Baracoa

in

Baracoa lies on Cuba’s far eastern coast, enclosed by forested mountains and rivers. Founded in the early sixteenth century, it retains a compact centre of low colonial buildings, churches and shaded streets. The surrounding region is much wetter than most of Cuba, supporting cocoa, coconut and tropical forest beneath the flat-topped mountain that dominates the horizon.

Food is a major part of the experience, with coconut, cacao and seafood used in dishes uncommon elsewhere on the island. Rivers, beaches and mountain walks provide easy escapes from the town, although roads can be slow and weather-dependent. The relative isolation has preserved a strong local identity, but it also means fewer services and less reliable transport.