CubaPLUS Magazine

On the road between the Bacunayagua Bridge and viewpoint and the peaceful city of Matanzas, in the western part of the country, there is a less talked about and yet sensational place.

It is nothing less than the Cueva de la Pluma -what an enigmatic name-, which is accessed through three spacious entrances that lead to the different levels of its long and narrow gallery. As if this were not enough, there are three lakes there, one of which is 29 meters deep.

The emotions of walking through this spook are tempered by its winding passageways, and sometimes by its laborious descents, although that is not what predominates. But it is well worth doing it because in such a gallery you will find an authentic aboriginal pictograph, signs of histoplasmosis, baby bats and abundant guano or fecal matter from these animals, used as valuable agricultural fertilizer.

There are those who believe, however, that in some parts there is too much mud and yet the cave is classified among those of high interest for hikers, speleologists and historians. It does not disappoint those who visit it, we assure you. Every traveler who moves to the natural enclave from Havana has the pleasure of taking a journey along the beautiful Vía Blanca, with the proximity of beautiful maritime landscapes, admiring the Yumurí Valley in the distance and the wonder of crossing the stellar Bacunayagua Bridge, the highest in Cuba.

There is also a nice tour of the so-called Hershey train, which takes up to about 2 km from the gallery. You have to get to the Yumurí Valley, and from the base of the heights of the area ascend High Summit (Cumbre Alta) on the Vía Blanca.

Summarizing: You must walk along an embankment towards the sea for about 4 km until you arrive at the sinkhole at the entrance to the cave, which leads to a small interior valley, with conditions to stop and camp. That place is the starting point for your tour. It is a relatively light journey, with the prize of seeing the pictograph of the Sun, made by aboriginal natives a long time ago.

Then the path becomes somewhat complicated to access the so-called Piggy Bank (Alcancía), a very original natural formation that recalls that artifact and the Salón de Las Campanas. From there you can access the lake of Los Camarones Ciegos. There is a point called Los Caguayanes Exit where you have the sensation of emerging as if returned from the depths of the Earth.

There are more thrills in the Feather Cave, she is waiting for you, if you love wilderness and natural beauty.