For many archeologists and researchers, Baracoa is the center of development of the Cuban aborigine culture. Although it has not been possible to precise chronologically the presence of the first settlers in this area, it is presumed, according to researches, that the most ancient of these cultures established at the beginning of the year 500 B.C.

The great ecological and hydrographical characteristics that the first inhabitants enjoyed in Baracoa, suit with the overwhelming scenery that the Admiral described on his arrival at the region in December 3, 1492.
The territory has more than 50 archeological sites, belonging mainly to agriculture and pottery, which is the most, developed of the Indocuban cultures. The remains constitute a chain through all the seashore and La Perla del Agua is one of the most remarkable ceremonial caves.

It is possible for archeology fans to find pictographies, petroglyphs, ceramic remains and shell materials just few kilometers far from the city.

Almost twenty years after the first encounter, in August 15, 1511, the first Village is founded: “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa”; in which the Excellent Diego Velázquez settled his residence and turned the territory into the political and ecclesiastical capital of the Cuban island.

Due to the transference of the capital to Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa was plunged to a real economic, political and social isolation, few years after its foundation. Such conditions propitiated a singular historical development giving them the possibility to treasure the beautiful  and pure traditions of the local culture and keep almost virgin its valuable landscapes. All these, a strong reason for inspired musicians, poets, sculptors, painters, natives or strangers admired for the city.

Colonization confronted the resistance of the Baracoa inhabitants, mainly in the figures of Hatuey, a Haitian cacique, who wrestled for a long time throughout the area and Guamá, “The Cuban rebel”, who fought about a decade against the Spanish conquerors. Revelry was also materialized in the arena, whose vestiges could be seen in different parts of the territory.

During a long period of two centuries, the jurisdiction underwent a slow population growth, it was different in the other villages due to their economic welfare were dramatically widened.
Baracoa played two important strategic roles: one as a landfall port and shelter for the isolated vessels  sailing trough the old Bahamas Channel  up to Havana, with whom they traded as well as other harbors of the area keeping rescue deals with smuggling centers in the northern part of Santo Domingo and Bahamas. 

Trade was mainly based on wood, honey and cattle. At the end of the 17th century they began the cultivation of cacao. Although these activities were all adapted to the woody vegetation as well as the humid climate of the region, that fact did not contributed to the settlement of man power or population.         

The turn of the 18th century and big part of the 19th, the strategic position of the city became relevant, reviving its existence and occupying an important place in the colonial system. As a result of its position in relation to the Bahamas Channel, adding it its nearness to the French position of Haiti, they adopted a series of measures of protection and attempt to lift a hierarchy with the aims of defence. 

When the Haitian Revolution took place in 1791, more than 100 families of French colonists and a great number of Spaniards, coming from Santo Domingo,  arrived to Baracoa,. The arrival of the emigrants encouraged the investment in coffee plantations and the setting-up of sugar-mill, which motivated a significant economic development.

In that place many important disembarks and actions during the independence wars occurred. Antonio Maceo landed by Duaba Beach on April 1st 1895, leading 23 expeditionary.

The main export products would be bananas and coconuts in the middle of the XIX century, sending to North America at the end of century more than three million of clusters
In the 30´s the coconuts and banana plantations were whipped by plagues. Then, the coming of the II War World brought about a significant increase in prices, and the last part of the decade the exportation pulled down, because of the abandon of the Village and it was not a well communicated territory.

It would not be until the revolutionary victory with the ending of Viaduct La Farola that the city was communicated with the rest of the country, being visible in the whole municipality significant achievements, fundamentally in the spheres of health, education and culture.

Agriculture is the first economic activity, cocoa, coffee, forest, fruits, among other minor fruits are produced there, too. The town has a small industrial net, the production of chocolate and its derived stands out; also there is only a coconut oil extractor in the country, a factory to fabricate preserved fruits, a rum and wine factory. As well as a plant of activated coal, produced by the coconut shells.
There, there is a particular hand-craft creation, maintaining a legendary tradition, where the most original designs are made in fibres, seeds and wood of the territory that makes it distinctive to those of the rest of the country.

The echo - tourist potentialities constitute an important source of proceeds that every day is strengthened; taking into account the wealth in species, ecosystems and landscapes, this region is the main center of diversity and diversification of the Antillean biota area and among the main in the world.

The last sanctuary of Cuban vertebrates species, the more threatened by extinction, can be found in Baracoa, among them we have: royal woodpeckers, almiquíes, and the caguarero hawk; besides there exists the smallest amphibian in the world, Eleutherodacdactylus Iberia frog  that measures 9, 8 millimeters. There are evidences of species that still remain without describing, like the tree hutia.

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