Las Tunas

The history of this province is quite colourful, or so legend would have you believe. The story goes that , in 1519, a Spaniard by the name of Alonso de Ojeda lost his ship went down, Alonso salvaged a statue of the Virgin Mary and, on making land, credited her with aiding him in his miraculous escape from certain death.

As he made his way across the land he vowed to offer the statue to the first village he came across, and on reaching the Indian village of Cueyba, he gave it to the local chief, instructing him to build a church in honour of her divinity.

The flora and fauna of La Isleta in the municipality of Manati and Monte Cabaniguan in southern Las Tunas could make these areas tourist magnets in the future.

Las Tunas City:

The capital of the province is the city of the same name which lies 662 km east of Havana. The city, originally named Las Tunas was, in 1869, renamed Victoria de las Tunas, a title given it by its Spanish governor to commemorate a colonial victory over the Cubans. The name reverted to plain Las Tunas in 1895, following the battle in which the Cubans finally took back the city.

These days Las Tunas is a centre for trade in the production of sugar and chemicals.

There are two tourist hotels one (Hotel Las Tunas) located on the outskirts of the city, the other (Hotel el Cornito) 10km southwest.

A thorough exploration of the city's places of interest can be undertaken in the time it takes to mix a mojito and drink it. Cerro Caismimu, a hunting preserve around 18km outside the city, is worth a visit if you're that way inclined. Alternatively, the beaches around Playa Covarrubias on the north coast of the province are good for sunbathing, swimming and scuba diving.

The city itself is a friendly place and if you walk around the central square area you are bound to attract attention from curious locals.