Most probably you haven’t heard of Manzanillo in Cuba. This district has a population of around 130 000 inhabitants and although it is one of the most remote and unexplored recesses in the country, it boasts a rich history.
Founded in 1784, Manzanillo belongs to the Granma Province with its capital – the city of Bayamo. Manzanillo owes its name to the Spanish conquistadors and the local island bush Hipomanne Mancinella. The beautiful colonial city centre shelters an interesting historical part and the Moorish style pavilion La Glorieta de Manzanillo. The longest stay you can indulge in here as a tourist is 2 days. There are plenty of affordable guest houses – 15-20 pesos (“cucs”, informal) for a room per night.
The Granma Province also includes the highest mountain in Cuba – Sierra Maestra, along with the leader among the peaks in Cuba – the Turquino peak (Pico Turquino), which is 1,974 metres above sea level. Here you can also find the southernmost point in Cuba – Cape Cruz, located approximately 180 km from Jamaica and around 200 km from the Cayman Islands. In close proximity there lies the notable Las Coloradas Beach, where the “Granma” ship with the revolutionaries Fidel and Raul Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara anchors out on the 2nd of December 1956 and sets the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.Manzanillo is located at the centre of the Guacanayabo Bay. Although it is a sea one, the beach here is not very clean. My recommendation for a nice beach in the district is Marea del Portillo Beach, where there is also a hotel. Please, keep in mind that the roads in the province are rather badly kept. Following along a low-class, but marvellous scenic route from Marea del Portillo you can reach the second largest city in Cuba – Santiago de Cuba where the majestic Sierra Maestra meets the Caribbean Sea.
