Hicacos Peninsula

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Hicacos is an approximately 20 km long and one kilometer wide peninsula on the northern coast of Cuba in the province of Matanzas. Hicacos covers an area of 23.07 km ² and has about 7,000 residents. The only town of the peninsula is the tourist town of Varadero with around 20,000 hotel beds.

History

Originally populated by Indians and wooded peninsula has been cut down by the Spaniards for shipbuilding, their caves served as a hideout for pirates. Captains left their ships to repair on the banks Hicacos drop anchor.

The Hicacos peninsula was named after a local cactus thorn.

Flora and Fauna

Today, about 30 % of the peninsula consisting of a natural reserve, by there are up to 500 years old cactus. The nature park is crisscrossed by caves, cliffs and lagoons.