For many travelers who come to this country, the eastern Cuban city of Baracoa is today a very particular attraction, surrounded by nature and as if anchored in time.
Many tourists comment after visiting it that it is the part of this archipelago that they like the most. They argue this predilection from the point of view of not only being in the first city founded by the Spanish on the island, but also having everything very close, nature, mountains, beach, river, and adventure.
Furthermore, its people are extremely friendly, and it is the only place in the archipelago where aboriginal traits can be seen among some of its inhabitants, not to mention that the traditional food is extremely different, with dishes such as Bacán, Tetí, Cucuruchos, and where coconut and cocoa reign. Baracoa, also called the First City, is a city located in the eastern Cuban province of Guantánamo, which has many charms. In addition to an extremely attractive urban environment.
The city was founded on August 15, 1511 with the name of Our Lady of the Assumption of Baracoa by the Spanish explorer Diego Velázquez, who then held the title of Adelantado.
It is the oldest settlement on the Island after the arrival of the Spanish and hence its name of First City. In 1518 it received the designation of a city, in addition to being the first capital and the first bishopric of the Island.
Declared a National Monument, and after a cyclone almost devastated it, it now exhibits a renewed landscape and beauties that compel visitors to awe, especially those travelers interested in the most attractive landscapes of Cuba.
Authorities from the Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) in the region point out that the first products they disseminate are of nature, culture and history, with the Alejandro de Humboldt park, one of the most attractive in the Cuban market, since it is due to the German scientist who In his time he fell in love with the region, and with Cuba.
Baracoa currently has seven hotels, and also 505 private rooms, what it calls the non-state sector. In Guantánamo there are four hotels and two new facilities in Maisí, in its lighthouse at the eastern end of Cuba, there are the Villa Punta de Maisí and the Maisí Lighthouse, all of this flourishing after the bloody hurricane mentioned above.
A curiosity is the rides in Cayuca along the Toa River, although they are mentioned that way, they are really boat rides. The Cayucas were boats built by the aborigines by hollowing out a palm tree and after various procedures decorating them.
The main products of the region are coconut, cocoa and coffee, although since the late 90s of the last century tourism has taken over. Declared a National Monument, the city is located between the Macaguanigua and Miel rivers.
Among its natural attractions is the Toa River, marked by numerous waterfalls, the best known being El Saltadero, 17 meters high, and the Yunque mountains, which owe their name to their similarity to the piece used by blacksmiths, among others. many other charms.
