Baconao Park, located in eastern Cuba, is anbsp;kind of paradise between sea and mountainsnbsp;for all nature loving travelers.
The park is located some 20 kilometres awaynbsp;from the city of Santiago de Cuba, with a total surfacenbsp;area of 328 square miles. It was declared a World Heritagenbsp;Biosphere Reserve in 1987 by UNESCO.
Its name relates to a legend dating back to a timenbsp;before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in Americanbsp;and tells the story of a magical tree called Baconao thatnbsp;allowed a native child to play music using snails foundnbsp;in a lagoon. The park has several attractions, includingnbsp;an amusement park, an aquarium with an underwaternbsp;tunnel 30 meters deep, a dolphin exhibit, coffeenbsp;plantations, wildlife reserves, comfortable hotels, calmnbsp;beaches and panoramic locations such as the Great Rocknbsp;(Gran Piedra) which is a large volcanic rock measuringnbsp;167 feet long and 82 feet high. Weighing some 63,000nbsp;tons, one can reach its top only after climbing 459 stonenbsp;steps to stand 1,234 meters above sea level for a greatnbsp;view.