Visiting Zapata Swamp

Saying Zapata Swamp is nature, ie virgin forests, swamps and marshes vegetation, mangroves ancient, beautiful beaches with no pollution, nature tourism.

Zapata Swamp, with a total area of ​​10 499 km2, is located in the southern part of the province of Matanzas, is the largest wetland in the Caribbean and was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2000. Within its boundaries is an exceptionally rich flora and fauna, given the presence of more than 900 plant species, 160 species of birds and numerous species of mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles, among which highlights the Cuban crocodile There, however, that indicate the absence of dangerous animals like snakes poisonous to man or beast - nonexistent in Cuba allowing the enjoyment of nature in an environment of security and peace of mind.

Getting there

Access to the region is via a paved road that connects with the National Highway up to Jaguey Grande, at Km 142. It should make the visit by car or hired taxi rides or hiking hotels in Havana and Varadero and there is no link by regular bus lines.

What to see and do?

The Zapata Swamp is of interest as a tourist destination, first, for lovers of nature tourism, bird watching, hiking, ecotourism, but there is also room for lovers of diving, adventure tourism, sport fishing and enjoy the beaches, and even for scholars interested or recent history of the island.

A visit to this region begins in the far north after leaving the National Highway:

- Central Australia: a mere 3 km from National Highway, the main focus is on that here lies the staff of the army and government militias during the invasion of Playa Girón (or Bay of Pigs invasion, as it is known) in that sense you can visit the Historical Museum headquarters of the FAR. You can also make a visit to the sugar mill, the old slave quarters, the railway workshops of the sugar factory and to hire a car ride pulled by a locomotive tour in 1913, with a distance of 4 km

- Mouth of Guam: 18 km from National Highway up to the Boca de Guama where there are several restaurants, 2 of which specialize in the heartwood of a crocodile, the crocodile farm and the jetty at the entrance of the access channel to the Laguna del Tesoro. Here is almost compelled to visit the Crocodile Farm, founded in 1962 with the aim of protecting the species, you can take pictures of specimens of different sizes.

- Laguna del Tesoro: accessed by boat from Boca del Guamá through a channel surrounded by thick green vegetation. Treasure Lake is a beautiful natural lake area of ​​9.0 km2 and average depth 4 m, surrounded by wild vegetation and teeming trout. With crystal clear waters and breathtaking nature provides a beautiful frame to the contemplative tourism, sport fishing for trout (catch-release form) and nature tourism.

-Guam: is a resort located in the middle of the Laguna del Tesoro, 49 cottages, clubs and restaurants with modern amenities are built on stilts in the lagoon and linked by bridges, right next to a replica of a Taino village - Cuban-old Aboriginal people where they can be with thatched huts many life-size sculptures of Aboriginal performing various tasks of daily living (work of the sculptor Rita Longa) and recreate the life here in the distant past. Exceptional place to the contemplative tourism, fishing for golden trout (catch release), paddle boating or motor, a site that allows a trip to the aboriginal culture of the island.

- Long Beach, located 12 km south of La Boca, at the inner end of the Bay of Pigs, Long Beach offers the typical attractions of a beautiful beach, one of the best on the coast on the Caribbean Sea on the island and where also a great barrier reef with beautiful seabed is suitable for diving. War theater in the Bay of Pigs invasion in April 1961 on the road to La Boca is more than 80 memorials of fighters killed in the fighting.

- Bay of Pigs: located in the east entrance of the Bay of Pigs and 34 km southeast of Playa Larga, Playa Giron recalls the pirate name of French origin Gilbert Giron who took refuge in the area back in the seventeenth century. Good beach and good sea suitable for diving, military stage of the landing of the Brigade 2005 in April 1961, here is an interesting museum - Pigs Museum - dedicated to the Bay of Pigs invasion, where you can see an airplane, a tank war, weapons, photographs and documents from the fighting.

- Fish Cave: located between Playa Larga and Playa Giron is a kind of crystalline water cenote, deep populated infinite variety of fish, is a major attraction for scuba divers. In general the Zapata Swamp diving is done from the coast in more than 14 known sites, largely diving is linked to ancient cave systems in the area whose roofs collapsed.

- Hiking La Salina and Santo Tomás: high demand by tourists interested in watching birds, both migratory and endemic species of the island.

Where to stay?

There are several sites with accommodation in the Cienaga de Zapata:

- Villa Guam in Guam in the Laguna del Tesoro, 49 cabins with a 3 *, depending on the season the price of a double room with breakfast starts at 44.95 USD per night.

- Hotel Playa Larga, with a 3 *, has 144 rooms and 40 bungalows over, recommended for scuba diving, water sports and bird watching. A double room starts at 44.95 USD per night.

- Hotel Playa Giron, 3 *, has 287 rooms and numerous bungalows, prices for a double room with breakfast start at 62.00 USD per night.

- There are also private homes that rent rooms in Playa Larga and Playa Giron, the price of double room is around 25 CUC (27 USD) per night.

Where to eat?

There are several places to eat in this area, a unique characteristic of the place in various places you can eat crocodile meat:

- A restaurant-bar at the junction of the access road and National Highway

- Restaurant in Caramel, 9 km south of the highway

- Several restaurants in La Boca, 2 of them specialized in crocodile meat

- Restaurants and hotels Guamá Villa Playa Larga and Playa Giron

- Restaurant in Caleta Buena, which specializes in Creole cuisine and seafood

- Restaurant in Los Cenotes

The Zapata Swamp is much more simple natural shelter, and incorporates its ecological treasures, natural and historical tourist valuable not yet received all the recognition it deserves by vacationers who visit Cuba.

More information and photos on http://www.hicuba.com

Flights to Cuba in http://www.hicuba.com/reservar-vuelo.php