3-Day Beach & Jungle Trip - Baracoa, Cuba

The drive to Baracoa alone is eye-opening, taking you through the foothills of the Sierra Maestra and past the giant, forbidding compound of Guantanamo Bay. After this, the landscape becomes increasingly lush and tropical until you reach Baracoa. You’ll stay in a converted Spanish fortress perched on the hills over the Caribbean with a great swimming pool and air-conditioning.

Today, you’ll get ready to ramble through the rainforest. Following the overgrown trails that twist through Juncal Recontra. Your guide will give you the scoop on the tropical flora and fauna you come across and, depending on the season, he’ll let you taste exotic fruit.  If you’re lucky you might even spot the tocororo, the national bird of Cuba! Once you’ve worn your legs out you’ll stop for lunch at a local finca.

Afterwards, your time is your own. Take a boat ride along the wild Tao River, hike to the Yumuri Canyon or take a stroll along the Malécon and sample a local cucurucho from a food stall – a dreamy mixture of coconut, honey, mango and banana wrapped in a palm frond. When you run out of steam, kick off your flip-flops and lie back on some of the most untamed beaches you’re ever likely to see.

The next day, you’ll journey onwards to your next adventure.