Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

The Far East ❮❮ 113

Zoológico de Piedra
8 A DRIVE FROM SANTIAGO
TO BARACOA
MAP Q5 • Boquerón de Yateras
• Open 8am–5pm daily • Adm
The name means “stone zoo,” a Zoológico Baracoa
term appropriate for the more than de Piedra
400 life­size creatures displayed
here. The animals, including lions, A1 La Farola
an elephant, a gorilla, and crocodiles, La Maya CC
are carved from stone by coffee Santiago Guantánamo Cajobabo
farmer Angel Iñigo, a self­taught de Cuba Yateritas
Playa
sculptor who used photographs
to hew the creatures. Iñigo has MORNING
also created entire vignettes such
as monkeys picking fleas and Taíno Leave early from Santiago
Indians killing a wild boar. The de Cuba (see p111), tak ing the
restaurant serves criollo meals. Autopista Nacional, which begins
in the Vista Alegre district. Be
careful on the freeway, which
has plenty of potholes and traffic.
After about 5 miles (8 km), exit
at the signed junction for La
Maya. The road passes through
sugar cane fields, with the Sierra
Baconao rising to the south.
Conti nue east to Guantánamo,
where sites of interest around
Parque Martí can be explored
in one hour. Crossing the Río
Bano, divert north to Boquerón
de Yateras to reach the Zoológico
The imposing facade of El Cobre de Piedra, and stop for lunch at
the restaurant there.
El Cobre
9 AFTERNOON
MAP P6 • 12 miles (19 km)
northwest of Santiago • Sala de Return to Guantánamo and
Milagros: (22) 34 6118; open turn east toward Baracoa.
6:30am–6pm The road passes the entrance
This village is named after the copper to Mirador de Malones and meets
(cobre) mined here in early colonial the shore at Playa Yateritas. At
days. Pilgrims come to the Basílica de Cajobabo, turn south to reach
Playita, where a museum recalls
Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del José Martí’s return from exile.
Cobre (see p31), built in 1926, to ask Visit the memorial at the spot
favors of the Virgen de la Caridad, where Martí landed with General
and leave ex votos (offerings) in the Máximo Gómez (see p37). Beyond
Sala de Milagros (Salon of Miracles). Cajobabo, the road snakes into
the Sierra de Purial via La Farola
Baracoa
0 (see p116). The mountain road is
scenic but drive carefully, espe­
Cuba’s most easterly city,
Baracoa (see pp32–3) is spec tacularly cially in fog and rain. At the
summit, Alto de Coltillo, have
set within a broad bay. The Hotel El a cup of hot coffee from the
Castillo (see p129), a former fortress, roadside shacks before winding
provides the best views in town. back down the mountain’s north
The city has a church with a cross side toward a coastal plain.
that locals believe was brought over Before you arrive in Baracoa,
by Columbus. Baracoa is a good make a stop at the small zoo,
Parque Zoológico Cacique Guamá
base for hiking and bird­watching, (open 9am–5pm Tue–Sun).
especially at Parque Nacional
Alejandro Humboldt (see p51).
See map on pp110–11
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