Alexander Humboldt National Park (AHNP, UNESCO World Heritage Site) embodies a unique approach to the relation between human beings and their environment.  A hike through the park will offer you a living portrait of the coexistence of rural communities and natural wonders. In this blog post we talk about such community conservation strategies, then about […]

With its various forest trails and a boat ride around its bay, Alexander Humboldt National Park offers a range of options to those who would like to explore it. Declared by UNESCO a World Natural Heritage Site in 2001, the park is located within the Cuchillas del Toa Biosphere Reserve. In this blog post we […]

If you are still looking for a reason to come to Baracoa, here’s a very convincing one (to be found nowhere else in Cuba) – the most delicious organic chocolate you’ve ever tasted! No matter what road you take in Baracoa, cacao farms will be waiting for you at every turn – small trees with […]

Yes, nature is wonderful in Baracoa, yet the region’s visual arts as well captivate travellers’ aesthetic experience when they visit this hidden area of Cuba. Villa Paradiso is pleased to introduce you to three quintessentially Baracoan painters, some of whose paintings we proudly exhibit on our casa‘s walls. Neo-Taíno art visions – Mildo Matos Carcassés […]

Would you like to discover off the beaten track spots in Baracoa? Villa Paradiso suggests Boca de Boma, Cueva del Cacique and Cajuajo Beach. This one-day excursion combines rural roads, mangroves, a rocky bay, an archaeological site and a hidden, unblemished beach… On seldom travelled roads A lot of travellers take the road from Baracoa […]

Yara-Majayara is a protected area in Baracoa. It offers many riches to explore to those who love hiking, ecotourism, archaeology and cyclotourism. Its natural and cultural attractions include the delta of river Miel with its mangroves, a system of geological terraces with numerous caves, the diverse local flora, various little peasant communities, Boma Bay… As […]

Encompassing a range of traditional and creative Baracoan and Eastern Cuban dishes, our cuisine offers our guests healthy and delicious meals. We use only fresh ingredients bought to small producers in the region. One of our suppliers is Orlando Frómeta Labacena, an organic micro-farmer who works marvels out of a tiny piece of land right within […]

“We want the people to join us, under one vision for everybody – Towards a prosperous Revolution for everyone’s good! No to homophobia! Long live the Cuban Revolution!” Over such a political speech and among floating rainbow flags, the first ever parade and conga against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Baracoa was launched on May […]

A lot of travellers are asking whether Baracoa is ready to receive tourists after hurricane Matthew, which pounded our region the night of October 4th to 5th, 2016. The answer is clear and simple – yes, Baracoa is ready! (Note to reader: except for the photo that shows us protecting our house, all photos and the […]

It is 6:30 a.m. and the sun begins to rise above Miel Bay. On our balconies we can feel the sea breeze and the morning light flooding everything. From loud speakers downtown all the way to this hill you can listen to the opening chords and lyrics of Silvio Rodríguez’ “Vamos a andar” (“Let’s get […]

You may not know it, but several words you use go back to the Taino, an indigenous people that marked the history of Baracoa and the Caribbean through their struggle, resistance and perseverance under extremely adverse circumstances. Indeed, we’re indebted to the Taino people for words such as canoe, hammock, tobacco, hurricane… The history of […]

2017 was United Nations’ International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Nature tourism, ecotourism and adventure tourism are key components in the context of Cuba’s current strategy of sustainable tourism for development – and they are at the heart of the Baracoa region. One biosphere reserve, one national park, several protected areas Indeed, Baracoa is Cuba’s best-kept […]