download the Passporter app and we will help you.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
If you want to know more about how to use the Passporter app, read our post: How to create a travel itinerary on Passporter.
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