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Playa Esmeralda, Guardalavaca
Sirenis Playa Turquesa
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Guardalavaca holidays

Low-key beach resort in a heavenly setting

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Guardalavaca strangely translates as ‘guard the cow’, a name possibly deriving from an era when cut-throat pirates often raided the area. Declared by Christopher Columbus as 'the most beautiful land that human eyes have ever seen', Guardalavaca is a charming, peaceful and laid-back resort with lush emerald vegetation and fabulous white-sand beaches fringed with shady palms. The warm azure waters and beautiful coral reefs offer some of the island's best diving and a flourishing microcosm of aquatic society awaits you beneath the crystal-clear ocean.
Guardalavaca is ideal for those seeking a relaxing holiday and a quieter alternative to some of Cuba’s more developed resorts.


Guardalavaca holiday highlights

•   Visit the Museo Aborigen Chorro de Maita to unearth the fascinating history of an ancient burial ground of Arawak Indians that dates back to the 15th Century.
•   The region's stunning coastline, rolling hills and pretty countryside are ideal for diving, sailing, watersports, horse-riding, cycling and hiking.
•   Swim and play with friendly dolphins for a magical and unforgettable holiday experience.

Cuba tailor made
Don’t forget that with Kuoni you can design a bespoke holiday to suit your exact needs, adding different beach resorts and cities in Cuba together to create your own exciting itinerary.

•   Request a quote or call our Personal Travel Experts on 01306 747002 to discuss your requirements.

•   Browse our enticing selection of Cuba hotels.

Cuba multi-centre itineraries
Discover the best of Cuba by combining Cuba’s unique and vibrant capital with the tranquil beaches and fabulous diving of Guardalavaca by choosing our Havana & Guardalavaca multi-centre.

Time difference / local time

GMT -5 hours
Language

Spanish. English is also spoken.

Currency

• Peso. • US dollars and US traveller’s cheques aren’t as widely exchanged as they used to be. • Traveller’s cheques are mostly accepted, but not all hotels exchange them – go to an international bank instead. • There’s a minimum fee of 8% to exchang
Highlights

Bahía de Naranjo Nature Park
Set in nearly 2,500 acres of woods and mangrove swamps, here you can hike along scenic trails.

Cayo Naranjo Aquarium
See vibrant tropical fish, go horse-back riding, try watersports and even swim with dolphins that live in large natural ocean pens.

Beaches

Unwind on pristine white sands and float in the clear blue sea on this unforgettable stretch of coast.

Flying time to destination

9¾ hours to Havana

Sports

Watersports
Your resort may offer windsurfing, sailing, snorkelling and kayaking. You may also be able to go out in a catamaran or pedalo.

Land sports
Sports on offer at your hotel might include tennis, basketball and badminton.

Eating/Drinking

Food
In resort
• Our Guardalavaca resorts serve a range of cuisine, such as Cuban, Mediterranean, vegetarian, Japanese and oriental fare.

Local dishes
• Tostada is buttered and toasted bread, often dipped in coffee for breakfast.
• The local speciality is pork roasted on a spit and covered in lemon and honey, served with black beans and rice.
• Ropa Vieja is a stew of shredded flank steak in tomato sauce.
• Picadillo is a beef hash with onions, garlic, olives and herbs.
• Moros y Christianos is a dish of black beans and rice flavoured with spices including pepper, cumin and paprika.
• A traditional a stew of chicken, okra and plantains is served with rice.
• Cuban sandwiches are a popular hot snack of Cuban bread with mustard, ham, pork, cheese and pickles.
• Empanada is a chicken or meat turnover, eaten with a side of plantain chips.
• Popular desserts include custard flan and rice pudding.

Drink
• Stick to bottled water.
• Cubans drink a lot of coffee, with milk or in espresso shots. Daiquiris and mojitos are also popular.

Good to know

Religion
Roman Catholic

Dialling code
+53 24

Museums

El Chorro de Maila Museum
At this fascinating archeological site, see over 100 skeletons buried in the 15th and 16th centuries and uncovered in 1986, along with fragments of pottery and jewellery. Nearby is Aldea Taína, a replica of a village that shows how the settlers might have lived.

Excursions

Take a catamaran tour around nearby islands, swim with dolphins, walk nature trails and explore on horse-back or bicycle. You may also be able to visit other Cuban cities.

Tipping

A discreet tip here and there is welcome!

Climate data for this region

Best time to visit

Cuba’s hottest months are July and August, and February is the coolest with temperatures of around 22°C.

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