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Tony Mas comes from the town of Baracoa on the North coast of Cuba. The town was founded in 1512 by Diego Vel'e1zquez, and is Cuba's oldest European settlement. Until a road was built in the 1960s over the mountains that surround Baracoa the town was only accessible by sea. Tony works for the government, running a small Eco tourist agency called Gaviota tours who take small groups of people or individuals on eco tours in Baracoa. Baracoa and it's surrounding area has to be one of the most beautiful places on the Island. The area around the table mountain of El-Yunque is a Biosphere reserve. Tony would like to keep it that way but, would also like other people to visit and experience for themselves the natural breathtaking beauty of Baracoa. Tony is very much an environmentalist at heart, he cares about what happens to his country's natural recources and to what extent they are exploited to accommodate the growing tourist industry in Cuba. With the U.S. persisting with it's insane economic embargo Tony is fearful that things could get out of control, with tourist Dollars being an indispensable crutch for Cuba's economy. At the moment he can only try to educate both Cubans and visitors to his country. As in the history of this spirited Island, he will make do with whatever recources he has, and that is not much by western standards. If you or your organisation can help Tony or the agency feel free to contact him. His address is listed on the Gaviota Tours page.

Baracoa is starting to get more popular with foreign visitors as the tourism industry grows in Cuba.The town has a population of only 83.000 with many of the people living away from the centre.Outlying areas are surrounded by the beautiful rivers of Toa, Duaba, Miel,Yumuri and Macaguanigua. Winding along the coast of Baracoa are 13km of white, black and grey sand beaches. The isolation by mountains of Baracoa from the rest of the island makes it special, with traditional food and a way of life untouched for generations. It is called the land of the three "Cs" (Coconut, Cocoa & Coffee)

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