Page 156 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

154  CUBA REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Isla de la Juventud
Unlike other islands in the Archipiélago de los Canarreos,
there are no grand luxury hotels on the Isla de la Juventud.
As a result it seems to have a more genuine Cuban
atmosphere, and the tourist industry works alongside other
island activities without pressure. The island is not new to
habitation, unlike other cayos which have only recently
seen housing development, and retains vestiges of five
centuries of Cuban history. The town of Nueva Gerona and
its surroundings make a good starting point for a visit,
followed by the southern coast. The main hotel is in the Coral formations on the island’s
southwestern part of the island, while the eastern tip has sea floor
some fascinating ancient cave paintings by Siboney Indians.
seabed at a depth of 10–
E Casa Museo Finca El Abra coast to a depth of 20–25 m 12 m (33–40 ft).
Carretera Siguanea km 1.5 (5 km (65–82 ft), and then abruptly The low-rise Hotel Colony
southwest of Nueva Gerona). drops for hundreds of metres. (see p258) accommodates
Tel 5219 3054. Open 9am–5pm This vertical wall is a favourite almost all of the scuba divers
Tue–Sat, 9am–noon Sun. & 8 with passing fish, which literally who visit the island. It overlooks
Note: fee for photography may apply. rub shoulders with divers. Playa Roja, the large, palm-
On the edge of the Sierra de las While dives on the platform can shaded beach named for its
Casas is an elegant villa where, be made by beginners, those spectacular scarlet sunsets.
in 1870, the 17-year-old José along the shelf are more The nearby sea is green and
Martí was held for nine weeks difficult and suited to divers translucent, with a sandy
before being deported to Spain with more experience. floor that is often
for his separatist views. Part of Numerous great dive covered with swathes
the building is now a museum sights are peppered along of the aquatic plant
with a display of photographs this stretch; the following Thalassia testudinum.
and documents relating to the are among the most In the mornings a van
national hero’s presence on the fascinating: La Pared de takes guests from the hotel
island. The rest of the villa is Coral Negro, which to the nearby diving centre,
occupied by the descendants of has an abundance of the Centro Internacional
the original owner, a rich Catalan. black coral as well as de Buceo, where all
sponges as much as Sign for Hotel Colony kinds of diving
Punta Francés 35 m (115 ft) in equipment can be
Hotel Colony: Tel (46) 398 181. @ to diameter; El Reino del Sahara, rented (although it is advisable
the Centro Internacional de Buceo one of the most beautiful to take a 3 mm wet suit with
from Hotel Colony daily at 8:30am, shallow dives; El Mirador, a wall you). From here boats take
return trip around 4:30 or 5pm. dive among sponges and large visitors to the dive sites.
The 56 dive sites between Punta madre pores; El Arco de los At noon, lunch is served at
Francés and Punta Pedernales Sábalos, the domain of tarpons; the jetty next to the stunning
lie at the end of a shelf which and Cayo Los Indios, where beach at Punta Francés.
gently slopes down from the shipwrecks can be seen on the The boat trip from Hotel
Colony to Punta Francés, also
known as Costa de los Piratas,
is a wonderful excursion.
Participants don snorkels, masks
and fins to accompany divers
exploring a French pirate’s cave
and then trek to see nesting
American crocodiles.
East of Hotel Colony is an area
known as La Cañada, where
Ecotur (see p153) can arrange a
guided walk through pine, palm
and mango forests. The walk
passes the “Jacuzzi of the Gods”, a
freshwater stream where walkers
can bathe and ends at the park
ranger’s house where home-
The Hotel Colony, surrounded by tropical vegetation roasted lamb and coffee is served.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp258–9 and pp272–3

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