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City guide

Guardalavaca, Cuba

Guardalavaca is a town in the Holguín Province of Cuba. It is a tourist location due to its white sandy beaches and warm waters.

Type City

Why go

  • Village in Holguín, Cuba.
  • 1 curated must-see attraction on record, including Playa Esmeralda (Emerald Beach).
  • Served by Guardalavaca Airport.

History

Guardalavaca is a town in the Holguín Province of Cuba. It is a tourist location due to its white sandy beaches and warm waters. Guardalavaca beach is protected by a large coral reef and is visited by both local Cubans and tourists. Most Cuban workers in the all-inclusive hotels are transported daily in buses from neighbouring cities like Holguin, Banes, and Rafael Freyre, as only a few Cubans live in Guardalavaca due to the small size of the resort. Between Guardalavaca and Playa Esmeralda are dry tropical forest where endemic Cuban birdlife like hummingbirds Cuban emerald can be seen. Endemic Cuban knight anole lizards are numerous in these forest.

Must-see attractions

18 more attractions in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Where to stay

4587+JGG, Guardalavaca, Cuba · villabely.orgfree.com
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Indoor
Calle 3, Guardalavaca, Holguín 84170, Cuba · muthuhotelsmgm.com
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446G+GJ5, Guardalavaca, Cuba · melia.com
Indoor
Indoor
447P+79V, Guardalavaca, Cuba · meliacuba.es
Indoor
Indoor
4599+C36 info.phcuban@gmail.com, Guardalavaca, Cuba
Indoor
4595+WRR info.phcuban@gmail.com, Guardalavaca, Cuba
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448Q+QH, Guardalavaca, Cuba
Indoor
4563+WW5, Guardalavaca, Cuba
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Indoor
4587+564, Guardalavaca, Cuba
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Restaurants & places to go

Regional, Ice Cream, Pizza, Chicken, Seafood, Breakfast, Noodle, Fish And Chips, Cake, Donut, Fish, Pasta, Juice, Sandwich, Pancake, Dessert, Diner, Sausage,…
Indoor
Food Court · SnackBar situado en la piscina
Indoor
Buffet, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:30-10:30
Indoor
Coffee Shop, Chicken, Local, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-22:00
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: 21:30-02:30
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Japanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 18:00-23:00
Indoor
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: 18:00-22:00
Indoor
Breakfast, Fish And Chips, Hot Dog, Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7
Indoor
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Indoor
Barbecue, Chicken, Coffee Shop, Diner, Fish, Seafood, Steak House, Restaurant · Barbecue/Chicken restaurant
Indoor
Caribbean, Local, Restaurant · Caribbean/Local restaurant · Carretera a Boca de Samá
Indoor
Cuban, Restaurant · Cuban restaurant
Indoor
International, Restaurant · International restaurant
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Pizza, Restaurant · Pizza restaurant
Indoor
Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7
Indoor
Cafe · cafe
Indoor
Ice Cream · ice cream
Indoor
Regional, Ice Cream, Pizza, Chicken, Seafood, Breakfast, Noodle, Fish And Chips, Cake, Donut, Fish, Pasta, Juice, Sandwich, Pancake, Dessert, Diner, Sausage,…
Indoor
Food Court · SnackBar situado frente a la Playa
Indoor
Buffet, Restaurant · Buffet restaurant
Indoor
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: 18:00-21:00
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant · Boca de Samá
Indoor
Japanese, Restaurant · Japanese restaurant
Indoor
Italian, Restaurant · Italian restaurant
Indoor
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Indoor
Barbecue, Chicken, Coffee Shop, Diner, Fish, Seafood, Steak House, Restaurant · Barbecue/Chicken restaurant
Indoor
Fast Food · Opening hours: 12:00-18:00;21:30-07:00
Indoor
Ice Cream · ice cream
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant
Indoor
Food Court · Opening hours: 24/7
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Indoor
Italian, Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Italian/Italian Pizza restaurant
Indoor
Restaurant · restaurant
Indoor
Fast Food · fast food
Indoor
Ice Cream · ice cream
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant
Indoor
Food Court · food court
Indoor
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Indoor
Restaurant · Opening hours: 18:00-22:00
Indoor
Fast Food · fast food
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · Guardalavaca
Indoor
Food Court · food court
Indoor
Restaurant · Opening hours: 07:00-10:00;12:00-14:30
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Fast Food · fast food
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Restaurant · restaurant · Calle F S/n, Rafael Freyre, Melilla
Indoor

14 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Guardalavaca Airport 1.8 km to the centre
Yaguajay, 11, CU
Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Muelle
Ferry terminal · 6.2 km from the centre
Outdoor
Muelle Boca de Samá
Ferry terminal · 6.4 km from the centre
Outdoor
Ferry Hacia Delfinario
Ferry route
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Guardalavaca Airport. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 2 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Muelle, 6.2 km); routes include Ferry Hacia Delfinario.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Guardalavaca, Cuba. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing