Gibara

About

Gibara was founded in 1817 when the first stones were laid for the San Fernando Fort, the white walls of which gave the town its nickname “La Villa Blanca”. Despite being a key historic port, Gibara still hasn’t made it onto most tourist’s radar. The double devastation from hurricanes Ike and Sandy left the town in tatters, but there’s still a rustic charm to this colonial fishing village. Start your visit in the pleasant Parque Calixto García, where you’ll find a number of brightly colored colonial buildings. At one end is a charming 19th century church, and nearby the wonderful Museo de Historia Natural, which has a whale skeleton on display. From here, follow the streets uphill to the fort for a fantastic view. While Gibara is mostly unknown to tourists, it is known amongst film fans for hosting Latin America’s coolest indie film festival - the Festival Internacional del Cine Pobre (festival of low-budget cinema) every Spring.