Thursday, December 10, 2009

Caves And Caverns In Cuba

By J. M. Maurette

There are many interesting places in Cuba to visit on your holidays but among the most popular is Viales Valley. This jewel of the Cuban geography combines so many natural formations. It is located in the second largest mountain range in Cuba. It is branded the best land for tobacco in the world. Its people are considered the nicest and most welcoming people in Cuba. Its rivers, forests, valleys, mountains, beaches, lakes and caves make it a must see place while on your holidays in Cuba

Today I would like to write about and amazing cave formation in Viales: La Cueva del Indio. This cave is part of a cavern system considered the largest in Latin America. You can visit this cave on a tour that is divided on two parts. First you walk along very constricted passages and slippery floor for about 10 minutes and then you find a under ground river along which you will get a ride on a boat until you reach the other end of the cave.

The appearance of the stalactites and stalagmites please the observer. Already in the exterior, you are able to see snails: the Polymitas, endemic of Cuba and of a supreme beauty, and other species originated in that region. When Don Carlos de la Torre, eminent Cuban naturalist, visited the cave, he donated to the institution considerable part of his collection of mollusks, during the first visit to this territory.

In the boat, a guide takes you to see the cave and at the same time he shows you the rock formations that exist in the cave and which have names due to the shapes they have. You may find a head of snake in the rock and you may wonder about nature.

The waterway inside the cavern is accessible for the ride for about 500 meters. Even though the river is a lot longer, for your own protection is not navigable along its total path. The entire grotto has not being entirely explored since there are some parts that are completely sank under water.

The ride itself is amazing but you get even more excited when you reach the end of the ride. You get to a small jungle where there is a small waterfall and it looks like the boat is going to fall over. Of course this is just a practical joke that the boat drivers like to play on you. The safety measure is always in place to make sure everything goes smoothly on this excursion.

If you are going to Cuba or you have bought a holiday package already, make sure to visit this amazing location. You can visit the cave from Viales itself but if you are not staying in the area do not worry. You can still visit Viales on a day excursion from Havana. They depart every day and they will all include the visit to this cave. I will leave you know but not without wishing you first an unforgettable experience in Cuba.

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