Holguín can be explored through two distinctive areas of interest: landscapes ranging from the coast to higher elevations, and history made visible at specific sites. In Bahía de Naranjo, rocky coastal vegetation, scrubland, forest and mangroves shape the scenery; Cuabales can also be found on Loma del Templo. Another way to explore the region is through the La Periquera Provincial Museum, the Loma de la Cruz viewpoint and Chorro de Maíta. The range extends from nature watching and scenic views to historical accounts.

Coast, vegetation and waterfalls

Rocky coastal vegetation grows along the coast of Bahía de Naranjo. The bay’s landscape alternates mainly between scrubland and forest; well-preserved mangroves lie in its low-lying, swampy interior. Rocky coastal vegetation and mangroves thus represent different landscapes within the same bay.

Hiking, horseback riding and rural tourism are associated with Bahía de Naranjo. These activities offer different perspectives: hiking and horseback riding involve getting around on foot or on horseback, while rural tourism describes a broader area of interest. If you plan your trip around nature and activities, this range offers a different way to experience the bay than focusing on its vegetation.

Cuabales grow in the higher part of Loma del Templo: thorny, xeromorphic scrubland on serpentinite. Compared with Bahía de Naranjo, this creates a clear contrast between the mangroves in the swampy interior and the scrubland formation on serpentinite. You can compare two very different types of vegetation rather than reducing the landscape to a single nature theme.

The Pico Cristal and La Mensura national parks are located in the province of Holguín. La Mensura is home to Salto del Guayabo, considered one of Cuba’s highest waterfalls. The parks and waterfall add other notable nature attractions to the destination’s characteristic types of vegetation.

Holguín’s 40-kilometre northern stretch of beach is considered a place for swimming at sunset. A hop-on-hop-off bus service to the beaches and surrounding places is mentioned for Playa Guardalavaca, Playa Pesquero, Playa Esmeralda and Playa Baracutey. Check before your trip whether the service is operating on your travel dates.

History at specific sites

The La Periquera Provincial History Museum presents important periods in the history of the area across five rooms arranged chronologically. This chronological arrangement gives the exhibition a clear structure: the rooms guide visitors through successive periods rather than offering a single, undifferentiated overview. The name La Periquera refers to the colour of the uniforms worn by Spanish troops who were quartered in the building during the siege of Holguín by the Mambises.

Loma de la Cruz is a viewpoint overlooking the city of Holguín. According to tradition, on 3 May 1790 Fray Antonio de Alegría erected a large cross there to drive away demons and establish a Catholic pilgrimage. A function as a city viewpoint and a religious tradition thus go hand in hand: the first describes the site, the second the traditionally recounted intention behind erecting the cross.

Chorro de Maíta is described as the largest indigenous cemetery in the Antilles. Its significance differs from the story of La Periquera and the religious tradition associated with Loma de la Cruz: here, the cemetery’s size in the Antilles is the focus.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel interests

If you’re looking for a holiday rental for your trip to Holguín, you can first decide what you’d most like to explore: coastal landscapes and nature, or viewpoints, museums and historical accounts. This lets you tailor your search to the themes that matter to you on your trip.

Discover more destinations: Banes, Rafael Freyre, Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos, Granma, Havana, Matanzas, Pinar Del Río.

For the main travel overview: Cuba.