Baracoa, Cuba

The oldest city on the island presents a totally different Cuba. here you can find rivers, thick jungles, waterfalls, and mountains. I was genuinely astonished by the woods and palm trees that seem like a fairytale. The locals are right to say that the nature here resembles that of Dominicana. This is not surprising since the Dominican Republic is situated only 60 km east into the sea. Baracoa suffered serious damages after Hurricane Matthew hit Cuba in 2016. Luckily, everything was repaired by the government except for several bridges westward.

In 1511 the first Spanish conquerors settle here.

Baracoa is a bit far away. I travelled by bus from Santiago de Cubа through Guantanamo and I flew back to Havana. The Baracoa airport is small and cozy along with the coastal boulevard – Malecon.

Actually, all coastal streets in Cuba are called the same – El Malecon.

The Saturday I spent in Baracoa coincided with the local fiesta, which takes place every Saturday evening. All the restaurants and clubs are open.

You can hear live bands playing son and Cuban salsa.

You can spend 5-6 days and still not visit everything this unique place has to offer.

One of the top destinations is Managua Beach. Find out more about Managuа Beach here.

I decided to complete the ten-kilometre ride to Managua on a bike, which I rented for 1 CUC. This decision eventually turned out to be a big mistake because of the bumpy road. However, it goes along three river deltas so the views are breathtaking.
Don’t miss the Yumuri river. It is located between Baracoa and Maisi and it is the ideal spot to sunbathe and relax – peaceful and beautiful.
If you have more time make sure you climb up the El Yunque Peak in в the nearby Parque Nacional Duaba, described by Columbus in 1492. You will stumble upon a lot of rivers and waterfalls.
There is also a big wooden cross situated in the city center that is said to have been brought by Christopher Columbus.