Guardalavaca: The most attractive tourist destination in the northeast

The search for the West Indies led Christopher Columbus to the Antilles, and once there, he was amazed on noting this was, “the most beautiful land that human eyes have ever seen.” This quality, as noted by the admiral, has been preserved over time, and Holguín is currently one of Cuba’s main tourist destinations. Among its main assets are its splendid beaches, which share the gift of beauty.

With privileged landscapes, Guardalavaca is, by nature, a place offering perfection: palm trees on the shore, fine sand on its banks, a transparent sea, and a wonderful coral reef just a few meters offshore, enriched with archaeological remains. These peculiarities, combined with the opportunity to practice water sports and scuba diving, make Guardalavaca the most attractive resort on the northeast coast.

Close to Bariay, the place where Admiral Columbus first set foot on Cuban soil, Guardalavaca is a place of harmony, a site to feel relaxed and completely at ease. On this Holguin beach, the sun, the vegetation, and the Atlantic conspire to provide visitors with a wonderful vacation.

Location

Guardalavaca is part of Banes, a municipality in the eastern province of Holguín, and is approximately 800km from Havana. Holguín is accessible by road and air. Flights from North America, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean arrive regularly at the Frank País International Airport.

Beaches

Holguín’s most popular beaches are Guardalavaca, Pesquero, Esmeralda, and Baracutey, all of which are close to interesting diving sites. Hop-on, hop-off transportation services are provided at each of these beaches, making it easy to travel between the different areas and nearby sites.

Guardalavaca

Water sports and scuba diving are excellent experiences in Guardalavaca. Due to its fascinating seabed, introductory diving classes, as well as diving itself, are in high demand in this tourist destination. Guardalavaca’s underwater terrain is quite irregular, offering divers a varied and exciting landscape. High-rise mogotes, caverns, small valleys, and vertical-walled cliffs alternate with other environments where the lowering of the platform has given rise to wide terraces covered with gorgonians, sea fans, and corals, and, in the shallowest area, the coral reef.

All dive sites are protected by fishing regulations, favoring the presence of large fish, which, due to their habit of sharing space, approach divers during dives.

Guardalavaca is home to the Eagle Ray Diving Center, which provides services for a successful underwater experience: equipment, assistance from an internationally certified guide instructor with knowledge of the area, and round-trip transportation to and from the diving area.

Pesquero

Pesquero is a beautiful beach with white sands and safe, exquisitely clear, shallow waters. It is a perfect spot for scuba divers. It boasts an astonishing underwater world, with a variety of landscapes and rich biodiversity. Playa Pesquero boasts one of the most superior resorts in the area and the Blue World Diving Center.

Esmeralda

A private tropical paradise, just 900 meters long, located on the coastal strip of the Ciego Caleticas estuary, the beach is just 5km from Guardalavaca Beach. Its name comes from the color of its waters, a striking gem-like green. The beach is close to the Bahía de Naranjo Natural Park, a magnificent region for ecotourism.

Nature

Guardalavaca’s geography holds a special charm, thanks to the abundance of mountainous landscapes that encompass valleys, rivers, and beautiful beaches. Among the gifts of nature in this destination is the Bahía de Naranjo Natural Park, an area of approximately 4.2km² and extraordinary beauty. It has five inland keys, among which Cayo Jutía stands out. This theme park is located 4km southwest of Playa Esmeralda and is primarily intended for recreation and tourist entertainment. Those who enjoy ecotourism experiences will find this paradise the ideal place to unleash their adventure. The park also has resorts and an aquarium, offering activities and tours. In addition, it offers all kinds of water excursions, including sailing trips, swimming with dolphins, and seafaris.

Culture

In Holguín, cultural traditions have deep roots, and after centuries of existence, they remain alive and give rise to celebrations enjoyed by locals and visitors. Among the oldest are the patron saint festivals, the cross altars, and the May Pilgrimages. Typical of the area are the Guateques campesinos (rural fiestas), traditional celebrations that liven up gatherings with the sound of son montuno. Among these sounds, the punto guajiro, a musical genre that blends Cuban and Canarian music and whose origins, according to historians, date back to the 17th century, stands out. Punto guajiro, or Cuban Punto, was recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2017.

Banes, the Holguín municipality where Guardalavaca is located, is known as the Archaeological Capital of Cuba due to numerous discoveries that prove the area was the site of a pre-Columbian chiefdom. Banes is privileged to host the island’s two most important museums on indigenous culture: the Chorro de Maíta Aboriginal Cemetery—the first of its kind in Cuba and considered the largest aboriginal cemetery in the Caribbean—which exhibits indigenous artifacts and skeletons of the earliest inhabitants; and the Baní Indo-Cuban Museum, located in the heart of the city, which houses some 22,000 pieces of considerable heritage value.

A short distance from the Chorro de Maíta Museum is the Taino Village, a typical hamlet that replicates an indigenous village. This astonishing site recreates the daily life, customs, and rituals of these early inhabitants of Cuba. And amid the caneyes (traditional dwellings), 38 human sculptures depict ceremonies and habits of the region’s ancient inhabitants.

Excursions

From Holguín, you can take excursions and trips to fascinating places. Catamaran trips to nearby Cayo Saetía and hiking through strikingly beautiful natural areas such as La Mensura Park and Salto del Guayabo are also included, as are tours of nearby cities and trips to other provinces. New places, all with stories and charms to discover. The various travel agencies—Cubanacán, Cubatur, Havanatur, Ecotur, and Gaviota Tours—with offices in hotels throughout Holguín’s tourist resorts are of great help in creating an itinerary that satisfies the desire to collect memories of a pleasant vacation.

Gastronomy

The variety of culinary options adds value to the tourist experience. Guardalavaca is a benchmark for places offering tasty Cuban food, and seafood is the main dish and specialty of local chefs in many of its restaurants. Combining seafood, good wine, good company, and professional service amidst any of Guardalavaca’s landscapes is an invigorating act of personal satisfaction.

Accommodation

Accomodation in Guardalavaca includes 5, 4 and 3-star hotels. Among the most notable facilities are the Gran Muthu Almirante, Gran Muthu Ensenada, Sol Río de Luna y Mares, Brisas Guardalavaca, and the Club Amigo Guardalavaca. All are close to the beach, with admirable views, enjoyable recreational activities, excellent service, and friendly, helpful staff.

If we were to recommend a place in Cuba that combines natural beauty, beaches, quality food, nearby attractions, peace, and abundant energy, it would be Guardalavaca, one of the most beautiful and complete Cuban destinations. A stay there revitalizes, allowing visitors to continue with renewed energy and a greater desire to enjoy life.