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