Guardalavaca

Location map |Cuba1
lat_deg = 21
lat_min = 07
lat_sec = 30
lat_dir = N
lon_deg = 75
lon_min = 49
lon_sec = 44
lon_dir = W
position = none
float = right
width = 300
caption=Location of Guardalavaca in Cuba

Guardalavaca is a town in the Holguín Province of Cuba. It is a tourist location due to its white sandy beaches and warm waters.

It is located on the northern shore of Cuba, bordering "Bahia Naranjo" (Orange Bay), on Cabo Lucrecia, and is part of the municipality of Banes. Beaches in Guardalavaca include Guardalavaca Beach, Playa Esmeralda, Don Lino and Bahia de Naranjo.

"Guardalavaca" literally means "keep the cow" in Spanish. The local farmers of latter days were targeted by pirates - the area has reasonable grazing land and the pirates were after the cattle grazing in the area. As pirates were spotted the local farmers would shout, "Guardalavaca" - hence the area's name - keep the cow. The Cuban government has attempted on several occasions to change the name of the area as they deem it not to be very appealing; they have so far been unsuccessful.