Exploring Las Tunas

The municipality of Las Tunas arose from the last political-administrative division in 1866. It has a territorial extension of 6 587 square kilometers, including its adjacent keys. This province represents 5.9% of the country’s surface, occupying the ninth place in extension. It has 8 municipalities.

History

With the first Spanish settlers settled in Cueybá during the seventeenth century a rich Creole rancher called Jesus Gamboa in whose farms grew the tuna brava or thorny in large proportions, a plant that gave away to their customers frequently and one or another Santero practitioner or believer, also sought to plant it in the courtyard of houses because it served to protect them from bad influences, envy and greed, also the tuna brava according to legend have the same potential as the ceiba that when you give it three turns, you ask for a wish and it is fulfilled.

For all the above when the neighbors or the merchants went towards the hacienda of Gamboa, they used to say “… I go for the hacienda of Las Tunas” being strengthened thus the phytonymus in the popular language in such a way that today it gives him name, since then.

The municipality Tunas, occupies an area of about 895 Km2, has a total population of 192 967 inhabitants, of this 162 522 is urban and 30 445 rural, reaching a population density of 216 hab/Km2., distributed in 21 popular councils (including Altura de Buenavista), and 44 concentrated rural settlements.

Main heights: Macagua 10, La Ceiba and San Miguel del Rompe Bartle, with 164.4m, 130.0m and 140.6m above sea level, respectively.

Main rivers: Hórmigo (43 km,South Slope), Yariguá (62 km, North Slope).

Main Sights in Las Tunas

Also known as El Balcón del Oriente Cubano, Las Tunas is a province with great attractions. It has numerous paradisiacal beaches, places of privileged nature, lodgings and everything the visitor needs to have a good time.

• Museo de los Mártires de Barbados

The museum dedicated to the victims of the attack in Barbados was founded on July 2, 1978, in the home of one of the martyrs, Carlos Miguel Leyva González. It was totally rebuilt in 2000 and there you can find the history of each of the people who died in the attack that October 6, fragments of the plane, evidence that it was a regrettable act and personal objects of those affected.

• La casa antigravedad

It is an architectural project created to show optical and physical phenomena related to the force of gravity. Its creator, the architect Domingo Alás Rosell, does not use advanced technologies, since he bases the concept on the ingenious application of physical experiments to create optical illusions and other types, with the purpose of promoting healthy relaxation and knowledge. The photos and impressions of the place, to the sight seem incredible or exits of another galaxy.

• El Cornito

It constitutes one of the historical sites of obligatory visit in Las Tunas. The space of El Cornito, named after the stream that crosses it, is the park of Cucalambé, where the poet Juan Cristóbal Nápoles Fajardo was born.

• Lago Celestial Las Minas

The curious thing is that it’s an artificial lake that was once a mine. Because of the minerals contained in the soil, the lake is turquoise in color and is said to be good for the skin. It is located about 30 kilometers from the capital Las Tunas, in the municipality of Manatí. It has a bar open 24 hours a day and a swimming pool.

• Puerto Padre

It is a port city privileged by architecture and history, a place to discover and take photos, you can not miss it.

• Playa La Boca y Playa La Llanita

They are two of the 35 beaches in this area, full of coral reefs, in addition to also have the International Diving Center, for those who like this practice.