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The
province named after the famous boat which brought Fidel
and 81 other revolutionairs to Cuba. Before the revolution this
province togetter with 4 other provinces was named el Oriente.
Granma Province is full of beautiful nature like the Gran Parque
Nacional Siera Maestra mountains, and Parque Nacional Desembarco
del Granma.
A fantastic site seeing tour is driving
along the Golf of Guacanayabo and the Caribbean sea starting at
Manzanillo - San Ramon - Media Luna - Pilon … all the way long
to Santiago de Cuba.
 Capital
City: Bayamo 
| Cities
Towns Places |
| Babiney |
Barranca |
Bartolome Maso |
El Pozon |
| BAYAMO |
Belic
|
Buey Arriba |
Jiguani |
| Bueycito |
Cabo Cruz |
Cauto CristoCayo Espina |
Mabay |
| Dos Rios |
El Horno |
Marea del Portillo |
Media Luna |
| Guamo |
Guisa |
Puente Guille |
Rio Cauto |
| Las Palmas |
Los Horneros |
San Ramon |
Santa Rita |
| Manzanillo |
Pilon |
San Fransisco |
|
Marea
del Portillo Beach
Marea
del Portillo Beach is a dark-sand beach located on a spectacular
cove, with mountains as a backdrop. A peaceful place with tremendous
natural attractions, it is a part of the Sierra Maestra Natural
Park. It has a profusion of coconut palm trees and is an excellent
place for scuba diving, snorkling and other water sports. There
are 17 scuba diving sites in the area. The seabed has tall hillocks
sepersted by narrow valleys covered with beautiful invertebrate
fossils, forming caves and tunnels where fish, crustaceans and molluks
hide. Its treasures include two very well preserved ships of the
Spanish fleet that where sunk by the US navy during the Battle of
Santiago de Cuba in 1898.
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Further
west, towards Cruz Cape, there are coral formations, gorgonians,
Common Sea Fans (Gorgonia spp.) and colorfull fish-a tropicalparadise
that's within your reach from the Maria del Portillo Scuba
Diving Center. The area also has marine terraces which reach
eight levels on some places of the coast and extend underwater,
as well. They are the best-preserved such terraces in Cuba
and make dives in this area even more interesting.
Scuba
Diving in Granma Province |
Location
and How to Get There
Marea del Portillo Beach is linked to the other part of the Granma
province, in southeastern Cuba, by road. It is over 550 miles (900
km) east of Havana, near Santiago de Cuba and Holguin. Bayamo, capital
of the province, has an airport for domestic flights, and Manzanillo-the
closest city to Marea del Portillo-has an international airport.
Beaches
in Granma Province
The
province also has road and rail
connections with the rest of the country. The Granma
highway, which links it to Santiago de Cuba Province, is 130 miles
(210 km) in length and has 32 bridges-one of which is 2690 feet
(820 meters) long- that span the mouths of several rivers and offer
some particularly stunning views.
 |
What
to Do
Activities
include scuba diving and snorkling at the coral reef, fishing,
other water sports, going for all-day boat rides to nearby
cays, hiking, exploring the nearby mountains by jeep or on
horseback (as you climb, you can note changes in the lush
tropical vegetaion and see towering peaks, valleys, rivers
and virgin forests) and drives along the coastal highway (with
scenes of great beauty). In addition, there is evening entertainment.
Scuba
Diving in Granma Province |
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Accomodations
and facilities
The 3- and 4- star Marea del Portillo and Farallon del Caribe
Hotels have around 270 air-conditioned rooms, each with satelite
TV. Their services and other features include games rooms; a
swimming pool with special areas for children; several restaurants
and bars; transportation appropriate for use in the valleys
or mountains; equipment for snorkling, scubadiving and other
water sports; a doctor on call 24 hours a day; and shops. |
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Nearby
Places of Interest
During your stay at Marea del Portillo beach,
you can visit Turquino National Park, in the western part
of the Sierra Maestra Mountains. The park contains the highest
peaks in the country. Climb up to La Plata, where the simple
building which was once the Rebel Army's headquaters has been
turned into a museum, or go down to Las Coloradas Beach, where
the water is warm and there is a museum honoring the 82 men
who returned to Cuba from Mexico aboard the Granma cabin cruiser
in 1956 and landed here to form the nucleus of the rebel army.
Take
the El Guafe ecological and archeological trail to see the
cave systems in which Cuba's original inhabitants once lived
and still bear signs of that culture. Or go up to the Yaguas
Look-Out Point for a panoramic view of the mountains and sea;
to Cruz Cape, to see its beautiful marine terraces; or to
Hicacos Point, which has nearly 2 miles (3 km) of fine sandy
beaches.
While
in the province, visit its capital, Bayamo (founded in 1513),
where Cuba's National Anthem was sung for the first time.
The oldest part of the city is well preserved and contains
the Main Parish Church; the house in which Carlos Manuel de
Cespedes (the Father of this country) was born (now a museum);
several hotels, restaurants and cabarets; and an adequate
service infrastructure.
Carlos
Manuel de Cespedes
Cuba
Anthem
|
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Other
points wirth visiting include Manzanillo (founded in 1784),
a pictoresque coastal city which has the main port in the province;
the La Demajagua Park, that surroundings the sugarmill at which
Cuba's first War of Independence began, in 1868; and the Birma
Hunting preserve, a natural preserve with at least 30.000 birds
and comfertable accommodations. A crocodile-breeding center
is in the same general area. |
To
Do in Other Cities and Towns of Granma Province
| Glorieta
del parque Céspedes en Manzanillo |
Memorial
“La Demajagua” |
| Parques
Parque Céspedes,
e/. Maceo y Masó, Manzanillo |
Museo
Manzanillo |
| Museo
Casa Natal de Celia Sánchez |
Museo de
las Luchas Obreras |
| Ave.
Raúl Podio No. 111
Manzanillo |
Maceo
No. 182
Manzanillo |
| Birth
Home of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes |
Museo
Provincial de Granma |
| Address:
Calle Maceo # 57, Bayamo
The building survived the burning of the city in 1869. Having
a high historical and patriotic value, the objects belonging
to Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, also known as “The
Father of the Homeland”, are exhibited there. In its
rooms, the visitor will be able to appreciate a retrospective
account from the foundation of the city until Céspedes’
decease.
|
Address:
Calle Maceo # 58, Bayamo
The
visit to this provincial museum turns out to be highly interesting.
It is located across from the park of Bayamo and near the
birth home of the Father of the Homeland, Carlos Manuel de
Céspedes, also a museum. The exhibition provides an
account of the historical burning of the city, when in 1869
its inhabitants preferred burning it down to giving it over
to the Spanish troops. Other documents of the museum are highly
important in the formation of the Cuban nationality.
|
| Museo
Municipal de Manzanillo |
Museo
de las Luchas Obreras |
| Martí
No. 226
Manzanillo |
Maceo
No. 182
Manzanillo |
| La
Jatia |
|
Museo
Carretera La Jatia, finca La Jatia,
Jiguaní |
Diving
Albacora
Cubanacán Náutica
Playa Marea del Portillo, Pilón
Scuba
Diving in Granma Province
General
Information
| Banks |
Banco
de Credito y Comercio
Near Parque Cespedes
Open Mo/Fri 8.30am to 3.30pm
Sat 8 am to 12 am |
Cadeca
(Casas de Cambio)
Marti #184
Open Mo/Sat 8am to 6pm Sun 8am to 1pm |
| Mail |
Phone |
Post
Office
Marti y Doctor Codina |
Centro
Llamada
Marti #187 |
| Medical |
| Hospital
Celia Sanchez Manduley |
Policlinico
Principal de Urgencia
Marti y Aguilera |
Farmacia
Turno Permanente
Marti y Maceo
|
Farmacia
Medicino Naturales Maceo #42 |
Links
& Sources
|
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