Capital City

Mantanzas (pop. 115,000)

Population

640,000

Mantanzas is the second largest province. It was the heartland of the sugar industry; principle towns were constructed with sugar money. Now most of the fertile lands are dedicated to tropical fruit plantations. The Bay of Pigs invasion occurred on the southern coast. Mantanzas Province is also home to Cuba's largest resort town, Varadero. Before the revolution, many wealthy American entrepreneurs owned estates on the peninsula.

Mantanzas, the capital city, is an industrial center that caters to all business thanks to its highly accessible bay. The industry includes: a sugar refinery, sugar exporting facilities, a paper mill, a shoe factory, a textile mill, and a chemical plant among others.

Highlights

• TImeworn town of Cárdenas, where the Cuban flag was first flown
• Historic Bay of Pigs invasion site - Playa Giron
• White sand beaches of fantastic Varadero