Journey through the seas of Cuba

The Cuban archipelago's largest island is Cuba only in popular speech. When more detail is needed is specified in the Isle of Youth or the rest of the archipelago. Let us make a brief presentation of each of the islands and then details about them, always taking as reference the main island of Cuba. On the north coast islands are located in Los Colorados and the Sabana-Camagüey, the first west and the second toward the central portion. On the coast south to the eastern central part, is the Jardines de la Reina, while to the southwest area is located in the Canarreos. The latter is the more important because it is the second most important island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, formerly known as Isla de Pinos. Perform a circumnavigation (walk) along the coastline of our country, from west to east. First on the north coast and then in the south. Archipelago of Los Colorados. It is located on the first leg of the north coast of Cuba. Also called Guaniguanico or Santa Isabel. It is located west of Cuba, covering the northwest coast of the province of Pinar del Rio.

It is the smallest, least important and least extensive of the four Cuban archipelago, with no more than 80 keys. It is necessary to clarify that only the Caribbean small islands are called keys. This archipelago is not a compact group, but its keys are divided into two subgroups: one to the west, near Cape San Antonio (the westernmost point of Cuba) and known as Keys wood, while the rest is a contiguous string of keys near the coast, visible from their small mangrove forest. The main ones are those of Buenavista, Rapado, Jutías, Ines de Soto, Levisa and scorpions. All are very small and covered with mangroves. A small barrier reef surrounds much of the coast. Its usefulness is that they are areas where you can fish, which is concentrated in the small ports of Faith, streams and Puerto Esperanza. Except that some keys are in all beaches are of a muddy, being without doubt the best are those that are located in the Keys Jutías and Levisa, recommended places to visit. On certain maps can be seen Cayo Medano, with facilities similar to Cayo Levisa Jutías and.

Today tourist use only retain the last two.

How to get to the Keys Jutías and Levisa? The visit to the two keys have differences. Let the first. In the case of Key Jutías you can go directly by car, either owned or leased in Viñales or from elsewhere, but always through Viñales, because the other roads that run parallel to the north coast are in very poor condition and almost impassable, as the maps do not reflect the state of the roads. The distance to travel from Viñales to Cayo Jutías is not more than 65 km. The first 17 km. pass through valleys, while the rest passes through mountains to the coast in the village of Santa Lucia. During the first part of the journey, passing through narrow valleys, shows the chain of wooded hills on one side and pine forests and coffee plantations on the other. If you want you can visit the village of El Moncada, 15 km. Viñales, one of the first built after the triumph of the Revolution, very small and unique architectural style and very original in Cuba. There is also the Great Cavern of Santo Tomás, the largest in Latin America, which can be visited during the day and all her natural state, without any alteration of their environment.

You can make very interesting tours, accompanied by specialized guides and where they offer the means to make the journey. It is open all week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm At the hamlet of Pons turn right and begin the ascent to the mountains. During the tour the sights are beautiful, as it crosses the heights covered with pine Boards and from where breathtaking views can be seen from other mountains. By the way you can visit the town of Minas de Matahambre, a typical mining town where copper was mined, with some buildings that resemble bungalows Americans own these stocks. A causeway (on stilts road leading from the coast to the above key), about 12 km, cross a small stretch of the sea. This trip is recommended for one day because there is no hotel or hostel for the night, only a small restaurant, which specializes in seafood. It can accommodate 45 people and offers services between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm The waters are warm and clean, deep blue and magnificent coral reefs. The length of the beach is approximately 7 km.

Time passes swiftly because they can opt to enjoy the nautical type options are offered, which range from boat trips to other small cays neighbors and visitors to the mangroves and coral reefs to snorkel, rent kayaks, chairs and bicycles nautical, besides receiving diving lessons, snorkel in the coral reef with specialized instructor to fish both trolling and bottom. If you do not want to do any of these options can take a swim at the beach and spend hours on it. The views are excellent, the sea is lost in the distance and continued blowing breeze, passing a good time. If you look at the coast to the south towards the island of Cuba, the hummocks appear tubes medieval church organ. That was the visit of the Spanish navigators found to make the first circumnavigation (back) to Cuba, baptizing these elevations with the name of the Organs Mountains, a name they have today. In addition, the hummocks have unique shapes and distinct from each other, so they are excellent reference points for crossing the dangerous reefs and reach the coast or go offshore.

If you want to enjoy this option for several days is recommended to stay in Viñales, in some of the hotels and in some of the more than 300 homes of the locality, or in some houses in the village of Santa Lucia. Of course, the latter option is much cheaper than the first. In the next issue we will continue our tour.