It is one of the most geologically diverse of all the island's provinces, The Sierra Maestra mountain range in the east is the most striking section of landscape and contrasts vividly with the flat plains around the Cauto river to the west of Granma. This province takes its name from the yacht which landed near its southwestern tip bearing Castro, Che, and their supporters. Roadside rice paddies and cane plantations thousands of acres in size fill its flat northern plains, overseen by the forested northern slopes of the Sierra Maestra.

Bayamo:

It is the capital of Granma Province. This area was important in the Cuban struggle for freedom and has a wealth of historic places of interest, including the site where Jose Marti was shot, and one of Cuba's greatest national parks, Gran Parque Nacional Sierra Maestra, to the south of Bayamo township.

Bayamo has a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere and makes concessions to tourism. The town is centred around Parque Cespedes which is a delightful, shady park containing long marble benches and statues of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes (called nothing less than the Father of the Nation) and Perucho Figueredo. On the north side of the park is the Ayuntamiento, it was in front of this in 1868 that Cespedes proclaimed independence for Cuba.

On weekend evenings, the square hosts something resembling a large party, with hundred of Bayamese dressed to the nines, socializing and eating rosquitas, the local sweet made of yuca.

Manzanillo:

It is am important industrial port for the exportation of sugar. On most nights you will find some form of live musical entertainment taking place. The city is quiet. The most notable architectural features being Moorish in origin in the main square: a riotous gazebo, wedding-cake fountains and sphinx statues, and a casa de la cultura with a tiled courtyard depicting Columbus' landing.

The Cespedes trail continues just southwest of Manzanillo at the remains of his sugar plantation Finca La Demajagua, farther southwest at isolated Playa las Coloradas and you can't forget Marea del Portillo on the south coast.