Baracoa's rite of passage is the 8km (up and down) hike to the top of this moody, mysterious mountain. At 575m, El Yunque (the anvil) isn't Kilimanjaro, but the views from the summit and the flora and birdlife along the way are stupendous. Cubatur offers this tour almost daily (CUC$16 person, minimum four people). The fee covers admission, guide, transport and a sandwich. The hike is hot (bring up to 2L of water) and usually muddy. It starts from the campismo 3km past the Finca Duaba (4km from the Baracoa–Moa road). Bank on seeing tocororo (Cuba's national bird), zunzún (the world's smallest bird), butterflies and polymitas (colorful snails).
If you're not up to bagging the peak itself, ask about the 7km Sendero Juncal-Rencontra that bisects fruit plantations and rainforest between the Duaba and Toa rivers. Ecotur in Baracoa runs trips from CUC$19 per person.
