CubaPLUS Magazine

The Montemar Natural Park, located in the western province of Matanzas, is one of the most complete natural enclaves in the country for the practice of ecological tourism, as its natural trails are ideal for pleasant walks, bird watching and landscape photography. so beautiful.

But that is not all. There, in other areas, you can take boat rides, practice sports on land, and enjoy lots of fun games. The region where it is geographically located belongs to the Zapata Peninsula and within the vast domain of Montemar Park is the largest wetland in the Caribbean, a swamp with the same name as the cape.

It is an area of the archipelago that is very famous for its water resources and splendid wildlife, which is characterized by having an abundance of secluded and paradisiacal beaches, arboreal forests, and scrub forests. Therefore, everyone who likes tropical nature has captivating scenarios there and for the relaxation of a healthy vacation.

Rivers, lagoons, flooded caverns, natural pools, dreamy sea beds, terrestrial savannahs alternating with marshes, complete the gifts of those wild lands where time does not seem to have passed since the first day of the world, if it happened. In that natural sanctuary, whose wealth is astonishing, there are some 900 species of tropical flora registered, of which 115 are native. Due to its exceptional natural conditions, it was also declared a natural biosphere reserve in 2001.

For example, among its valuable characteristics is that there is a representation of 30 percent of the native fauna of Cuba, including 171 species of birds, 18 of them they endemic. Scientists have been affirming that this area is almost by right given by nature to the empire of the island's birds. Something also very gratifying is that the Gran Parque de Montemar houses two protected nature reserves, one is the aforementioned Ciénaga de Zapata and the other is the Las Salinas Wildlife Sanctuary.

Species of fauna such as the striking pink flamingos, a wader that flies in great flocks through the skies over our marine ecosystems or mainly wetlands, and in the waters, manatees, crocodiles and the smallest bird in the world, the bee hummingbird, among others can be sighted and photographed frequently. They will be unforgettable memories.