Cuba Travel - Nature and History on the Zapata Peninsula

In 1636, the King of Spain gave Mr. Zapata a hugeconditions and offering a good service, including air
piece of virgin land so that he could start a cattleconditioning, a restaurant, a disco, and a Museum with
raising business in this part of the Island. Once there,archeological remains belonging to the Taíno tribe
his men found the largest humid area in theliving there till the late 16th century. Birdwatching and
Caribbean. Zapata decided to change his mind andtrout fishing are the main activities. Despite the wild
devoted the area to extracting precious woods andnature of the area, there are no dangerous animals in
coal, which so far, constitutes one of the biggestCuba, not even poisonous snakes. However,
sources of employment in the area.mosquitoes can be a problem at dusk and dawn. It's
Within Matanzas province, driving 150 km fromstrongly recommended to take good supplies of
Havana along the Eastern Highway, you can reachinsect repellent if you plan to stay in any of the local
Boca de Guamá, the first touristic spot of thehotels.
Zapata Peninsula, best known for its crocodile raising10 more km to the South of Boca de Guamá, you'll
farm founded in 1962 to protect the 16 reptilerun into Playa Larga, one of the most exotic beaches
species living in Cuba. Today, they have around onein Bahía de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs)- the place
hundred thousand specimens. You can see about 30through which numerous troops tried to land in April
of these in Guamá, in various pools setup for the1961 to overthrow the Cuban Revolution. Spending a
visitors. The farm-raising technicians provide you withfew days in an all-inclusive hotel, visiting some scuba
information about the reptiles, and you can even getdiving spots and beaches with fine, white sands and
pictures taken holding the smallest. There is also thecrystalline waters can be a nice option. Nearby, you'll
possibility of tasting crocodile meat, a little dry, butfind the Cueva de los Peces (Fish Cave), a natural
highly nutritious and with a wonderful taste.pool 70 m deep, where you can admire numerous
5km away by boat, you can get to the Laguna delspecies of exotic fish just with a snorkel. To the
Tesoro, a small island where you'll find Villa GuamáNorth is Caleta Buena, where the deep diving within
(rustic cabins over the water) and a reconstructiontransparent waters is spectacular. The whole area is
of a small Taínos village dating from Pre-Columbianfull of pirate stories. Some are even named after
times with a group of sculptures made by the Cubanthem such as Playa Girón after Gilbert Girón
artist Rita Longa. Taínos were the most developed(French pirate from the 17th century who was
indigenous group of the whole Caribbean. The namesheltered by this place during a hurricane). In this
Guamá was given to the village after a Caciqueplace, the final battle of the Bay of Pigs invasion took
(Taíno Indigenous Chief) that was opposed to theplace and there is the Museo Playa Girón featuring
Spanish conquerors. According to the legend, beingthe history of the clash and the remains of the
pushed by the Spaniards who wanted the gold of hisinvaders' armament.
small village, one night he gathered all of it andThe whole peninsula is protected by the Cuban law.
distributed it all over the lagoon, hence the name LaIt is prohibited to camp in unauthorized areas, create
Laguna del Tesoro (Treasure Lagoon). This legendbonfires, or hunt out of season. You can get
repeats itself in Baconao, Santiago de Cuba, and ininformation about the outdoor activities available and
Tucuman, Argentina. Other versions ascribe the namereserve services and the required equipment at
to the treasures hidden by pirates in the area.hotels in the area.
Villa Guamá is immersed in the lake's nature in good