Playas del Este © Judith Duk
Playas del Este
Twenty-five minutes east of Havana are the Playas del Este, a
chain of sandy beaches stretching for six miles (10km) between
Bacuranao and Guanabo. At weekends they are generally packed with
Cubans escaping the city. There are a few tourist hotels lining the
coast, but other than that there are limited facilities. If needing
an escape from the city the beaches make a good day trip, however
those expecting pristine tropical island beaches might be
disappointed.
Montemar Natural Park
Cuba is developing its eco-tourism potential, and one of the
prime spots for getting back to nature is at the Montemar
Natural Park on the Zapata Peninsula in the province of Matanzas
(about 75 miles/120km from Havana). The peninsula is one of the
largest swamps in the Caribbean, and its vast area includes
forests, marshes, crystal clear lagoons and canals. Its exuberant
flora, including more than 900 species of plants (115 of them
endemic to Cuba) is complemented by its rich fauna, consisting of
160 bird species and 12 types of animal, including crocodiles. One
of the park’s many features is the Laguna del Tesoro
(Treasure Lagoon), a fresh water reservoir inhabited by golden
trout. In the midst of the lagoon is a reproduction Taino village
with its houses built on pillars. There are nature trails, a bird
watching centre, and the largest flooded cave in Cuba. There
is also a scuba centre, crocodile farm and several
restaurants.
