CubaPLUS Magazine

The fascinating Yumurí River Canyon

By: Amanda Bedia, photos: Raimundo López Silvero
Sep 12, 2023
The fascinating Yumurí River Canyon

About 28 kilometers from the legendary city of Baracoa, in the far east of Cuba, is the fascinating Yumurí River Canyon, born in the mountains of Imías, and located in a protected area where it has been declared Outstanding Natural Element of the national territory.

The fascinating Yumurí River Canyon Under the jurisdiction of the province of Guantánamo, this relevant ecosystem is mainly accessed by the Baracoa-Maisí highway, although they also serve the roads that go from the rural communities of Ojo de Agua, Mandinga and Loneliness.

For those who prefer the evergreen and deep paradises of the tropics, with virginal appearances or worlds perhaps not yet discovered by the humans, the Yumurí Canyon will be what you dream of.

Without a doubt, the unrepeatable Canyon that is part of the famous chain is a jewel mountainous Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa, adorned with very ancient limestones, very eroded by river currents and winds and, at the same time, pronounced and deep, carrying splendid vegetation, extended from two faults descending elevations.

Those cliffs or walls that reach heights of 200 to 300 meters, integrate a surprising landscape, considered a true visual gift for those who visit the region. Added to this is that on both sides of the river, which is usually crossed in rustic rowing boats, driven by local experts, there are formations eroded and abrupt, as well as a kind of holes or cavities, flaps and grottoes. An authentic feast of beauty of flora and rock.

There are parts in which the course of the river is almost superficial and there are other areas that are very appropriate for refreshing baths in temperate waters, neither hot nor cold.

The fascinating Yumurí River Canyon Reports of overs 100 species of Cuban flora in the region, such as very well represented Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Sapotaceae, Caesarpinaceae, Meliaceae, Thelypteridaceae and Moraceae. The presence of beautiful tree ferns, the cocoa tree, a tiny fly-catching plant called Venus, limes, royal palms, and palm blue trees, coconut trees and the imposing loggers that are the caguairans and the wild orchids of that distant place were very beautiful.

Among the mollusks, the spectacular polymitas dazzle, a kind of multicolored snail unique in the world, now under rigorous protection laws to guarantee its survival. Beautiful birds such as the green woodpecker (Xiphidiopicus) live in the  ( percusus), woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris), field thrush (Turdus plumbeus), mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos), zunzún (Chlorostilbon ricordii) and the long-tailed hawk (Accipiter gundlachi).

Evidence is reported that communities of aborigines of Arawak origin are the first settlers of the archipelago. The Yumurí River Canyon extends for about 8.7 square kilometers, deployed in forests involving the municipalities of Baracoa and Maisí, land of the famous Punta where Cuba begins geographically, from the east to the west.

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