Baracoa's potential as an eco-tourism destination has just begun to be exploited. The spectacular area around Baracoa offers excellent opportunities for treks and white-water rafting. The region features patches of secondary rainforest, and abounds in banana, yucca, mango, coconut, and tall royal palm trees, and at least 10 flowing rivers. The earth here is rich in iron, which gives it a red tone.
Distinctive El Yunque , described in Spanish chronicles as an anvil-shaped, high and square mountain, dominates the landscape; Columbus wrote of seeing it on his approach to the bay. Frequently bathed in mist, the flat-topped limestone mountain (575m/1,886 ft.) is about 10km (6 1/4 miles) west of Baracoa, and its slopes can be climbed in 4 hours round-trip. The slopes have been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. El Yunque is part of the Parque Natural Duaba and is home to scores of bird species and unique plants. In fact, 16 of Cuba's 24 endemic bird species can be found in this area. You can also spot the endemic coco thrinas palms, which look like tall dandelions. The trek through tropical forest, with views of rare ferns and orchids, is beautiful, but it can be intensely humid. Those who aren't up for the hike can always drive, though it's rough going along the unpaved road. Adventurers in search of white-water rafting possibilities should check out Río Toa, the widest river in Cuba and part of a national park.
Javier Rabazza at Archipiélago/Ecotur, Coronel Cardoso 24 (tel. 21/4-3665), organizes a variety of nature outings with transportation and guides, including tube rafting on the Río Duaba, white-water rafting on the Río Toa, various treks, visits to caves with ancient petroglyphs, and boating excursions along rivers (one of the best trips is along the gorgeous Río Yumurí, 30km/19 miles east of Baracoa, where there's a charming little fishing village). Havanatur (tel. 21/4-5358), Cubatur, Martí 181 (tel. 21/4-5306), and the Gaviota office at the Hotel El Castillo (tel. 21/4-2125) also offer organized excursions.
Baracoa is blessed with a few superb beaches, which, due to the town's isolation, haven't yet been built up with huge all-inclusive hotels (this will certainly change in the coming years). Playa Maguana is about 22km (14 miles) from town on the road to Moa. It's a peaceful place with picture-perfect golden sands and is popular with local families and fishermen. There's a small hotel here. A smaller and more isolated beach, Playa Nava, is another 6km (3 3/4 miles) west. It's not as pretty as Maguana, but you're likely to have it to yourself. Nearer to Baracoa, Playa Duaba isn't much of a beach at all; it's where the river of the same name meets the sea, but it's a good spot for lunch and is the staging point for easygoing boat trips along the river. Note: Baracoa, the rainiest spot on the island, gets downfalls in heavy bunches during the months of May, June, December, and January -- something to consider if you're looking for beach time.
