Eastern Holguín province has become a stronghold in Cuba's tourism industry, due to its natural, historic and cultural attractions, which are intermingled in perfect harmony.

Forty excellent Cuban beaches, including Guardalavaca, Estero Ciego, Esmeralda and Don Lino, just to mention some, await sea lovers.

Guardalavaca beach is a perfect combination of fine sand and blue sea, marked by its closeness to the mountains and the region's vegetation.

Considered the most emblematic eastern Cuban beach, Guardalavaca was ignored even in some maps of the region.

However, it was recorded in the diary of Genoese Admiral Christopher Columbus, who ranked it among the most significant discoveries during his expedition to Cuba.

According to legend, its name was attributed to pirates' activities in the Caribbean region, since filibusters considered it the perfect place to hide their booty, also called "vaca" (cow).

A more realistic story links the name to a warning from local inhabitants when they spotted pirate ships on the horizon, and a cry of "Guarda la Vaca" (Keep the Cow) warned them about the impending danger.

A 40-meter-wide and 1,300-meter-long strip of sand treasures the most varied attractions for leisure, with characteristics that are similar to other eastern Cuban beaches, including Esmeralda and Pesquero.

Green and exuberant vegetation begins a few steps from the sea, offering travelers a one-of-a-kind show that blends the blue of the sea with the traditional.

Valleys and hills treasure unique flora and fauna, including Cuba's national bird, tocororo (Cuban trogon), as well as woodpeckers, parrots, cateys, macaws, hutias, manatees and even wild horses.

Tourist programs allow vacationers to discover beautiful sites along Cuba's northern coast, characterized by their high natural, cultural and historic values, and including such places as the museum of archeology and the Taino village at Chorro de Maíta, as well as Gibara, a fishermen's town featuring a well-preserved colonial architecture.

For nature lovers, sunsets in Guardalavaca are a unique combination of green from the vegetation and blue from the sea, along the narrow strip of sand at the beach, which is protected by a silent sentinel, a coral reef that keeps waters calm.