With few tourists and a huge Afro-Cuban population, this lesser-visited part of Cuba has a strong Caribbean vibe, offering travellers a different perspective of the country. Ripe for road trips, you can hop in a car, wind down the windows and travel between towns to get a feel for the region's unique culture. In lively Santiago - the country's cultural capital - walk in the footsteps of revolutionists as you delve into museums and tread the sensuous streets. For a slower pace, head to Bayamo, a trapped-in-time town with heaps of history, before plotting a course for Baracoa, Cuba's oldest and most isolated town.
When you're not trotting between towns, lace up your walking boots and seek solace in the region's dramatic national parks where you'll come across thriving forests, coastal ecosystems and a rich selection of species. Top off your trip with back-to-back blissful beach days where the only orders of the day are soaking up the sun and sipping your way through tropical Cuban cocktails, and you have yourself a pretty unbeatable holiday.
