Guardalavaca Beach
Is
a shell-shaped and over half a mile (almost a km) long. It is near several
sites of great archeological and natural interest.
Esmeralda Beach
Which
is over 2950 feet (900 meters) long, is protected by extensive coral reefs,
escarpments, cliffs and lush vegetation that provides shade. The area
also contains Pesquero Beach, rich in underwater scenery and good fishing
spots; Don Lino, a beautiful beach which blends open spaces, architecture
and the world of nature in perfect harmony; and Blanca (White) Beach,
another site with very fine sand and unbelievably beautiful water near
Cayo Bariay, the place where Christopher Columbus first set food on Cuban
soil.
Esmeralda
and Guardalavaca Beaches, which have great hotel infrastructure, share
an offshore area around 11 miles (18 km) long which contains 40 scuba
diving sites. The seabed is irregular and complex, forming high hillocks,
caves, small valleys and cliffs with vertical sides which in some
places descend gently to form terraces covered with Common Sea Fans
(Gorgonia spp.), other Gorgonians and coral. Many species of colorful
fish live there.
Activities
at Playa Esmeralda Beach include swimming, sailing lessons, scuba
diving, snorkling, other water sports, horseback riding, excursions
along the coast and inland, visits to farmer's houses, miniature golf,
tennis and cycling. At night, choose among the discoteque and other
attractions.
Cayo Saetia
To
the east, near the broad Bay of Nipe, is 16 square miles (42 square km)
in size, and 65 percent of it is covered with forests. The rest of its
territory concists of meadows where American ostriches, antilope, zebras,
deer, wild boars, hutias and wild bulls roam at will. It has accommodations
of its own, Hotel Cayo Saetia. Activities include swimming, yachting and going on safaris
in jeeps or horseback.
Location and how to get there
These
beaches are on the northern coast of Holguin Province, around 500 miles
(over 800 km) east of Havana.
Access is by road (both Guardelavaca and Esmeralda Beaches are linked
to the city of Holguin and to other parts of the province by
a network of roads), air (flights from other parts of Cuba, Europe and
the Americas put in Holguin's Frank Pais International Airport) and sea
(the Gaviota Puerto de Vita Marina) |
