The Antillean goddess Atabeira located on the El Guafe Archaeological Trail, along the southwest coast of the Sierra Maestra, close to the colossal sea terraces of Cabo Cruz, is perhaps a special and attractive place for tourists due to the mysteries that surround it.
After a walk, along the path inside, you will find the cave that houses the original aboriginal sculpture, a stone carved with a recognizable woman's face, which emerges from the water in the middle of an always clean pond or a constant flow surely coming from an underground spring. The cave is small, but its interior, including the goddess, is visible in broad daylight. It is not a very illuminated place, however, and a certain enigmatic air haunts the place.
Atabeira only receives direct sunlight on the days when the winter solstice may occur, December 21 or 22. Contemplating it under the glare of the December sun can be a privilege for the hiker, because at that moment he will be able to make three wishes, which must be fulfilled. Such a deity was the one who embodied fertility in the Taíno culture, from which a good part of the so-called original inhabitants of the archipelago came, distributed in communities, both on the big island and on the islets of its four archipelagos.
The El Guafe Archaeological Trail not only houses the Atabeira pagan altar, it also has the proven remains of an ancient Taíno community, the subject of studies and sites of ancient burials and aboriginal ceremonies. Possibly years ago, the area must have been dominated by greater greenery. Today it is a somewhat arid strip where bushes predominate, with low plants and some fresh and charming groves, with trees of precious wood. This does not mean that its flora and fauna are poor or sparse.
To the delight of the visitor, specimens of the tocororo, the cartacuba, the beautiful zunzunes, the arriero, the green carpinteros, churroso and jabao nest there... And more surprises await in that environment.
If you want to live an unparalleled experience, I invite you to visit this wonderful site, where Atabeira will surely welcome you, especially if you do so on December 21 or 22, when the sun's rays illuminate the beautiful sculpture and your wishes can be expressed.