I went to the tourist information centre to see what was excursions were available before deciding exactly what to see and do around Baracoa. It turned out there was a trip going to the Toa River then the beach and to see a coconut plantation so I booked it in. I don’t usually to do tours like this, but in Cuba you really don’t have much of an option as a solo, independent traveller.
After a quick stop at the Coconut Oil shed we were taken to a bar/restaurant where we could buy food and drinks if we wanted. Then we took a row boat 20 minutes down the Toa River where the coconut plantation was. On the way to the plantation people started to emerge from the jungle with hand crafted cigar boxes and coconut, honey and almond nut delights for sale.
At the plantation we were offered other foods to buy, as well as hand made bracelets and necklaces. Then we watched this guy (a 91 year old man who’s feet are bowed into the shape of a coconut tree trunk) climb a coconut tree and chop down a coconut for each of us. Afterwards we took a swim at the nearby beach for an hour and then made our way back via the restaurant/bar once again.
The tour was ok, but I was kind of disappointed that we were still approached by people wanting to sell things, and taken to places with stuff for sale at every opportunity. There is a name that Cubans use to refer to tourists that someone told me on my first night here. I don’t remember the name, but the name means “money tree”, and apparently the Cubans joke about foreigners by saying that when you shake them, money falls out. Today I definitely felt a bit like a money tree.
