Guantanamo, An Extraordinary Place
When we hear the word Guantánamo, the first thing that comes to mind is the prison run by the Americans. However, this is a big mistake if one takes into account that the detention center occupies a small part of this wonderful Cuban province.
Guantánamo is the region that inspired the famous song Guantanamera , by Joseíto Fernández. It is also an absolutely spectacular area of Cuba, full of great natural attractions and interesting cultural assets. Cuba is not only Havana and Varadero, but it has hundreds of wonderful places to visit, and Guantánamo is one of them.
Guantánamo is the name of a province that is to the east of Cuba. Its capital bears the same name and is home to wonderful beaches and very interesting monuments. In addition, its hospitable people do everything in their power to make any traveler feel at ease.
Three heritages of humanity
The province of Guantánamo has three places that have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The first is the Alejandro de Humbolt National Park, which is the most important protected area in the country. It has a biodiversity that is classified as the widest in the Antilles and one of the richest in the world.
The second great heritage is the French Tomb which, despite its name, is not a tomb. In reality, it is a manifestation of music and dance that arrived in Cuba in the 18th century thanks to a migration of Haitian settlers to the island. The slaves established the tradition, which continues to this day.
The third heritage is the French coffee plantations, which are also the result of eighteenth-century immigration. These are the ruins of the coffee plantations, which are preserved as they functioned more than two centuries ago and constitute one of the great tourist attractions of the place.
The beaches of Guantanamo: a paradise
In the area there are several beaches that are fabulous, mainly because they have not been invaded by tourism. Two of them stand out mainly: Playa Blanca and Playa Maguana. Playa Blanca is very close to the city of Baracoa and its white water and crystal clear waters stand out. It must be paid for entry, since it is in a protected area.
Maguana Beach, for its part, is the typical example of a splendid Caribbean beach. Its sand is very white and brighter than in other places and it has very tall palm trees and calm and absolutely crystal clear, turquoise waters. Also, there is a beautiful coral reef just offshore.
Other attractions
The tip of Maisí is another of the must-sees in the area. It is the easternmost point of the island and its great attraction is a fabulous lighthouse called La Concha, dating from the 19th century. If you dare to climb the 144 steps that lead to the top of it, the prize will be incredible: not only will you have a luxurious panoramic view, but you will also be able to see Haiti.
La Boca de Yumurí is a charming place. There is a small town that bears the same name and that is nestled on the bank of a river that flows into the Atlantic, very close to the town. It has 500 inhabitants and almost all of them are fishermen. They also make excursions along the river and share the lively Sundays of the town with travelers.
How to get to Guantanamo
Guantanamo is well connected to all of Cuba. If you are going from Havana, there are several options. The fastest is the daily flight that leaves from the capital of the country to the capital of the province.
Another alternative is to go by bus, or ‘guagua’, as the Cubans call it. By land there is communication to a large number of nearby and distant populations. Some buses also depart from Santiago de Cuba. In all cases, transportation is safe and comfortable.
Finally there is the alternative of going from Havana to Guantánamo by train. Now, Cuban trains have nothing to do with those in other parts of the world. They are old machines that go very slowly, so you spend almost a whole day on the trip. Of course, nothing more picturesque and interesting than traveling on a Cuban train.
