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cubatravel has been a member since February 27th 2014, and has created 14 posts from scratch.

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History of Guardalavaca Cuba

Guardalavaca Coastline

Up until the late 1990s Guardalavaca was nothing more than sleepy coastal town in the Holguin Province of Cuba. Due to the excellent quality of the sand and picturesque, naturally protected coastline plus, the close proximity to Holguin’s Frank Pais International airport, it didn’t take long for Guardalavaca to appear on Cuba’s tourism Ministry radar as a future tourist destination. By the 1990s the Cuban hotel group Cubanacan was in talks to build the first 747 room hotel in the area, now known as the Club Amigo Guardalavaca.

Guardalavaca-Beaches

Fast forward two and half decades and Guardalavaca Beach will soon have its third hotel. Yet to be officially named, it will be operated this time by Spain’s Iberostar. The new 5 star hotel features 483 Rooms, which when added to the 437 rooms at the Brisas Guardalavaca Hotel, will bring the total rooms in Guardalavaca to 1667 allowing the area to accommodate approximately 3400 people. Of course, two other hotels are featured on the almost adjoining Playa Esmeralda, the popular Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro and the Hotel Sol Rio de Luna y Mares technically is considered another destination but in our view is too close to bare a different name.

Where is Guardalavaca Located?

Cuba guardalavaca beach

Guardalavaca is located on Cuba’s southeastern coast just 57 km (35 miles) from the inland provincial capital city of Holguin. Guardalavaca is also easily accessible by road from Santiago de Cuba which is just 174 km (108 miles) away. Due to the distance of 800 km (497 miles), Havana is not usually a place from which visitors originate when visiting Guardalavaca, however those tourists making a Pan-Cuban Road Trip will often include Guardalavaca in their cross country itinerary. (click map for full size)

Guardalavaca map

Where does the name Guardalavaca originate?

Guardalavaca Beach Photo

The word “Guardalavaca” – Guarda La Vaca – literally means “guard the cow” in Spanish. Many people have had their theories of how this odd name came about. Several viable accounts as to how this name may have originated start with the version that maintains that Guardalavaca is nothing more than a malapropism for its original name Guardalabarca, which translates to “guard the ship”.

History has it that area was once heavily targeted by sea pirates, and Bahía de Naranja near what is now the town of Guardalavaca is a sheltered and shallow bay connected to the open sea by a tapered inlet, which made it a proper safe haven to guard ships against marauding pirates.

A second account brings us to the most probably explanation in which the name may have originated from pirates going after the cattle grazing in the area. When pirates were spotted, the local farmers would thus cry, “Guardalavaca” – Guard the Cow!

The Cuban government has attempted on several occasions to change the unflattering and nonsensical name of the tourist area but they have so far been unsuccessful in choosing a candidate or removing the legacy of the official name of Guard the Cow…

Hotel Sol Rio de Luna y Mares Guardalavaca Cuba

Hotel Sol Rio de Luna y Mares Guardalavaca

The Hotel Sol Rio de Luna y Mares is located within the incredibly beautiful Bahia Naranjo Natural Park. Actually two hotels in one, the Sol Rio de Luna y Mares offers a broad range of activities and vacation options. Hotel Sol Rio de Luna y Mares is a four star All Inclusive vacation resort, distinguished for its great family offer and multiple options of restaurants and onsite bars. Covering a gigantic area of 150,000 m² the hotel is more like a mini city than a vacation resort but, this offers plenty of privacy to its guests.

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares Hotel Holguin

Following this privacy trend, Hotel Sol Rio de Luna y Mares offers accommodation in sections of just 3 and 4 floors with modern, pleasant rooms, of which are there are Standard Superior Rooms with Sea View, Junior Suites, Suites and Family Suites offering impressive Ocean Views which are ideal for families. All the rooms are beautifully decorated in warm tropical colors, and equipped with all the facilities you need for an excellent vacation. These two hotels in one boast beautiful open-plan lobbies, one in the Luna section and the other on the “Mares” resort section. An eco-bridge over the lagoon which connects the resorts of Paradisus Rio de Oro with a mini golf, a gazebo for weddings with sea views, plus the brilliant kid’s club area.

When you click “Reserve at Sol Rio de Luna y Mares Hotel” you will be comparing rates and availability from all three possible sources:

  • All major international suppliers of Hotel Sol Rio de Luna y Mares in Guardalavaca
  • The Cuban tourism ministry
  • Direct with Hotel Sol Rio de Luna y Mares itself

Our booking process is unique because it shows the best rate from all of these for Sol Rio de Luna y Mares hotel in Guardalavaca and the types of rooms available. Our Sol Rio de Luna y Mares Guardalavaca rate comparison is an industry first for Cuban Hotels.

Once you’ve compared the rates, finalizing the booking at Sol Rio de Luna y Mares Hotel takes just seconds and an immediate confirmation is provided in real-time.

No Prepayment – No booking fees – No Charges

Guardalavaca Hotel Reservations

Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro Guardalavaca Holguin Cuba

Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro Guardalavaca

Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro occupies an astounding 113,000 m² seafront lot. Offering unusually large Master Junior Suites with elegant Garden Villas, all with access to the private Royal Service pool and direct to the white sand beach. With Palapas strewn throughout the gardens and a tropical forest where the hotel is located, guests who love to vacation in a truly idyllic nature park would do well to choose the Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro. The hotel has its own botanical garden and natural orchid garden which is great for bird watching and enjoying spectacular views of the blue lagoon and the tranquil sea. The Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro also boasts of Melia’s trademark YHI-Spas’ however, this one features unique and private beach access to ensure even more exclusivity than other hotels similarly equipped in Cuba.

Paradisus Rio de Oro Hotel Guardalavaca

The hotel features 1 and 2 floor bungalows and a the chic Royal Service area with new and elegant Royal Junior Suites, Deluxe Junior Suites with garden or sea views, Suites, Master Junior Suites with garden or sea views and Garden Villas, a truly ample array of accommodations from which to choose.

Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro is all about location. Just 4 km from the Yacht Marina Gaviota and enigmatic aquarium with dolphinarium, guests can also visit Cayo Saetia and Chorro de Maita very easily, both being a similar distance away. For those who love to shop, just 5 km away there’s a large shopping center. Ranked amongst the best equipped hotels in the area, Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro also features a Beauty salon, fitness center, clubhouse, sports courts and water sports.

When you click “Reserve at Paradisus Rio de Oro Hotel” you will be comparing rates and availability from all three possible sources:

  • All major international suppliers of Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro in Guardalavaca
  • The Cuban tourism ministry
  • Direct with Hotel Paradisus Rio de Oro itself

Our booking process is unique because it shows the best rate from all of these for Paradisus Rio de Oro hotel in Guardalavaca and the types of rooms available. Our Paradisus Rio de Oro Guardalavaca rate comparison is an industry first for Cuban Hotels.

Once you’ve compared the rates, finalizing the booking at Paradisus Rio de Oro Hotel takes just seconds and an immediate confirmation is provided in real-time.

No Prepayment – No booking fees – No Charges

Guardalavaca Hotel Reservations