Cuba

In Cuba, Naturally!

Article and photography by Steve Gillick

Many visitors to Cuba are unaware that aside from wonderful beach holidays, nature tourism places Cuba as one of the top destinations in the Caribbean. On a recent trip we travelled 2 ½ hours south of Varadero to Playa Giron on the Zapata Peninsula to get a taste of Cuba’s amazing natural diversity by exploring stunning scenery, discovering the flora and fauna, hiking through national parks, reveling in the beauty of one waterfall after another, as well as kayaking, swimming and photography.

Many visitors come to the mangrove swamps in Zapata National Park to kayak, fish, and even spot crocodiles, but the main activity, especially during the November to March migration season is birding. The pink flamingoes are a popular attraction but there are over 70 different types of birds on the peninsula. During our short stay we saw White Ibis, Kingfishers, Black-necked Stilts, Sandpipers, Prairie Warblers, Yellow Warblers (a.k.a. Mangrove Warblers), White and Reddish Egrets, and even the Cuban Trogon, the National Bird whose feathers display the blue, red and white colors of the Cuban flag!

In nearby Playa Larga, we visited La casa del Zunzuncito, a wonderfully onomatopoeic word for the Bee Hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world. We took photos of a tiny blue female, as well as a bright green Emerald Hummingbird who dropped by.

Heading further east, with spectacular views at every turn, we ascended Topes de Collantes, located at 800 meters (2600 feet) above sea level in the Escambray Mountains. On arrival, we boarded trucks, as the roads in the area can be steep and pretty rough.

In Guanayara Park, single-tree bridges (hold on to that rope!) help traverse rushing streams as the easy-to-moderate hiking trails through pristine forest lead to intriguing cave passageways, sometimes full of slippery rocks, that in turn lead to spectacular hidden waterfalls.

Our morning refreshments were a product of our surroundings. Delicious full-bodied coffee, made from fresh picked and roasted Robusta coffee beans was served along with a taste of ultra-sweet, creamy, chocolate that had just been made from Cacao beans.

And with refreshment in mind, we followed a trail, named Centinelas del Rio Melodioso (Guardians of the Melodious River) to find swimming holes and discover a succession of waterfalls, each one more breathtaking than the last.

After the hiking, birding and swimming (we also met rock climbers), it was time for zipping! Next to our hotel, Los Hellechos (The Ferns), we Zip-Lined through the Canopy with the fifth and last Zip spectacularly ending inside a cave passageway.

A fitting end to our nature adventures was a visit to the Theatre of Elements Community Project which showcases the talents of local farmers: Singing, acting, and presenting their art and stories. The focus was nature – water, sunshine, fresh air – and its ability to generate positive energy. What could be a more inspirational take-away from a vacation? It’s in Cuba, naturally!

www.gocuba.ca