Las Tunas Province 31 / POP 526,000

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%Las Tunas Province 31 / POP 526,000

Includes  Why Go? Las Tunas...... 336 Most travelers say hello and goodbye to Las Tunas Province Puerto Padre...... 341 in the time that it takes to drive across it on the Carretera Punta Covarrubias. . . 342 Central – one hour on a good day. But, hang on a second! Playas la With laid-back, leather-skinned cowboys and poetic coun- Herradura, try singers, the province is known for daredevil rodeos and la Llanita & Saturday-night street parties. Here barnstorming entertain- las Bocas...... 342 ment is served up at the drop of a sombrero. Although historically associated with the Oriente, Las Tu- nas Province shares many attributes with Camagüey in the west. The flat grassy fields of the interior are punctuated Best Places to Eat with sugar mills and cattle ranches, while the eco-beaches on the north coast remain wild and lightly touristed by ¨¨La Negra (p338) aradero standards. ¨¨Ristorante La Romana In this low-key land of the understated and underrated, (p339) accidental visitors can enjoy the small-town charms of the ¨¨La Sicilia (p342) provincial capital, or head north to beaches off the old mill town Puerto Padre where serenity rules. ¨¨El Bodegón de Polo (p342)

Best Places to When to Go ¨¨Avoid the wettest months of June and October, when more Sleep than 160mm of average precipitation inundates the streets. ¨¨Villa Carolina (p342) ¨¨During the hottest months of July and August, locals take ¨¨Mayra Busto Méndez to the beaches for vacations; visitors usually prefer cooler (p337) months. ¨¨Hostal Melina (p337) ¨¨Las Tunas has many festivals for a small city; the best is ¨¨Casa Karen & Roger the Cuban country-music festival Jornada Cucalambeana in (p337) June. ¨¨Brisas Covarrubias (p342) ¨¨La Festival Internacional de Magia Anfora, held in the provincial capital in November, draws pro magicians from around the world to demonstrate their craft. ¨¨The National Sculpture Exhibition, an event befitting the so-called ‘City of Sculptures,’ happens in February.

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C POP 163,500 POP tic country of rodeo here, admire a statue one wild at go chief, Taíno a two-headed Tunas is certainlyFlorence. But what no Tunas in up for it makes grandiosity in lacks it can see an authen small-town quirks. You cation on Cuba’s arterial Carretera Central, Cuba’s on cation by drop handfuls of road-weary travelers here and are pleasantly surprised. Missing tourists in exasperate are the touts that real a window into It’s other destinations. provincial life. ed provincial capital. It has long held a slea has ed provincial capital. It capital Oriente’s for being the zy reputation of sex private But thanks to good tourism. and a handy lo locals lodgings, welcoming Las Tunas (as it’s officially officially (as it’s La Victória de Las Tunas known) is a sleepy agricultural town anoint Las Tunas 5 5 5 44444 44 444 4

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