The name means “watch the cow” and possibly has something to do with the fact that during the XVIII century , buccaneers traded cattle and foodstuff with Creole traders reluctant to obey strict Spanish colonial trading regulations. it is said the beach was used for these embankments.
The self-contained beach resort consists of five hotels and limited infrastructure covering 1,8 Km of oceanfront.
The main beach runs Westwards from “Atlantico” hotel and extends 800 Mt. the width of the beach fluctuates in between 60 and 100 Mt. bay grapes, mahogany, almond and flamboyant trees naturally shelter a great deal of this beach. Visitors will find the vegetation very convenient to protect themselves against excessive sunray exposure. The beach area is serviced by small thatched roof restaurant and bars, a water sport facility and at the very West of the beach, a renown Diving Centre.
Eastwards from the mentioned hotel, small cove beaches are to be found, these are separated by coral outcrops till the beach that faces “Las Brisas” hotel which measures 400 Mt till the inlet to the Western side of the building. There, a small water sport base is catering the tourists lodged at the hotel. Past the inlet, comes another rocky area till “Los Cayuelos” beach restaurant, which faces another excellent beach extending eastward some 700 Mt, till the rocky coral key marking the end of the resort.
The Bahia Naranjo Natural Park.
The Natural Park surrounds the Beach Resort Esmeralda, and is only 6 Km away from Guardalavaca, in Holguín Province.
The Park covers 1000 sq ha, from Western Naranjo Hill to Eastern La Caleta Beach. The Bay of Naranjo is just in the middle of these two flanks. The Bay, which resembles a huge bag with a narrow entrance, enjoys having crystal clear, unpolluted waters, which shelters a great variety of underwater life forms being an excellent fishing ground for Giant Bass and Snappers.
Getting to know Holguín.
From Guardalavaca Beach towards Banes: An upland region lies in between these two geographical points separated by 32 Km of impressive landscape dominated by flat-topped hills such as the Yaguajay Plateau. The area features very many small farms producing mainly vegetables and bananas. Thousands of Royal and Coconut palms trees are found there for the delights of the cameraman.
Chorro de Maita Archeological Museum.
In the midst of these mountains you will find this interesting place that shows so much of Cuba’s past. A decade ago, a team of expert archaeologists led by Dr Guarch Delmonte found an old cemetery supposedly located at the centre of what must have been a native village. The burial site display 108 skeletons of Araucan Indians plus the skeleton of one Spanish individual that might be a missionary. The remains are from the 1490-1540 period.
The museum is a building shaped to form an inner gallery surrounding the burial site, which is today the biggest far discovered in the Caribbean. Pre-Columbian Indian pottery and jewellery is on display as well.
The museum has been declared National Monument.
Avetours Agencia de Viajes Especializados S.A de C.V
Havana Riviera Hotel suite 407
Malecon y Paseo Havana City. Cuba
Phone: 53(7) 535757
Fax: 53(7) 535903
E-Mail : cuba_avetoursdestinations@yahoo.com
