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Matanzas Province % 45 / Pop 692,536

Matanzas Province % 45 / Pop 692,536

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Matanzas Province % 45 / pop 692,536

Why Go? Northern With a name translating as ‘massacres,’ province Matanzas...... 206 conceals an appropriately tumultuous past beneath its Matanzas...... 206 modern-day reputation for glam all-inclusive holidays. In ...... 215 the 17th century pillaging pirates ravaged the region’s prized north coast, while three centuries later, more invaders grap- Cárdenas...... 230 pled ashore in the Bahía de Cochinos () under the San Miguel de los dreamy notion that they were about to liberate the nation. Baños & Around...... 233 The Bahía de Cochinos attracts more divers than mer- Península de cenaries these days, while sunbathers rather than pirates Zapata...... 234 invade the northern beaches of Varadero, the vast Carib- Central Australia...... 234 bean resort and lucrative economic ‘cash cow’ that stretches Boca de Guamá...... 235 20km along the sandy Península de Hicacos. Gran Parque Natural Providing a weird juxtaposition is the scruffy city of Ma- Montemar...... 236 tanzas, the mildewed but music-rich provincial capital that Playa Larga...... 237 has gifted the world with rumba, danzón and countless grand neoclassical buildings. Santería is rife both here and Playa Girón...... 238 in other nearby cities where tourists are scant but soulful, only-in- experiences are surprisingly abundant. Best Outdoor Adventures When to Go ¨¨Wildlife-watching on Río ¨¨December through April the all-inclusive hotels in the Hatiguanico (p237) province’s tourist set-piece, Varadero, hike prices for the temporada alta (high season). ¨¨Diving in the Bahía de Cochinos (p239) ¨¨High season is the best time for beach-basking: the ¨¨Boat trip on Río Canímar hurricane season is over and the weather is hot without being (p210) unbearable. ¨¨Hit Matanzas city around October 10 for the annual rumba festival. Best Casas Particulares ¨¨Hostal Azul (p212) ¨¨Hostal Luis (p240) ¨¨Hostal Ida (p231) ¨¨El Caribeño (p238) - Colón El Rincón Province Cayo de las Cinco Leguas e Matanzas Matanzas has Cayos Caleta Buena Blanco

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Carretera de Península de Hicacos Cárdenas Bahía drop-offs and colorful coral coral colorful and drop-offs Playa off while diving walls (p237). Larga 6 7 vegetation zones of the of zones vegetation (p236). Zapata de Ciénaga o Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) Australia Santa Marta Guamá Boca de Coliseo Varader a Museo de la Comandancia

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San Miguel A Bahía de El Estante Matanzas Unión de Reyes de los Baños Corral Tomás de Santo Ciénaga de Zapata Gran Parque Cayo del Macio Airport Go tandem skydiving skydiving Go tandem Admire forgotten forgotten Admire Natural Montemar zas Juan Gualberto 40 km Yumurí Valle de (p211) for a spot of of a spot for (p211) Coral snorkeling. San Miguel de Miguel in San grandeur (p233). Baños los 5 4 over diamond-dusted diamond-dusted over (p215). Varadero Gómez International n

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Cayería Península de Zapata Province Mayabeque Unlock the buried Unlock Check out a Check Immerse yourself in the yourself Immerse 0 0 performance at Matanzas’ at Matanzas’ performance Sauto Teatro resplendent (p213). Playa Playa of waters crystalline 3 2 Highlights 1 , , Matanzas dusty of secrets (p206). Cuba’ of ‘Athens the Güines Home to Cuba’s largest resort area (Varade area resort largest Cuba’s to Home Norther ro) and (Matanzas), one ports of its biggest province’s the is also coastline northern the indus for hub a and center population main try and commerce. Despite this, the over riding feel is green, distinctly and most of a – think farmland undulating is region the cross North and between prairie American

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Matanzas Province 206

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