Hotel Porto Santo

Located at the end of Baracoa Bay, and where Christopher Columbus first set foot on the island of Cuba, is the Hotel Porto Santo.

Named after the tiny island of Porto Santo near Madeira in Europe, where Columbus lived for a short period when he married a local girl.

The hotel consists of 4 separate buildings each with two floors and 24 lodges set in lush gardens. All 83 en-suite rooms have A/C, a telephone, television, safe and either a terrace or balcony overlooking the bay. The hotel has a swimming pool and there’s a small beach nearby

The Santa Maria restaurant (again named after Columbus’ ship) serves international cuisine, or you can head to the town where you can taste the food the region is famous for. Unlike the rest of Cuba, the food here comes prepared with coconut, spices and exotic fruits.

From the hotel, you can tour the mountains, admire La Farola viaduct or go on a boat trip on the nearby Toa river to spot birds.