CubaPLUS Magazine

In the domain of the municipality of Cárdenas, belonging to the western province of Matanzas and more specifically, to the east of the sensational resort of Varadero, there is a unique and very beautiful geographical point of Cuban geography named Boca de Camarioca. Quite precisely, located about 8 kilometers west of the bridge Paso Malo, joins the mouth of the Camarioca River, extending from one side to another in both margins.

From Camarioca to Punta Hicacos there are 30 linear kilometers along the coast, of which 22 are within the famous peninsula that cradles Playa Azul and 8 to the area between the Oasis and Boca de Camarioca neighborhoods, which has an area of 3.8 km 2. There is a surprising area from Boca de Camarioca to Paso Malo with a route of up to 5 kilometers densely saturated by a calcinated relief formed by caves, grottoes, flaps... in most of which evidence has been found of archaeological sites that indicate habitation, funerary and ceremonial sites of aborigines of the Island.

Among such points are the Cave of Disagreement, Los Plátanos, El Nicho Algarrobo I, II and III, El Cayuelo, Cueva de los Quintana, Cueva de Güiro and Cueva de Saturno. When those places had a virginal appearance and the Conquest was not yet a diabolical fact, the aborigines of three years liked to spend the night in such places nearby settlements, words emerged in their language that they named such enclaves.

They say that Boca de Camarioca was initially called Puerto Camaro, since that was the nickname of a local chief. It is a coastal area with sandy beaches, very sedimented, in which shallows and dead cliffs abound, where they open niches of fossil seas and small caves. The soils, in general, are moderately deep, whose thickness does not exceed the meter. They are almost always hydromorphic. Salinization is present in various degrees. With a hydrographic network basically supported by the presence of the mouth of the Camarioca River, you can also see a small interior lagoon.

A very well-stocked and diverse forest characterizes the area, from which stand out endemic species of the western region of Cuba. At the same time, the place stands out for being one of the smallest faunal areas of Cuba. However, it is characterized by a very marked endemism, especially in reptiles. Among the latter are the “sand lizard” (Leio-cephalus raviceas). Pueblan the surroundings Numerous iguanas, mollusks, land and sea birds live in the  surroundings with notable presence in winter.

Land birds such as mockingbirds (Mimus) add charm due to their colors and arpeggios. (Polyglottas arpheuse), jewish (Crotophaga anil), gorse (Columbiana passerina), rabiche pigeons (Zenaida macoura), cattle egrets (Buleus ibis), among others. Of waterfowl admire seagulls and several pelicans or gannets (Pelecanus occidentalus).

Boca de Camarioca has had several stages marked indistinctly by the boom and the decline, due to its geographical location, very close to the ports of Havana and Matanzas, also to Varadero. A breathtaking wild environment also close to a densely urbanized area driven by the development of large projects of tourism. A region that is well worth knowing.