Page 221 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

EASTERN CUBA  219

4 Guardalavaca a Pre-Columbian rural village,
built for entertainment, but
Holguín. Road Map F3.
historically accurate. Visitors can
Converted in the mid-1980s buy souvenirs and sample food
into a holiday resort, the beaches that the Amerindians used to
of Guardalavaca are among eat. In front of the huts are life-
Cuba’s most popular holiday size statues of natives.
destinations. Although the resort
is within easy reach of Holguín,
which lies 58 km (35 miles) to 6 Banes
the southwest along a road Holguín. Road Map F4.
through curious conical hills,
the location still feels remote. This country town, 32 km (20 m)
The 4-km (2-mile) crescent- Skeletons found in the necropolis of southwest of Holguín, is
shaped main beach, enclosed Chorro de Maíta located in the middle of a
at either end by rocks, is vast and rich excavation zone
backed by abundant vegeta- 5 El Chorro de (the province of Holguín has
tion. The sea is crystal-clear, Maíta yielded one-third of the
the sand is fine, and there is archaeological finds in Cuba).
a coral reef quite close to the Cerro de Yaguajay, Banes (Holguín). Banes is the home of the
shore. To the west are several Road Map F4. Tel (24) 430 201. Museo Indocubano Bani,
developed beaches. Open 9am–5pm Tue–Sat, 9am–1pm Cuba’s most important
Sun. & 8 Note: fee for photography
The name “Guardalavaca” may apply. archaeological museum
(watch the cow) derives from outside Havana. The
the Spanish word for the cattle Near the coast, just museum has over a
egret (see p24), a bird which is 5 km (3 miles) south thousand objects on
common throughout Cuba, of Guardalavaca, is El display, including axes,
and especially prevalent here. Chorro de Maíta, the terracotta vases, flint
West of the beach is Bahía largest native Indian knives and, most notably,
de Naranjo, a natural park that necropolis in Cuba and the a 4-cm (2-in) high figure
comprises 32 km (20 miles) Antilles. At this unmissable of a woman in gold, known
of coastline and 10 sq km site archaeologists have as the Ídolo de Oro. It was
(3.9 sq miles) of woods, with found 108 skeletons found near Banes,
karst hills covered with thick and a number of clay Ídolo de Oro, Museo and dates from the
vegetation. There are three objects, bone amulets, Indocubano Bani 13th century.
small islands in the bay; on funerary offerings and
one, Cayo Naranjo, there is an decorated shells. E Museo Indocubano Bani
aquarium featuring shows with All this material can be seen Calle General Barrero 305, e/ Martí y
sea lions and dolphins. Boat from a boardwalk inside the Céspedes. Tel (24) 802 487. Open daily
tours, diving and fishing trips museum. Across the road is an (Sun am only). & 8 Note: fee for
are also organized here. aldea taína, a reconstruction of photography may apply.

The lovely clear turquoise sea at Guardalavaca

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