Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba

Experience the Ciénaga de Zapata in the province of Matanzas, one of the most beautiful natural environments in Cuba

Ciénaga de Zapata, Cuba
© Sergey Uryadnikov

Ciénaga de Zapata, located in the south of the province of Matanzas in Cuba, is a municipality considered to be the second most important tourist destination in the region after Varadero in the north. It is located in the Península de Zapata and, unlike the península de Hicacos, it has nothing to do with the tourist resorts in the area; although its attraction is comparable, it is also very different.

Gran Parque Natural Montemar, Península de Zapata
© Phillipe L PhotoGraphy

The almost 5,000 km2 of the peninsula can be described mostly in one word: nature. Tourists who are more interested in getting away from the cities and the mass tourism and want to know more about the Caribbean flora and fauna in its wildest state should come to this area. Most of the territory is part of the Gran Parque Natural Montemar, declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco. The richness of this ecosystem is indescribable, concentrating 70% of the species that live on the whole island and some of which can only be found here. The variety of species is due to the fact that in the same reserve, ecosystems of diverse nature are mixed, which allows animals and vegetation of different characteristics to coexist. Without a doubt, it is a unique environment that oozes life in every corner.

Playa Girón, Bahía de Cochinos
© Radomir Rezny

Besides the natural park itself, there are other interesting tourist attractions, always embellished by the surrounding landscape. One example is Central Australia, an old sugar plantation now converted into a museum that played a key role in the Bahía de Cochinos battle between the United States and the revolutionary army. One of the key places of this confrontation was Playa Girón, a place known both for the warlike conflicts that took place there and for the paradisiacal beauty of its turquoise waters and white sands.

Playa Larga
© Daniel Guérin

Playa Larga is another point in the bay where you can enjoy the wonderful panorama of the Cuban coast with many places to practice diving in the coral reefs present in the area.

Finally, in the interior of the Península de Zapata, we found the Laguna del Tesoro to which is accessed by the Boca de Guamá. There, we can find the replica of a Taino village and one of the most beautiful lodgings of the island. Here, wooden cabins on the surface of the water. They are connected to each other by small islands connected by footbridges; an unforgettable sight.

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Varadero

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Museo Municipal de Varadero

Cardenas

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Catedral de la Purísima Concepción de Cárdenas

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Península de Zapata

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Other nearby destinations:

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✓ Disseminate Cuba, its culture and its heritage.
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