Holguín

¨This is the most beautiful land that human eyes have ever seen.¨ These were the words of Christopher Columbus an afternoon of October,1492 when he first set foot in Cuban soil in a place known as Bariay located to the north of the current province of Holguín. The Admiral was not in a mistake, the province of Holguín displays to the visitors one of the most richest sceneries in Cuban nature. Mountains areas surrounded by fertile plains and beautiful beaches of fine sands and waters with a turquoise tonality alternate in the geography of Holguín.

The city of Holguín, or city of parks as its also known, was founded in the first half of the 18th century. The city is the best place to get a lodge in the province not only because its condition as capital of the province but also because its location in the centre of the province which is very advantageous to arrange a schedule of the several excursions to the recommended places of attraction in this province. The same city has also many architectural, historical and cultural values

Location

Holguín is located in the most northern part of Eastern Cuba. It limits west with Las Tunas and east with Guantánamo, the most eastern province of Cuba. To the south it has Granma and Santiago de Cuba. Its north limit is the Atlantic Ocean.

Distances between Holguín and other Cuban main cities (in kilometres)

Pinar del Río: 944
C Habana: 758
Matanzas: 669
Varadero: 663
Cienfuegos: 537
Santa Clara: 471
Santi Spíritus: 385
Ciego de Ávila: 310
Camaguey: 200
Las Tunas: 77
Bayamo: 71
Santiago de Cuba: 143
Guantánamo: 197

1- Recommended places in the city of Holguín:

Calixto García Park
This park is the heart of Holguín. It is surrounded by buildings of eclectic architecture which are home to public institutions, services and commercial centres. During the colonial times, the park was the arms square of the Spanish garrison in the city. Today it took the name of the notable Cuban patriot Calixto García Iñiguez who was born in this city

San Isidro Cathedral
This cathedral was finished in 1720 and from its foundation it has represented the main level ecclesiastical institution in Holguín. Today it keeps in very good conditions its Moorish internal and its Mudejar style ceilings which are the most attractive of the city.

San José Church
Founded in 1815, is one of the most representative neoclassical architectural jewels in Holguín. The San José Church is located right in the city historical centre.

Loma de la Cruz
The ancient Bayado hill, is the viewpoint par excellence of the city. In May, 1790 fray Antonio Alegría changed its name for ever after putting on its top a big cross to celebrate the day of the appearance of the Calvary Timbers. Each May, 3rd, as part of the traditional party ¨Romerías de Mayo¨, the people of Holguín ascend through the long stairs of 458 steps.

Museum of the Provincial History ¨La Periquera¨
A Neoclassical building of the second half of the 19th century houses the Provincial History Museum. The building is known as the Periquera because of the green colour (similar to the colours of the parakeets) of the Spanish army uniforms that were confined to this building as a result of the beginning of the 10 Years War on October, 1868. The museum covers the main historic moments of the province.
Address: Frexes No. 198 Tel.: (53 24) 463395

Revolution Square Calixto García
In this square there is a mausoleum that keep the mortal remains of the notable patriot Calixto García.

Natural Science Museum
This museum has the most important ornithology and malacology collection of Cuba and the Antilles.
Address:Maceo No. 129 Tel.: (53 24) 423935

Main Theatre Eddy Suñol
One of the most prestigious theatres of the Cuban eastern. The Eddy Suñol Theatre has habitual programs of the most varied musical genres, specially the Zarzuela and also other expressions of the arts as the dancing and the theatre.

Museum native house of Calixto García Iñiguez
In this house was born one of the most important generals of the 19th century's wars for the independency of Cuba You will know about this great man as well as about the history of the wars of independency in Cuba. It shows collections of arms, uniforms and other objects.
Address: Miro No. 147 Tel.: (53 24) 425610

Cultural centre (Plaza de la Marqueta)
This cultural project, established right in the city center, is an important link for the preservation of the city's cultural patrimony. In the Square of la Marqueta you can enjoy and purchase if you wish pieces of traditional craftworks, paintings, engravings and books. A concert hall is under construction.
Between Martí and Luz Caballero Streets. Tel.: (53 24) 461187

2- Beaches in Holguín:

Beaches in Holguín are among the most lovely in Cuba and the Caribbean. They are surrounded by vegetation, whose intense green colour creates a beautiful contrast with the white golden tone of the sand and the green turquoise colour of the sea. The magnificent coral formations provide a natural shelter to the quiet waters of the beaches. This area of beaches that include Guardalavaca, Don Lino and Esmeralda beach is only 50 km. of Holguín city. The practice of scuba diving, underwater fishing, navigation and many other nautical sports are very recommended. All the required equipment as well as the professional staff are available in each of the aforementioned beaches.

3- Outside the city:

3.1- Mayabe country estate:
The Mayabe Hill is situated a few minutes by car from the center of Holguín city. The country estate of the same name shows the live in the Cuban countryside. The timber and fruit trees, the Cuban bohío (hut) and more than nothing the magical environment of the Cuban landscape will delight to the nature lovers. In the Mayabe country estate is very famous the beer drinker donkey. Of course, the donkey does not has money, so you will have to buy the beer for him.

3.2- Gibara:

Gibara, a marine city, has one of the most representative colonial architecture of the province. In Gibara or White Village, as it is also known, we recommend you the following places:

Museum of the Cuban Colonial Environment. A beautiful neoclassical residence built in the second half of the XIX century house the museum. The house, which is very well conserved, has lovely stained-glass windows and the biggest round archs of the Cuban eastern. The museum shows collections of furniture, glassware, crockery and many other period objects.

Museum of Natural Science. It displays one of the most wide butterfly collections in the Caribbean.

National Monument Bariay
Near to Gibara is located the place in which, on October 27th , 1492, the Ancient and the New World faced each other for the first time. The place is specially adapted to represent this historic fact.

3.3- Banes:

The municipality of Banes is considered to be as the capital of the aborigine archeology in Cuba. These are the suggested places to visit in Banes:

Indo-Cuban Museum (Baní). This museum shows the most important collection of aborigine archeological pieces in Cuba and the Antilles. Its collection has over 2000 pieces including potter's clay, rustic axes, knifes of silex and many other items. The museum's star piece is the so-called Idol of Banes, a small statue of pure gold of more than 700 hundreds years according to several tests made to it.

Chorro de Maíta. Very close to the Indo-Cuban museum is located the biggest aborigine graveyard in the Antilles. In the Chorro de Maíta cemetery-museum there are in exhibition dozens of the hundreds human remains found in this area which was a densely populated zone before the coming of the Spaniards.

Taino hamlet. Just a few meters of the aborigine graveyard known as Chorro de Maíta, this reproduction of a Taino hamlet shows typical dwellings and life-size statues of this Caribbean indigenous people as well as different items and tools used by them.

3.4- Natural Park Bahía de Naranjo:
The Natural Park Bahía de Naranjo is located in one of the most privileged places of the Geography in Holguín. This extensive natural park goes along a part of Holguinean littoral and in it you will be able to enjoy nautical and country recreational options. In the park there is a aquarium in which are displayed attractive shows of dolphins and sea lions. There is a rodeo and a golf field. In its restaurants the Creole and sea food are excellent.

3.5- Cayo Saetía:
Cayo Saetía is located very near to the biggest bay in Cuba, Nipe. The main part of this cay is covered by woods and natural landscape in which you will be able to see in their wild live several endemics animals. Safaris are available in jeep or on foot.

Other places to visit:

Pinares de Mayarí,
Localizado al noreste de la zona montañosa holguinera. En estos hermosos paisajes naturales habitan numerosas especies de aves y varias decenas de especies vegetales endémicas de la región. El senderismo en la zona de las rutas de La Mensura y Secretos del Pinar es muy recomendado.

La Naturaleza holguinera ofrece muchos otros atractivos como los parques nacional Alejandro de Humboldt y Sierra de Cristal y parte del macizo montañoso Sagua-Baracoa donde se encuentran las cuchillas del Tos (río más caudaloso del país), considerado Reserva Mundial de la Biosfera.

 

Restaurants:
Colombo Parque Nacional Cristóbal Colón. Cayo Bariay, Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-915 Speciality: Sea Food and Cuban cuisine	Bar-Parrillada La Bocana Telephones: (5332) 33-6101 Speciality: Sea Food and Cuban cuisine	El Ancla Telephones: (5324) 30381 Speciality: Sea Food	Cayo Naranjo Telephones: (53 24) 30132 / 30434 Speciality: Sea Food
El Cayuelo Telephones: (53 24) 30736 / 30737 Speciality: Sea Food	Atlántico Playa Guardalavaca Speciality: Sea Food	Las Carabelas de Colón Cayo Bariay. Holguín. Speciality: Sea Food	El Patio Hotel Guardalavaca. Holguín Telephones: (53 24) 30-218 Speciality: Sea Food
El Faro Plaza del Fuerte, ciudad de Gibara, litoral norte de Holguín. Telephones: (5324) 34-596 Speciality: Sea Food	Bello Mar Gibara. Telephones: (5324) 34-206 Speciality: Sea Food	Villa Blanca Gibara. Speciality: Sea Food	II Ponticello Hotel Costa Verde Beach Resort. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-510 al 14 Speciality: Italian Cuisine
La Pizza Hotel Pernik. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 48-1011 Speciality: Italian Cuisine	La Trattoria Hotel Guardalavaca. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-218 Speciality: Italian Cuisine	Martino's Hotel Breezes Costa Verde. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-520 Speciality: Italian Cuisine	Rincón Italiano Hotel y Bungalows Atlántico. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-180 Speciality: Italian Cuisine
Pizza Nova Telephones: (53 24) 30-137 Speciality: Italian Cuisine	El Bosque Villa El Bosque. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 48-1012 Speciality: International Cuisine	La Cascada Hotel Costa Verde Beach Resort. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-510 Speciality: International Cuisine	El Patio Hotel Paradisus Río de Oro. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-090 Speciality: International Cuisine
El Uvero Playa Guardalavaca. Holguín. Speciality: International Cuisine	El Laurel Villa El Cocal. Holguín Telephones: (53 24) 46-1902 Speciality: International Cuisine	La Floresta Villa El Cocal. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 46-1902 Speciality: International Cuisine	La Niña Hotel Sol Río de Mares. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-060 Speciality: International Cuisine
La Terraza Hotel y Bungalows Atlántico. Holguín Telephones: (53 24) 30-180 Speciality: International Cuisine	Mar y Sol Hotel Costa Verde Beach Resort. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-510 al 14 Speciality: International Cuisine	Carabela Hotel Sol Río de Luna y Mares. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-030 al 34 Speciality: International Cuisine	Polinesio Edificio Doce Plantas, Holguín. Telephones: (5324) 42-5787 Speciality: International Cuisine
Pico Cristal Edificio Pico Cristal, calles R. Manduley y José Martí, Holguín. Telephones: (5324) 42-5855. Speciality: International Cuisine	Sofía Hotel Pernik. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 48-1011 Speciality: International Cuisine	Pinares de Mayarí Villa Pinares de Mayarí. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 53-308 Speciality: International Cuisine	Gaviota Cayo Saetía Telephones: (5324) 96-900 Speciality: International Cuisine
La Guira Villa Cayo Saetía. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 96-900 Speciality: International Cuisine	Casa Criolla Playa Guardalavaca Speciality: Cuban Cuisine	La Casa Criolla Telephones: (53 24) 30915 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine	Yaguajay Telephones: (53 24) 30-422 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine
Galileo Hotel Sol Río de Luna. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-030 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine	Conuco de Mongo Viña Playa Esmeralda. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-915 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine	El Bohío Hotel Paradisus Río de Oro. Holguín Telephones: (53 24) 30-090 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine	La Taberna de Pancho Reparto Pedro Díaz Coello, aledaño al hotel Pernik, ciudad de Holguín. Telephones: (5324) 48-1868 / 48-1158 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine
Hacienda Compay Gallo Carretera a Guardalavaca kilómetro 3, litoral norte de Holguín. Telephones: (5324) 30-434 / 30-132 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine	Mirador de Mayabe Alturas de Mayabe, a 8 km de la ciudad de Holguín. Telephones: (5324) 42-2160 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine	Finca Mayabe Alturas de Mayabe, a 8 km de la ciudad de Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 46-8581 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine	Brisas de Yareyal Carretera Central hacia Las Tunas (oeste), kilómetro 9½, Holguín Telephones: (5324) 46-1235 Speciality: Cuban Cuisine
Atabey Speciality: Creole and International Salón 1720 Calle Frexes % R. Manduley y J. Miró. Ciudad de Holguín. Telephones: (5324) 46-8150 Speciality: Creole and International	Antílope Cayo Saetía Telephones: (5324) 96-900 Speciality: Creole and International	Munahana Hotel Breezes Costa Verde. Holguín. Telephones: (53 24) 30-520 Speciality: Asian Cuisine

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