Baracoa is Cuba's most unusual city. The island's first capital (1511!), cut off from the world by mountains until the 1960s, it has preserved a unique character. Here grows Cuba's best cacao, rare animals live in surrounding forests, and locals speak their own dialect. If you want to see a Cuba almost nobody has seen - come to Baracoa.
Why Visit
Baracoa is for adventure. No all-inclusive beach resorts, no tourist crowds, no Varadero infrastructure. But there is:
- Chocolate factory and cacao farms
- Humboldt National Park (UNESCO) with unique flora and fauna
- El Yunque mountain with views of the entire region
- Wild beaches without hotels
- Columbus's cross in the cathedral - the only surviving one of 29 he placed on the island
Getting There
Here's why Baracoa is so special - getting here isn't easy.
From Santiago de Cuba: 4-5 hours by bus on La Farola mountain road. Switchbacks, stunning views - one of Cuba's most beautiful drives. Transtur bus (book at HavanaTur in Santiago).
By plane: small Gustavo Rizo airport, infrequent flights.
Most tourists arrive from Santiago as part of an eastern Cuba trip.
Chocolate
75% of Cuban cacao grows around Baracoa. The climate is perfect - French settlers from Haiti figured this out in the 19th century.
Chocolate factory (Che Guevara opened it in 1963!) - open for visits.
Cacao farms - tours with tastings.
Casa del Chocolate - cafe on the main square with hot chocolate from local cacao.
Try: chorote - local drink made from cacao, coconut milk, plantain flour, and cinnamon. Unlike anything else.
Nature
Humboldt Park - UNESCO national park. Cuba's biodiversity center. Rare birds, endemic plants, waterfalls. Guide required, tours organized in town.
El Yunque - flat-topped mountain (575m), visible from everywhere. 2-3 hour climb, views worth the effort.
Beaches: Playa Blanca and Playa Maguana - wild, white sand, almost no people. No hotels, no development.
Where to Stay
Only casas particulares - virtually no hotels. $15-25 per room with breakfast. Hosts help organize tours.
Where to Eat
Local cuisine is unique - coconut everywhere. Try cucuruchos (coconut-honey candy in palm leaves), bacán (plantain purée with crab), and of course chocolate.
How Much Time
2-3 nights: minimum. Town + chocolate + one trek (Yunque or Humboldt).
4-5 nights: if you want to seriously explore the park and relax on beaches.
Practical Tips
- Road from Santiago is beautiful but tiring - don't plan much for arrival day
- Bug spray essential - tropics, mosquitoes
- Cash only
- Internet weak even by Cuban standards
- Book casa in advance - small town
