Baracoa

Officially Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa, Baracoa is a municipality and city in the Guantánamo Province close to Cuba’s eastern edge. Known as “Ciudad Primada,” or “First City,” it is a major site in Cuban history as it was the first capital and the earliest Spanish town on the island. Admiral Christopher Columbus paid the city a visit on November 27, 1492, during his first expedition to the New World. Later, on August 15, 1511, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, a Spanish adventurer, created it. Reflecting its coastal position, the name “Baracoa” is said to be from the indigenous Arauaca language, meaning “the presence of the sea.”

Nestled on the stunning Bay of Honey (Bahía de Miel), Baracoa is surrounded by a broad mountain range including the Sierra del Purial. Its remoteness has been exacerbated by this topography; just one mountain road developed in the 1960s offers access. Luscious Cuban wet woods and Cuban pine forests dominate the nearby mountain range, creating a refuge for natural beauty and species.

Among the various little towns in the municipality of Baracoa are Barigua, Boca de Yumurí, Cabacú, Cayogüín, Jamal, Jaragua, Los Hoyos, Mabujabo, Mosquitero, Nibujón, Paso Cuba, Sabanilla, Santa María, and Vega de Taco. Every one of these settlements enhances the historical and cultural fabric of the area.

Based on Köppen climate classification, Baracoa has a tropical rainforest climate (Af), marked by high temperatures and year-round rainfall. Though there are no separate wet or dry seasons, the period from October to December usually is wetter. Despite its magnificent surroundings, its secluded position near the eastern end of the Cuban island has managed to maintain its appeal and keep the impact of mass tourism somewhat modest. From Santiago de Cuba, a ride of almost four hours, visitors may reach Baracoa by bus; from Havana, a flight takes roughly two hours.

Several antique forts reflecting the city’s colonial heritage call from within. Built in 1802, the Fuerte Matachín still stands eastward and today serves as a residential area and museum site. Built in 1803, the Fuerte La Punta to the west is today a restaurant with a little beach next by. Having been turned into Hotel El Castillo, the third fort, El Castillo, provides a commanding perspective over the town and both bays from its vantage point on a hill. Along with various casas unique that provide a more personal lodging experience, other Baracoa hotels include Hotel Porto Santo, Hotel La Rusa, Hostal La Habanera, and Villa Maguana.

With the Cruz de la Parra housed within the Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Baracoa boasts a prominent religious site. Although carbon dating points to local wood, suggesting a mix of fiction and actuality, this cross is claimed to have been carried by Columbus from Spain.

Two music venues close to the Parque Independency—the more traditional Casa de la Flana and the visitor-friendly Flan de Queso—allow Baracoa to provide dynamic cultural experiences. These venues give a window into the local cultural life and music scene.

The neighbouring landscapes will provide plenty of interests for nature lovers. Both the rivers Miel and Toa provide picturesque splendour; the latter has several waterfalls, notably the well-known “el Saltadero,” which reaches 17 meters high. Ten kilometres west of Baracoa, the 575-meter-high table mountain El Yunque is a relic of a plateau that supports various unusual fern species and palms because of its seclusion. Starting at the campismo El Yunque, climbing El Yunque offers tourists an exciting adventure and calls for a guide.

About 20 kilometres north from Baracoa, visitors may find the Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt. Renowned for its great biodiversity and ecological value, this national park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Salto Fino, the Caribbean’s tallest waterfall, calls Baracoa home as well. A tributary of the Quibijan River, the Arroyo del Infierno (Hell’s Stream) underwent a spectacular fall that produced this natural beauty. Part of the Toa River system—the biggest river in Cuba—the waterfall is for those who travel to view Salto Fino, its 305-meter height puts it as the 20th-highest waterfall in the world, providing an amazing spectacle.