Cuba Vacation

Cuba has many nature preserves, parks, and wildlife habitats. 22 percent of the island of Cuba is natural habitat and protected by the government. On your Cuba vacation, you may want to see some of the varied species of birds, animals and plant life that are unique to the island.

A Cuba Vacation In A Nature Preserve

The Guanahacabibes Reserve is 62 miles long, and was declared a world biosphere by UNESCO. Permission to view the 600 species of plants and animals is given by the forest rangers, and excursions are made with a guide. Many rare bird species, including the zunzuncito, the smallest hummingbird in the world, and the cartacuba, live here.

The Parque Baconoa is also a UNESCO biosphere preserve. Here you can see the tiny Polymita picta, a bright yellow snail, or the black anolis, a rare lizard. Parque Baconoa also has an amusement park, a reconstructed coffee plantation, and an aquarium.

On Cayo Saetia, near Holguin, visitors ride safari-style in jeeps to view the indigenous animals in this former hunting preserve. In Topes de Collantes, you can view many species of wild orchids and swim in plunging waterfalls on your Cuba vacation. And an excursion to Cayo Blanco, south of Varadero, will take you to the largest black coral reef in Cuba, and there are a number of snorkeling sites to choose from.