Cuba's tourism sector offers excellent beaches, exuberant nature and urban options in the eastern part of the Caribbean Island.
In addition to traditional sun and beach destinations such as Varadero – the country's major coastal resort –, cultural and natural options, and natural attractions can be found in eastern Cuba.
In that regard, the provinces of Camagüey, Ciego de Avila, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Las Tunas boast dreamlike places for recreation.
One of the region's tourist destinations is the town of Morón, founded in May 1543 and also known as the City of the Rooster, in allusion to the symbol of the town, a rooster, which is based on a legend from Spanish colonial times and has become a special attraction for tourism.
The town's architectural style is eclectic, characterized by houses decorated with glazed tiles, wooden banisters and iron-wrought railings with geometric shapes.
The town of Puerto Padre, nicknamed the Blue Village or the City of Mills, stands out in Las Tunas province.
Puerto Padre is the capital of the largest municipality in Las Tunas, covering an area of 1,180 square kilometers. It was included in the map of the New World in the 16th century, under the name of Portus Patris.
As a singular element, one of few freshwater springs in Cuba is located off its waterfront drive, flowing into the sea and giving the town a distinctive touch for tourism.
Another interesting city is 500-year-old Bayamo, the current capital of the eastern Cuban province of Granma. It was the second village founded by Spanish Governor Diego Velázquez in Cuba.
San Salvador de Bayamo was the original name of the city, founded in 1513. It was preceded by Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa and was followed by five other villages that the Spanish conquistadors founded on their way to the west.
Bayamo was also the capital of the First Republic in Arms during the war of independence in the 19th century, when its dwellers decided to burn the town instead of surrendering to the Spanish army.
Last, but not least, is Baracoa – in the province of Guantánamo – whose name is an aboriginal word that means "presence of water", in allusion to its marine environment in contrast to the mountains and rivers surrounding the city.
The natural landscape is complemented by a 575-meter-high flattop mountain known as Yunque de Baracoa (Baracoa's Anvil), because it resembles that tool used by blacksmiths.
Moreover, several rivers run through the region, including the country's biggest river, the Toa, which has several waterfalls, the most famous of which is El Saltadero, which is 17 meters high.
Therefore, traditional tourist options in Cuba are complemented by the country's natural, cultural and historic wealth.