Baracoa Museums

(Baracoa, Guantánamo, Cuba)

If you are truly a museum buff, then it is best to allow time in Havana before you make your way to Baracoa, as Cuba's capital has literally dozens of museums covering virtually every subject imaginable.

In Baracoa, it is the Municipal Museum that is of most note and this attraction stands on the corner of the Malecon and the José Marti, coming with some surprising exhibits. Good alternatives include both the Paradise Cave Archaeological Museum and the Veterans' Centre.

Municipal Museum (Museo Municipal / Museu Matachin)

Address: Fuerte Matachin, José Marti, Baracoa, Cuba, CU
Originally part of the 18th-century fortifications of Baracoa, this old castle is now the city's museum. The Fuerte Matachin dates from the turn of the 19th century and lies on the southern side of town. The Museo Municipal itself showcases the history and culture of the city, as well as its many myths and legends. A collection of vividly coloured striped 'polymita' snail shells, the remains of an almost-extinct group of mollusks, is an unusual attraction. Further exhibits remember the opening of the nearby Fabrica de Chocolate (chocolate factory) in 1963 by none other than famous Cuba revolutionist Che Guevara.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 08:00 to 12:00, 14:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge

Paradise Cave Archaeological Museum (Las Cuevas del Paraiso Museo Arqueologico)

Address: Moncada, Baracoa, Cuba, CU
On the southern edges of the city lies this unique and relatively new addition to the museum scene in Baracoa, located in a system of connecting caves. The Paradise Cave Archaeological Museum comprises three galleries, which hold displays of aboriginal artefacts, pottery, jewellery, carvings and other remnants of the ancient civilisations living in the region before the coming of the conquistadores, such as the Taino people. A funerary cave displays skeletons in situ and petroglyphs dating back more than 3,000 years, being accessible by fragile wooden scaffolding.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Veterans' Centre (Centro de Veteranos)

Address: José Marti 216, Baracoa, Cuba, CU
This small museum celebrates the heroes of the Communist revolution and also concentrates on the history of all the Baracoan underground warriors who fought for Cuba's freedom over the centuries. Exhibits at the Centro de Veteranos include photographs of those who lost their lives during the 1959 Revolution, while further displays cover subject matters such as the Angola conflict.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

More information about Havana museums.