Baracoa.
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Overview

Baracoa, nicknamed La Ciudad Primera, is Cuba's easternmost and oldest city. It is popular among tourists for its indigenous-inflected unique local culture, distinctive local cuisine, natural rainforest surroundings, and its chocolate.

Understand

Shielded by heavy mountains on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, Baracoa has historically been isolated from the rest of Cuba; until the 1960s, it could only be accessed by sea. This isolation has contributed to much of Baracoa's distinct identity from the rest of Cuba.

History It is believed that Baracoa is where Columbus first landed on American soil, making it truly the first city of the modern Americas. Baracoa was formally established as the first of Diego Velazquez' villas in 1511, and was Cuba's capital until 1515, when the capital was moved to Santiago in part due to Baracoa's remoteness. In the coming centuries, Baracoa, simultaneously close and remote from the rest of Cuba, thrived off piracy and developed a culture distinct from the rest of the island. French settlers fleeing the revolution in nearby Haiti found the climate ideal for growing cacao, and the city transitioned to an agricultural center. In the lead-up to the 1959 revolution, the citizens of Baracoa were particularly supportive and helpful (as was generally true of Eastern Cuba), and were rewarded by the completion of a road from Guantánamo and the end of more than 4 centuries of isolation. Today Baracoa is chiefly a major agricultural zone for Cuba, with all of Cuba's chocolate coming from the surrounding area, and is a major destination on the Cuban tourist trail.

Culture Baracoa's culture has more visible indigenous roots than most of the rest of the Cuba, and many major archeological finds have been made here. The local hero is Hatuey, who famously resisted the Spanish, and local art has a distinctive indigenous inflection to it. The cuisine is also different from the rest of Cuba and the overall lifestyle is more relaxed.

Climate Baracoa and the surrounding areas has a tropical rainforest microclimate, which allows chocolate to grow very well. Expect a fair bit of rain, although it's generally not unpleasant. Baracoa can be surprisingly cool, though most of the surrounding area is pretty hot.

Get in

Although no longer reachable only by boat, Baracoa remains pretty isolated. Baracoa is accessible from Guantanamo City via La Farola (the lighthouse), a mountain pass road built in the 1960s to reward the Baracoans for their support of the revolution.

Note that transportation in and out of Baracoa on both the plane and bus is frequently fully-booked during high season. So, make sure to buy your tickets early enough, especially when leaving, since there are not many alternatives. In low season, however, the Viazul bus might run with less than 10 people.

By bus A daily Viazul (prices & times see link) bus runs between Santiago and Baracoa via Guantanamo City, taking about 5 hr. The is located at the northern tip of Baracoa city. The bus ride is one of the more beautiful in Cuba, going from semi-arid desert out of Guantanamo to impressive mountains on La Farola to rain-forest lowlands approaching Baracoa.

Also Astro, the national bus line, serves Baracoa from the same bus terminal as Viazul, but as a tourist you are highly unlikely to be allowed on, and if you are (usually by being a student), you're not likely to get a seat. Furthermore, there are local provincial buses and passenger trucks from a separate terminal within the center of the city (ask a Cuban). The latter also connects to Moa with at least one (packed) bus a day (CUC1-2) in each direction, which can easily take up to 3 hr. Either way, you can try stopping both (Astro and provincial ones) at the exit of the city, depending on where you want to go.

Of course, this being Cuba, the usual array of chartered buses also serve Baracoa.

By plane Both Cubana and Aerogaviota operate flights from Havana to Baracoa. See Cubajet to book these flights.

Baracoa is 150 km east of Guantanamo City.

This is a meaningful alternative to be considered, especially due to its flexibility (to take pictures) and directness, i.e. no stopping or waiting. On the other hand, you may be stuffed in a quite uncomfortable and unsafe "backseat" of a pickup along with 6 other people for 3.5 hr, so there's that.

Taxi and car will also be the only two options to travel between Punta de Maisi and Baracoa (see #Go next at the end).

Get around

Baracoa is a tiny and very compact town, as such walking will be the primary form of transportation in-town. For excursions further afield, a taxi, a bici-taxi or horse-drawn vehicles are handy. Bici-taxis are everywhere and can be paid for in CUC or CUP. Regular taxis are less common but can be hired if necessary.

By hired driver Bici-taxis are available for rent for approximately CUC5/day. Alternatively, you can hire a car (with driver) for about CUC20.

By moped Mopeds and scooters can be rented from a rental agency just off the main park (Parque Centro). It is located inside a cafeteria next to the cinema. Expect to pay approximately CUC25 for a full day.

Baracoa Bike Rental. Rents late model bicycles.

By thumb There is a lot of short distance travel in and out of town. For destinations less than 15 km along the main road, try waving at vehicles with people already on its back.

See

Parque Independencia. Effectively the city's main plaza, Parque Independencia features a fountain, a statue of local hero Hatuey, and Baracoa's original church (closed for renovations as of 2012). Most of the tour operators' offices, including Cubatur's, ring the park, as do the city government offices. Many casas and paladares are nearby.

Old Town. Baracoa's old town, which pretty much encompasses the entire city, is not particularly pretty nor does it contain many particularly notable buildings, but it's pleasant to stroll in.

Malecòn. Baracoa has its very own Malecòn, running from the northern bus station to Fuerte Matachín, though it has none of the fame (or crowds) of Havana's. It does, however, make for a pleasant stroll along the Atlantic. Near the middle of the walk, a park and statue commemorate Columbus and the Spanish landing on Cuba. Some casas are along the Malecòn, offering great views onto the sea.

Castillo de Seboruco. The highest fort in Baracoa, dating to 1739, is now a hotel, but non-guests are free to wander the outdoor (and some indoor) areas and admire the views.

Asiento Taino. A reconstructed Taino burial ground full of statuettes. While the museum is fascinating, one does end up wondering how heavy-handed the reconstruction was. On the way there, watch for the dilapidated old gas station on Moncada – it's an impressive sight.

Hotel La Rusa. More a historical oddity than a great place to spend the night, this hotel along the malecón was run by a Russian woman who escaped to Cuba from the Russian Revolution – only to become one of Castro's closer confidantes.

Fuerte Matachín. At the southern end of the Malecòn this former Spanish fort now serves as the city's municipal museum. It's quite informative, but most exhibits are in Spanish.

Veteran's Center. A tiny museum that has some photographs and other articles from the revolution and, perhaps more interestingly, the conflict in Angola. Will kill 15 minutes.

Cucurucho Factory (Fábrica de Cucuruchu). Yes there's a factory that makes them! It's located on the outskirts of town (ask a bici-taxi driver to take you there) and is a good place to buy the conical coconut confection, at least when it's open.

Finca Duaba. A place to learn about the cacao plantation, production and history in Cuba. A few 100 m further there is a river where you can take a dip.

Do

Relax around the town, share a bottle of rum and koola cola with locals at the nightclub 100 steps above the town. The Casa de la Trova by the church offers itself as a comfortable and welcoming drinking establishment where you can dance with the locals. Popular for any blossoming salsa lovers.

Playa de Miel. A lovely black sand beach within easy walking distance of town.

Playa Duaba. A beach located north of Baracoa (not in walking distance), usually visited at the end of a tour to Alejandro de Humboldt Park (below) to relax after a day of hiking.

Playa Maguana. A nice secluded beach, usually visited at the end of a tour to Alejandro de Humboldt Park (below) to relax after a day of hiking. A small restaurant is there too.

Playa Blanca. This is a white and quiet beach to relax and remain for a while. The road there is a long winding 12 km.

Baseball stadium. This being Cuba, of course there is a baseball stadium. Baracoa's stadium though, is actually on the beach but already in a bad state.

El Yunque. A 575-m-high mountain whose name means the anvil in Spanish, about 30 min by bici-taxi from the centre of town. A return normal taxi is about CUC15. You must pay to enter the national park, but the views from the peak are fantastic and well worth the 1-2 hr hike.

Cascada (Waterfall). A nice waterfall to take a swim.

Alejandro de Humbold National Park (Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt). Unmatched in the Caribbean for sheer biodiversity, this fascinating park can be the highlight of any visit to Baracoa. The park features the world's smallest frog, the endemic polymita snail, and a surprising amount of rural agriculture. Talk to Cubatur at Parque Independencia for a group tour; it's also possible to visit independently and hire a guard at the gate, but this is more expensive and not particularly recommended. The road to the park is not so much a road with potholes, but potholes with bits of road, and you'll feel the bus swerving in all directions to dodge them. Most tours also take in Playa Duaba, above.

Yumuri. Venture just outside the city on a bici-taxi to see the mighty Yumuri river, which runs through several of the surrounding communities. Boat trips will take you up the valley of the river for a few hours round-trip. Also tours are available from Baracoa, which will additionally take you cocoa plantations and other local areas.

Buy

Contrary to what you might expect for such an isolated city, Baracoa is not any more expensive than anywhere else in Cuba, partly because the Cuban tourism market is so tightly-controlled.

In general, as one goes east in Cuba, how much people care whether you give them CUC or CUP decreases, and this is most so in Baracoa, with virtually all non-tourist goods (such as trips to the national park) being payable in either currency.

Cadeca. The place to change your money into CUC, or your CUC into CUP.

Baracoa is a good place to buy indigenous-styled art, although it's not cheap. Small wooden capsules sold here with cocoa-butter make for a nice souvenir/gift - but some of them smell better than others.

Eat

Travelers weary of the repetitive (and frankly somewhat boring) food found elsewhere in Cuba can breathe a sigh of relief when they reach Baracoa—and then dig straight into the small city's delicious regional dishes.

The local peanut butter bars are a good snack. The peso pizza is a good treat too.

In general, aside from chocolate, government-run restaurants do not serve local cuisine.

Regional specialties Baracoa is known as the land of chocolate and coconut and most of the local cuisine is based around these two ingredients. Near the midpoint of La Farola, the Viazul bus makes a stop at a tiny tourist-oriented village, where you can buy red bananas, Baracoa chocolate, and cucurucho.

Baracoa chocolate. It is sold in tiny 6-piece bars at 5 per CUC. You will also find people selling balls of chocolate - these are unsweetened, which would normally make them totally unpalatable, but Baracoa chocolate is quite mild (though it's definitely not to everyone's taste). Be sure to buy plenty, as its cheaper here and absolutely amazing.

Plain Coconut. Drink a fresh and delicious coconut and afterwards eat the jelly-like pulp inside. Make sure to demand it without added lemon, otherwise the coconut taste is spoiled.

In addition, coconut manifests itself in two local specialties.

Coconut milk sauce. The first oddly resembles Thai curries while remaining completely different (quite a change from the usual bland Cuban diet!) and is served with fish and seafood. The best way to try it is to specifically ask your casa owner to prepare it, or go to some of the paladares that specialize in local food.

Cucurucho. The other speciality is a conical concoction of shredded coconut, sugar (and lots of it), orange peels, guava, and whatever else the maker felt like putting in–no two are alike! Cucuruchos are wrapped in palm leaves with a handy lid. They are quite sweet, sweeter perhaps than the typical North American palate usually allows for.

Drink

Be sure to check out Baracoan drinking chocolate – hot chocolate brewed with cinnamon leaves. It's delicious, though the powdered milk limits its potential somewhat.

You'll of course find the usual assortment of peso and CUC sodas and alcohol in bars all around Baracoa.

Casa de la Trova. It offers itself as a comfortable and welcoming drinking establishment where you can dance with the locals. Popular for any blossoming salsa lovers.

Local Bar. This local bar offer cheap drinks and often good authentic music. Give a tip to the musicians or buy their CD.

Sleep

As elsewhere in Cuba, casas particulares, available for around CUC15-20 per night will most likely be your cheapest options. Note that while many casas are small, they tend to operate in informal (and not entirely legal) family networks, so if the main casa is full, you will stay at a family member's.

Be prepared for the onslaught of hoteliers and taxi drivers as you arrive at the bus terminal. The game is that by this time you cannot be bothered to go and look for another hotel because it is just too hot. Instead just walk the short distance from the bus terminal into the city and check out 2 or 3 casas for yourself.

Casa Alejandro y Susana. Has terrace, garden, roundabout, yard and garage. Both rooms have air conditioning, hot shower, a double bed and a personal, as well as large glass windows allowing good and natural ventilation and lighting. Laundry services are provided, in addition to typical meals, vegetarian recipes, breakfast and cocktails with negotiable prices. The owners are lawyers. In the house you will find security, privacy and comfort.

Yodanka. Fantastic casa in a quiet side street, opposite end of the Malecon from the bus station. It does not have a name but it is the road after Juracion, on the right, as you are leaving town. The casa is about 200 meters away from the beach on the right hand side. Rooms are large with a double bed and ensuite bathroom. You also get a shaded patio, and a staircase to another patio in the sun. The owners speak Spanish only.

Clara Silot y Victor. An alright room, with a great elderly couple, which actually adopted us while we're been there. Because of them, Baracoa was even more wonderful! It's about 8 minutes walk from the center.

Casa Colonial Gustavo y Yalina. An elegant colonial house that dates to the 19th century, this casa features Baracoan drinking chocolate and local specialties for dinner.

Nelsy Borges Teran. If trying Baracoa's local dishes is your priority, this should be the casa you stay in, as it is considered to have very good food.

Villa Paradiso. One of the best casa particulares in eastern Cuba with great views over town, lovely rooms and very helpful, friendly owners who can manage excursions throughout the surrounding region. Also one of the very few casas in Baracoa with a website.

Hotel La Rusa. A notable historica landmark, this bright yellow hotel is opposite the Malecon (sea wall) in the centre of town. Famous figures like Che Guevara and Fidel Castro have stayed in the hotel. The rooms are basic with air conditioning, television and hot water. If you want some history and great views - ask for room 302. It's the room Che stayed in during his visit to open the local chocolate factory and is marked by a commemorative plaque and cliche furnishings. Conditions have degraded since Hurricane Ike in 2008 and have not improved much since.

Hotel El Castillo. Converted from Castillo El Seboruco, this elegant hotel allows you to feel like a conquistador – and has an amazing view over the town (though you do not have to stay here to see it).