Page 179 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

CENTR AL CUBA – WEST  177

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST 9 Santa Clara
Practical Information See pp178–9.
Calle Real 136, Pepito Tey,
Cienfuegos. Road Map C3. 0 Sierra del
Tel (43) 545 115. Open 8am–
6pm daily (last entry 4:30pm). Escambray
& 8 =
Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos.
Road Map C3. n Hotel los Helechos,
(42) 540 330; Centro de Información
de Reservas de Topes de Collantes
(42) 540 117.
The Sierra del Escambray moun­
tain range, with an average
Cactuses height of 700 m (2,300 ft) above
Many species of cactus are sea level, covers a large part of
housed in this glasshouse. southern Central Cuba, across
They are young specimens, three provinces: Villa Clara,
grown after the serious Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus
damage inflicted by Water Lilies (see p195). In the heart of the
hurricane Lilly (1996). The pool near the glasshouse is range is the El Nicho nature
entirely covered with water lilies of reserve, which is of great scien­
different colours: bright pink, white, tific and eco logical value with
dark purple, violet, blue and yellow. its abundant mountain fauna
and varied plantlife. Pico San
Juan (1,156 m/ 3,790 ft), dotted
with conifers and lichens as well
as coffee plantations, is the
highest mountain in the Sierra.
A long steep road leads from
the northern side of the moun­
tains up to stunning Embalse
Hanabanilla, a large artificial
lake overlooked by a hotel. The
Río Negro path, which skirts the
waterfall of the same name, leads
to a belvedere viewing point from
which one can see the entire lake.
In the village of La Macagua
is the Comunidad Teatro
Escambray, an inter national
Mimosa theatre school. The school was
With its deeply divided founded in 1968 by members of
leaves, the mimosa the Havana Theatre, who used
makes a very attractive to rehearse here before touring
ornamental plant. rural communities.
Palm Trees
For many Cubans, palm trees represent
the power of the gods. A great variety
of species, many of them native to Cuba,
grow throughout the island: the royal palm
(Roystonea regia), the national tree; the bottle
palm (Colpothrinax wrightii), called barrigona
(pregnant one), because the trunk swells in the
middle; the sabal, whose fan­like leaves are used
for roofing; the local coccothrinax (C. crinita),
with its unmistakable foliage; and the corcho
(Microcycas calocoma).

Royal palm Bottle palm Coccothrinax palm

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