Page 20 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

18 ❯❯ Top 10 Cuba Highlights

Zapata Peninsula

Protected within a huge biosphere reserve, the Zapata Peninsula is
covered in swampland and forests teeming with wildlife. The coast
is lined with sandy beaches and coral reef, attracting scuba divers.
Much of the population here works as carboneros, eking out a living
making charcoal. The area is known for the Bahía de Cochinos (Bay
of Pigs), site of the
invasion (see p37).
Laguna del 1
Tesoro
Accessed via a 3­mile
(5­km) canal, “Treasure
Lake” (right) is named
for the gold that Taíno
Indians supposedly hid in
its waters when Spanish
conquistadores arrived.
Boat tours visit a
recreated Taíno village
on an island that also
hosts a resort hotel.

Fishing
3 Grande 7
Jagüe
The saltwater
shallows off south­ 5 A1
ern Zapata teem Santo Aguada de
Pasajeros
Birding
2 with bonefish, Tomás Playa Larga 1
Eighteen of
while tarpon and
Buena
Cuba’s 22 endemic bird manjuarí (alligator Ventura Los Sábalos
species (see pp52–3) gar) inhabit the
in habit Zapata, including estuaries and Laguna de Bermejas
tocororo and zunzuncito tributaries of the las Salinas
(above). Flamingos tip­ Hatiguanico river. 4 9 6 8
toe elegantly around
Parque Nacional Ciénaga de Zapata
Las Salinas lagoon, 4
while sandhill cranes This vast wet land eco system can be explored
throng the reed beds. on guided tours and boat trips. The mangroves,
grass lands, and lagoons teem with wildlife.
Crocodile
5
Farm
Visitors can photograph
crocodiles (left) from
an observation point
overlooking the Boca de
Guamá, which is Cuba’s
largest croco dile farm.
018-019_Top_10_Cuba.indd 18 27/06/2016 16:13