Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

DISC OVERING CUBA  15

A Week in Eastern
Cuba
• Airports Transfer at Havana’s
José Martí International
Airport to a domestic flight
to Baracoa. Return to Havana
from Holguín’s airport.
• Transport To see all of
the stops on this tour you
will need to hire a car.
Víazul coaches cover
Baracoa, Santiago de Cuba,
Guantánamo, Bayamo and
Holguín as a single route.
• Booking ahead Buy coach
The River of Honey, close to Baracoa
tickets in advance and book
car hire ahead in high
season (Dec–Feb, Jul and rainforest, home to rare wildlife. museum of Cuba’s Spanish
Aug). Reserve accommo- In the after noon, visit the white- founder Diego Velázquez, before
dation well in advance sand beach of Playa Maguana visiting the large Catedral de
during Santiago’s two July (pp248–9). Spend the night in Nuestra Seňora de la Asunción
festivals, and during high Baracoa or Playa Maguana. (p231). Take a moment to watch
season in Bayamo. the world go by from the city’s
Day 4: Over La Farola Pass most famous terrace at the Hotel
and past Guantánamo Bay Casa Granda (p228), which over-
Day 1: Arriving in Baracoa Set off early to drive over the looks the park. Walk east along
Having landed in Baracoa spectacular mountain pass Calle Heredia then south to see
(pp246–7), take time to wander known as La Farola (p243). the eclectic artifacts at the Museo
the pretty streets of this historic Travel through the enormous Emilio Bacardí Moreau (p228).
city, which was, for a short time, cactuses of the Costa Sur (p243), In the afternoon, visit the
the first capital of Cuba. Follow set against the midnight blue Cuartel Moncada museum
the road around the bay and Carib bean sea, and drive past the (p234) to learn about Fidel
climb a steep hill to the perimeter fences of the US Naval Castro’s rebel beginnings before
atmospheric Hotel El Castillo base at Guantánamo Bay (p243). taking a guided tour of the
(p262) for fantastic views of the Head on to Santiago de Cuba, and Cementerio de Santa Ifigenia
city. Finish the day with a cocktail spend the evening salsa dancing (p234), the last resting place of
on the swimming pool terrace. at the Casa de la Trova (p226). nationalist José Martí. Finish your
day with a short walk in the smart
Day 2: Exploring Baracoa Day 5: Santiago de Cuba Vista Alegre neighbourhood
Visit the Catedral de Nuestra Start your city tour early with a (p235), where you can see how
Señora de la Asunción (p246), trip to the Museo Ambiente the upper classes once lived.
home to the wooden cross that, Histórico Cubano (p230), the
legend has it, was brought by Moorish home-turned-history Day 6: On to Guardalavaca
Christopher Columbus on his On leaving Santiago de Cuba by
first voyage to America. After- car, either drive south for a tour
wards, visit the Fuerte Matachín of the impressive Castillo del
museum (p247), which features Morro (pp236–7), a 17th-century
exhibits relating to the history Spanish fortress built to protect
of the local area. Walk southeast Santiago de Cuba, or west to
along the town’s beach to the Basílica del Cobre (p225), home
delightful fishing village of Boca to the venerated statue of
de Miel on the River of Honey. Cuba’s patron saint, La Virgen
Return to Baracoa for the night. del Cobre. Drive west to Bayamo,
and then north through Holguín
Day 3: El Yunque and to the aquamarine seas and white
Playa Maguana sands of Guardalavaca (p219).
Either take a guided tour to climb
the distinctive El Yunque Day 7: Return via Holguín
mountain (p248) and enjoy Spend the morning sunbathing,
extra ordinary panoramic views sailing or snorkelling at one of
of the coast, or visit the protected the Guardalavaca resorts before
Parque Nacional Alejandro de Statue of the revered Virgen del Cobre in driving the hour to Holguín air-
Humboldt (p249), a mountainous the Basílica del Cobre port for a flight back to Havana.

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