Page 149 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

WESTERN CUBA  147

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
Cueva del Indio Viñales (Pinar del Río).
This cave, discovered in Road Map A3. * 27,000.
1920, lies in the San n Cubanacán Viajes, Salvador
Vicente Valley. The first Cisneros 63c, Plaza Viñales,
part of the tour here is (48) 796 393; Infotur, Salvador
on foot through tunnels Cisneros 63c, (48) 796 263.
with artificial lighting. Excursions & tours of the caves:
Then a small motorboat n Centro de Visitantes, Carretera
takes visitors up the a Viñales, (48) 796 144.
underground San Vicente
river for about a quarter Transport
@ Salvador Cisneros 63, (48) 793
of a mile.
112; connections with Havana,
Cienfuegos, Pinar del Río, Trinidad
and Varadero.
Puerto Esperanza
Valle d e San V i ce n t e Hotel Rancho

Cueva San Vicente
del Ruiseñor La Palma

Cueva de José Palenque de los Cimarrones
Miguel
Mogote In the depths of Cueva de San Miguel, past
La Esmeralda the bar at its mouth, is a spectacular cave
that was once a refuge for runaway African
Mogote
de Robustiano slaves (cimarrones). It now houses a small
museum and a pleasant restaurant.
Rio Palmarito
The Structure of a Mogote
The mogotes are among the most ancient rocks in Cuba,
Mogote Rustico and all that remains of what was once a limestone plateau.
Over a period lasting millions of years, underground aquifers
eroded the softer limestone, giving rise to large caverns
V a l l e d e V i ñ a l e s Viñales or present-day mogotes, were left standing. Mogotes generally
whose ceilings later collapsed. Only the hard limestone pillars,
have only a thin covering of soil, but those in the Sierra de los
Órganos are covered with thick vegetation. Some endemic
plant species have adapted to life on their craggy crevices;
Hotel La Ermita
these include the mountain palm tree (Bombacopsis cubensis),
and the cork palm (Microcycas calocoma).
Limestone wall
of the ancient
Thick cave
vegetation on
Pinar del Rio
the sides Friable
KEY terrain
1 Sierrita de San Vicente is
famous for its hot springs.
2 Viñales still has a colonial feel
(see p145). It is a tranquil, pleasant
little town, ideal for a short stay.

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