Established in 1513, Bayamo was the second of seven cities founded by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar.

Its inland situation gave it relative security against the pirates who infested West Indian seas, and the misfortunes of Santiago were the fortunes of Bayamo.

[4] A tremendous flood, in 1616, choked the Cauto with trees and wrecked vessels, cutting it off from direct access to the sea; but through Manzanillo it continued a great clandestine traffic with Curaçao, Jamaica, and other foreign islands throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

One of the most desperate conflicts of the war was fought nearby, and it was nearly destroyed by the opposing parties.

[7][8] Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Airport satisfies the city's commercial aviation needs; it has had service to Havana on Cubana Airlines.